Pretty Nifty — Jesse Welles Has Found His Niche

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - October 16: Jesse Welles brings his “Red” tour to The Pinnacle. (Photo by Dylan Basden for Pretty Nifty)

Jesse Welles brought his “Red” tour to Music City in what would become a reunion like no other. Hailing from Ozark, Arkansas, Welles called Nashville his home for many years as he was crafting his music career. He’s fresh off the release of his sixth studio album under his current moniker, Masks Off, as well as the third installment in his Under The Powerlines series, a trio of live cut projects that has launched his rise to folk-hero stardom.

For those unfamiliar with Jesse’s career, it has been far from a simple ride. He first began releasing music in 2012 under the cacographic name Jeh Sea Wells before forming the band Dead Indian. A handful of years later Jesse would go on to front the band Cosmic-American and would later release music under the mononymWelles. That last project saw some of Jesse’s biggest success, with his Dave Cobb-produced album Red Trees and White Trashes receiving radio-play on alternative and rock stations.

Jesse would largely go dormant after that release, sans a handful of singles. It wouldn’t be until the beginning of 2024 when the Jesse Welles we’ve come to know would emerge. Early singles like “Cancer” and “The Poor” caught fire quickly, with the latter becoming a staple in his live performances. He raw, emotive performances online quickly spread like wildfire and it has only been upward from there.

Jesse Welles has no shortage of protest music, often being cited as the modern-day Woody Guthrie. Those early 2024 singles were the result of pent-up frustration with the status quo, a feeling that has not left since. He opened up the show with “The Nerd Reich,” a yet-to-be released track that rails against the Trump administration and technocrats surrounding it. It’s quickly followed up by “Join Ice,” a tongue in cheek jab once again at the current administration and the foot soldiers enabling it. Welles is not afraid to be candid, his highly opinionated lyrics can come across rather blunt, yet never uncouth. Even with the cold snap in Tennessee his delivery is anything but chilly. It’s a method that seems to resonate with folks, with fans of all ages and backgrounds attending the show. I saw children stood alongside Vietnam War veterans and punks stood alongside cowboy hats.

While many of Welles’ tracks rage against the system that encompasses us, there is still a vivid sense of optimism throughout his performance. “Good Morning America” highlights this perfectly, serving as an uplifting reminder that despite the overarching sense of dread across the political landscape, there is still a plethora of things that can give you hope. While it may reference the current political climate, it is a breath of fresh air after the grueling bout of frustration he released earlier in the set.

Jesse also made sure to work in both “Bugs” and “Turtles,” two very aptly named songs. “Bugs” and “Turtles” are both adorably quirky songs about the small animals that surround us all, a surreal peak behind the curtains of a man so highly regarded for his political commentary. His acoustic performances are undeniably charming and really showcase the breadth of Jesse’s songwriting prowess, he is not a one-trick pony incapable of escaping the never-ending political turmoil.

Welles would round out his performance with an acoustic rendition of “War Isn’t Murder,” the track that truly launched his career into the stratosphere. Despite the rather chipper sound to the sound, “War Isn’t Murder” is one of Jesse’s most cutting songs, delivering pointblank shots at the genocide in Gaza. It is a statement end to a top-notch performance, complete with standing ovation.

Setlist

The Nerd Reich [acoustic]
Join Ice
The Ballad of Big Balls
Technopagans
Red
War Is A God -> War Pigs [Black Sabbath cover]
Masks Off
American Dreams
Domestic Error
Hard Power
Rise and Shine
I Won’t Back Down [Tom Petty cover]
Sprit Quest
Have You Ever Seen The Rain [Creedence Clearwater Revival cover]
The Poor [acoustic]
See Arkansaw [acoustic]
Everyone Who Hated Me Is Dead [acoustic]
Siddhartha
Malaise
Bugs [acoustic]
Turtles [acoustic]
Good Morning America [acoustic]
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Horses
Wheel
War Isn’t Murder [acoustic]

Jesse Welles only has a handful of dates left to round out his 2026 and tickets are moving fast for most of them. From Nashville, he’s headed up to Chicago where he’ll play on of his biggest shows of the year.

You can find tickets to all of Jesse Welles’ upcoming tour dates here.

2026

Oct 17 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed* [SOLD OUT]

Oct 18 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theatre and Ballroom*

Oct 20 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE*

Oct 21 – Washington, DC – The Anthem*

Oct 23 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met*

Oct 24 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner*

Oct 26 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!*

Nov 20 – Healdsburg, CA – Little Saint [SOLD OUT]

Dec 12 – Asheville, NC – ExploreAsheville.com Arena+

2027

Mar 31-Apr 4 – Boise, ID – Treefort Music Festival 2027

* w/ Hudson Freeman

+ Warren Haynes’ Christmas Jam

Jesse Welles is one of the most exciting songwriters of our day and it seems his vision has never been clearer. He has an uncanny knack for expressing the plight of the downtrodden with both quick wit and sharp condemnation. He took aim at immigration, war, socioeconomic disparity, and more without even flinching. It has taken Jesse nearly fifteen years to find this niche, let alone capitalize on it, so to find a place for him to land in the wide spanning world of music and see success is incredible. Despite this, he refuses to get siloed. While continuing to release his signature protest anthems, he’s also going out and releasing bug-themed collaborations with The Wiggles. It is a dichotomy that cannot be faked; Jesse Welles is as genuine as the day is long. This earnestness comes across with such ease during his live performances, he comes across as a friend singing to you from across the bonfire.

Make sure Jesse Welles is on your radar.

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