Born from the fire of Austin’s legendary blues scene, Texas Headhunters unites three of its fiercest alumni—Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton, and Johnny Moeller—not as a tribute, but as a reckoning. This isn’t a side project. It’s a full-throttle return to roots, with new fuel.
Moore, the axe-slinger who once shared stages with the Rolling Stones and Dylan, carved his own soul-drenched trail through rock and blues. Dayton, hailing from Beaumont, has ridden shotgun with punk rebels, outlaw crooners, horror auteurs, and Grammy-caliber blues heavyweights. And Moeller? He’s the tone-sculpting secret weapon of the Fabulous Thunderbirds, wielding one of the funkiest, deepest grooves to ever shake the floor at Antone’s.
The bloodline is undeniable. All three came up under the watchful eye of Clifford Antone, part of the final class of blues disciples shaped by the master himself. Now, as Antone’s hits the half-century mark, Texas Headhunters arrives not to reminisce—but to reignite. “We were raised on that sound,” says Moore. “Tailgators, LeRoi Brothers, T-Birds, Stevie—Austin blues was just badass. That’s the vibe we’re channeling.”
Today Texas Headhunters release their debut single, “Maggie Went Back to Mineola” — setting the stage for their self-titled album, Texas Headhunters (arriving August 22 via Hardcharger/Blue Élan Records). Penned by Jesse Dayton, the tune spins a tale of gritty survival and hard-won redemption. “A girl from Mineola heads to Dallas, falls into the depths, then comes home to work at the Dollar General and try to turn her life around,” Dayton explains. “That’s Ian laying down the lead guitar.”
Check out the accompanying video!
This summer, Texas Headhunters make their live debut supporting Samantha Fish’s Paper Doll World Tour on a tight run of East Coast preview dates.
An official album release tour will follow in August, September, and October.
Dates with Samantha Fish’s Paper Doll World Tour:
June 19 Patchogue, NY Patchogue Theatre
June 20 Ridgefield, CT Ridgefield Playhouse
June 21 Fall River, MA Narrows Center For The Arts
June 22 North Truro, MA Payomet Performing Arts Center
June 24 Albany, NY Empire Live
June 25 Buffalo, NY Asbury Hall
Buy tickets here
