Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time

Subject: Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Sep 25 - 11:11 AM

I've listened to a few of his songs when people shared them in social media, and this morning I heard an interview with him on Weekend Morning Edition (but try as I might, it's not appearing in the NPR feed at the moment).

Wells is a well-respected and established rock musician who is observing the current toxic political environment and writing excellent songs about it.

https://www.wellesmusic.com/

Apparently last year Wells moved back to Arkansas to care for an ailing family member (father) and is doing his songwriting on topical material and performing in front of his phone out in a field (looks like under the power transmission lines).

He talked about writing songs, how once they are put to a tune they are "like a tattoo" in that it is fixed in place. His most recent one about Charlie (Kirk) has the lyrics under the video. The chorus goes

I heard laughing
I heard glee
but it coulda been you
it coulda been me

Jesse Wells on YouTube

On His Debut Album, Welles Pretties Up Dirty Rock And Roll (not a great headline for this article)

He was in a long interview on the Joe Rogan Experience on August 22, 2025.

Subject: RE: Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time
From: mayomick
Date: 21 Sep 25 - 06:26 AM

Perhaps not a great headline for this article but it sends an appropriate warning to those of us who like rock and roll

Subject: RE: Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 09:04 AM

He was on Steven Colbert this week. That song Join ICE is excellent.

Subject: RE: Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time
From: Helen
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 01:10 PM

Yes, I saw him perform the Join ICE song on Colbert. Very clever and apt.

Subject: RE: Jesse Welles - Political Bard for our time
From: GerryM
Date: 22 Nov 25 - 04:09 PM

Lots of comments on his videos, comparing him to Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, and John Prine. By the way, his name is Welles, not Wells.

Subject: RE: Jesse Wells - Political Bard for our time
From: pattyClink
Date: 06 Dec 25 - 09:39 AM

New one "The Department of War" based on very recent events:

The Department of War