It’s Sunday, April 4, 2020, 10:06, and I am somehow craving tequila and sweet citrus.

Jim Dalton showed up on our Facebook live dressed like a cantina cowboy and “on heart attack and vine” singing a great name dropping song called “Strikes a Chord.” He took a swig of a tequila drink and declared it was a virtual borracho Sunday.  He proceeded to play originals that evoke Kris Kristopherson, Cracker, Johnny Cash, and even some space cowboy diddy called “In my head.”

Lyrics are solid, clever without trying too hard and the low gravelly voice still has good mileage left. Very glad to have heard him, and if he came to San Fran or Santa Cruz, I’d go catch him at that bar.

His bio says he currently plays with Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (RCPM), formerly The Refreshments”, known for 90’s radio hits “Banditos” and “Down Together” as well as the animated TV series “King of the Hill” theme song.  

Jim Dalton’s clearly been around; he shared the stage with the Johnny Hickman of Cracker, opened for some great country stars and plays in a band called Railbenders.  Voted best of Denver’s underground scene in 2004 the music instantly takes you from a sequestered overrun dining room table to Meh-hee-co or at least some cool bar in Colorado.   You can see the 6 guitars he is not presently playing while he strums out original tunes that make you long for a long road trip.  He’s shared a little of his record collection with the group.

He closed with a long-distance love song, about the hope of missing someone while you’re on the road maybe, about the hope of running away together. And the encore, involved a chorus, “Mi Pantalones” which reminded me to pick a pair up on this sequestered Sunday and make some coffee.

-Robert Preskill