Jesse James DeConto

Songwriter Jesse James DeConto grew up in New England, with Dad’s guitar and Mom’s radio tuned to Soulsville, the Village, Liverpool and Laurel Canyon. Those inheritances mingle with foothills-folk in Durham, N.C., yielding songs Americana UK calls “anthemic.” Critics hear influences from Neil Young to The National. “You won’t be able to stop humming,” said No Depression.

The Pinkerton Raid has played with Illiterate Light, Ballroom Thieves, Lowland Hum and Noah Gundersen. Back-to-back releases in 2017 & 2018 brought them from Charleston to Chicago to Brattleboro, Vt., with slots at EnoFest, Shakori Hills and Daytrotter and acclaim from Paste, Popdose, Aquarian Weekly and more.

In 2020-2021, the band has been releasing a series of indie-rock singles. American Songwriter called “Dream the Sun” a “radiant … message of hope.” Glide Magazine said “Rebel Mama Blues” “purrs with the garage rock swagger of The White Stripes and the irritated kick of Cage the Elephant,” while The Big Takover called it “a blast of zeitgeist-capturing political garage-psych … Bowie-meets-Black Keys.” “Lisbet Cries” is “poignant,” said Rolling Stone. Their fifth full-length album is due out in 2022.