Old-school outlaw musician brings act to Palmer

MAT-SU - James Talley brings his well-traveled guitar and 30-year repertoire into Vagabond Blues on Monday to play songs that call to mind the formidable legends of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Critics describe Talley as an Americana-roots country singer-songwriter. His music is filled with the historic images and dusty landscape of America - past and present.

Talley is certainly not among the ranks of slick, modern-day country singers who often exude an image that is more playboy than outlaw. No, Talley's music includes simple, down-to-earth songs that some say connect the musical dots between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.

Like most of the musicians brought to Palmer by Whistling Swan Productions, Talley is not quite a superstar, but rather, an experienced musician who has poured more than three decades of his life into gritty American songs.

A rising star in the 1970s, Talley's songs were recorded by the likes of Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Johnny Paycheck, Moby and others. A promising career, however, was derailed in the 1980s by a series of poor management decisions and financial burdens.

In the 1990s, Talley started selling real estate to make ends meet. All the while, he continued touring, writing music and recording albums.

His most recent album, &#8220Journey,” was released in 2004 as a live recording of many of his most popular songs.

On Monday night, listeners can expect to hear the old-school outlaw cast his lyrical net wide across the landscape of American Indians, outlaws, home-spun poverty and family bonds.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available for $15 at Vagabond Blues or $18 at the door.

For more information, call 745-2323.

Contact Joel Davidson at

352-2266, or joel.davidson@ frontiersman.com.