Texas Headhunters unveil “Pocket” video
The wait is over. Texas Headhunters—the powerhouse new trio uniting Lone Star guitar legends Ian Moore, Jesse Dayton, and Johnny Moeller—release their self-titled debut album via Hardcharger/Blue Élan Records.
Cut live at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studio in just five blistering days, Texas Headhunters is a 12-song statement of grit, groove, and raw electricity. It’s not a side project or a nostalgia trip—it’s a revival, one that captures the swaggering soul of Texas blues for right now.
The album’s focus track, “Pocket,” sets the tone. Written and sung by Ian Moore, the song smolders with late-night ache and undeniable punch. “I love a modern lean into blues,” Moore says. “I’m using this Paoletti guitar—it just had the right snarl.” From its sultry opening lick to its final bend, “Pocket” is a showcase of the band’s chemistry: Moore’s psychedelic edge, Moeller’s deep-pocket sting, and Dayton’s outlaw grind working in perfect tandem.
From there, the record storms through 11 more tracks—each a different shade of Texas fire. Moeller steps out front on “Everybody Loves You (When You’re Down),” delivering a sly, soulful vocal that underscores his status as one of the deepest groove players in the game. Dayton turns up the heat on “Maggie Went Back to Mineola,” his neon-lit tale of dirt, redemption, and small-town survival. Together, the trio breathes new life into a sound that once defined Austin’s Antone’s scene—bold, unvarnished, and built to rattle walls.
The roots run deep. All three were protégés of Clifford Antone, the legendary club founder who mentored generations of Austin guitar slingers. That bond carries through every note of Texas Headhunters, which lands fittingly during Antone’s 50th anniversary year.
“We all grew up on that sound,” Moore reflects. “Tailgators, LeRoi Brothers, T-Birds, Stevie. The blues in Austin was just cool. That’s what we’re feeling here.”
With Texas Headhunters, Moore, Dayton, and Moeller don’t just trade solos—they trade stories, scars, and soul. It’s a summit of three lifers at the height of their powers, captured raw and loud, the way their heroes did it. Not a throwback. A throwdown.
TOUR DATES
08/28/25 – Milwaukee, WI – Shank Hall
08/29/25 – Berwyn, IL – Fitzgerald’s
08/30/25 – St Louis, MO – The Old Rock House
08/31/25 – Kansas City, MO – Knuckleheads
09/04/25 – Cincinnati, OH – Ludlows
09/05/25 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom & Tavern
09/06/25 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Iron Works
09/07/25 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille
10/07/25 – Knoxville, TN– Bijou Theatre*
10/09/25 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage*
10/19/25 – Dallas, TX – The Kessler Theater
10/22/25 – Tulsa, OK – The Shrine
10/24/25 – Houston, TX – The Heights Theater
10/25/25 – Austin, TX – Antone’s
*Supporting Samantha Fish
sounds like “they call me the hunter” by Free
Nice to see Ian Moore come back to playing blues-rock type music instead of what he chose to play after his first two incredible albums. I’ll never stop enjoying those records, and never understand why he chose a different direction. To each their own, however.