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THE MESA TRIBUNE | MARCH 13, 2022
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Last Train to Juarez shares its map to success BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI GetOut Editor
W
ith a cowboy hat pulled deep to his eyes and a thick beard, Dejan Knezevic fits the red dirt/ outlaw country genre well. He has his fans fooled – and that’s not a bad thing. Born in Chicago, Knezevic was raised by parents from Montenegro and Bosnia. Serbian is his first language. The Serbian coat of arms adorns his hat. “My family is from former Yugoslavia,” he said. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of an American/Serbian country singer before. There’s a first for everything, I guess.” In late 2018, Knezevic formed Last Train to Juarez, following the lineage of his heroes, Ward Davis, Whitey Morgan, Hank 3 and Jamey Johnson. They celebrate the release of their debut album, “Some Road,” on Friday, March 18, at Roosters in Mesa. “It was an awakening, so to speak, for me and I quickly started discovering a whole genre of country music that spoke to me,” Knezevic said. “It was around this time that I started seriously considering
starting a project in the red dirt/outlaw genre of country music.” Last Train to Juarez is a departure from previous projects like Pelvic Meatloaf. “I’ve been in the scene, in metal bands, for the better part of 30 years,” he said. “I didn’t grow up on country music. It was the red dirt/new outlaw movement that got my ears and sold me on it. It’s inspired me to go in this direction, to the dismay of a lot of my metalhead brothers.” Last Train to Juarez sees Knezevic singing for the first time, something that even surprised his wife of 23 years. “Sure, I fronted a metal band in the past, but I never really tried singing,” Knezevic said. “What we did back then was death metal and growling so this whole singing thing was new to me. I wasn’t confident at all. But what I lacked in confidence, I made up with motivation and perseverance.” In late 2018, he pulled the trigger and went all in. He had a revolving group of musicians until April 2021, when the lineup was solidified as vocalist/acoustic guitarist Knezevic;
Mark Tomeo, pedal steel, dobro, backing vocals; bassist Jonathan Candler and lead guitarist Stephen Dietrich. Additionally, fiddler/mandolin player Austin Brooks joins. “Our music blurs the lines a bit and doesn’t fit neatly into any specific country genre,” he said. “I’ve heard people refer to us as outlaw, red dirt, biker country and rock or metal country. Ultimately, what is most important to Last Train to Juarez will celebrate the release of their new alme as an artist is to write bum with a concert in Mesa Friday, March 18. (Special to GetOut) and create music that is By the end of this year, Last Train to pure, honest and authentic. Music that comes Juarez will be playing 60% originals and from the heart and soul, which is why I pre“I have nothing against cover songs at fer to stick with originals over cover tunes. all,” he said. “Granted, we do play cover songs out of “It’s just not what I want to do, and I necessity since we are a newer band and feel there is plenty of cover and tribute don’t have enough original material to cov- bands in the Valley already. I get my kicks er a four-hour gig but that is quickly changsee JUAREZ page 28 ing as I continue to write new material.”
“I love Warped Tour, but I didn’t want to worry about what bands I’m missing, I wanted to feel like I was in a backyard listening to music and drinking a beer.” Though Burkett scoffed at the idea at first, he later jumped on board. He said “Punk in Drublic” — the name of NOFX’s 1994 album—would be the perfect moniker for the festival. Punk in Drublic comes to Bell Bank Park on Saturday, March 19, with headliners NOFX as well as local legends Authority Zero and The Venomous Pinks. Beer and local food trucks will camp out there. “Punk in Drublic is just a good title because this festival is about drunk
The punk band NOFX is a featured group at the Punk in Drublic festival at Bell Bank Park next Saturday. (Special to Get Out)
The raucous festival is a genuine good time BY ALEX GALLAGHER GetOut Staff
C
ameron Collins was drinking beer and listening to punk music when he had an aha moment. “I’ve always been a NOFX fan and I was doing beer festivals,” Collins said. “One night I was sitting in my backyard having some beers and listening to NOFX and it hit me that this would be an amazing festival concept.” Collins then called his good friend, NOFX bassist Michael “Fat Mike” Burkett, to pitch the idea. “It was Cameron’s vision to do a festival that was the opposite of the Warped Tour and is something for older punk rockers who want to get wasted,” Burkett said.
see FESTIVAL page 28
