West of Texas
West of Texas
The scratch of the needle on record yields just a few seconds of silence – the time of just a few
revolutions of the vinyl before the music plays. In that silence, there is excitement, anticipation
and potential. Every album has it but only two have Jerry Zinn ready to deliver a uniquely
modern yet classic country experience. The bearded frontman of the Los Angeles-based honky
tonk band West of Texas, Zinn has spent the past 20 years creating music and living a life
worthy of his classic country sound.
With a dry wit, sharp pen, and keen ear, Zinn presents something new and challenging within
even the most conservative interpretation of country music. His commitment to the craft finds
its foundation in the songwriting. The turns of phrase and clever licks would not feel out of
place on the lips of George Jones, Johnny Bush, Buck Owens, or Merle Haggard – but sound just
right coming from Zinn.
Born in California and growing up the son of a military family – Zinn saw the world throughout
his childhood. But he found his home in country music by diving deep into his grandfather’s
vintage record collection as a [teen]. From that moment forward, he knew he wanted to add his
mark on the long history of country music. First started in 2003, West of Texas toured Southern
California and beyond with other “real” country musicians, such as Summer Dean, Brennen
Leigh, Deke Dickerson, The Cowpokes, among others.
The original group released a 3-song EP in 2010 and began working on a full-length album. After
a nearly decade-long fight for his health and voice, Zinn recovered and released his full-length
album in 2021, at the very beginning of the West Coast country revival that marked the end of
the pandemic. This album earned the band an Ameripolitan nomination in 2023.
Now Zinn and West of Texas are back with a new album, titled “Hot Motel Nights” that will be
sure to join the creates of collectors and music lovers alike. The tracks of the album touch on
real life, hard love and stupid men doing stupid things – often all in the same song.