In case you haven’t caught on already, All One Song host Tyler Wilcox loves talking about Neil Young. And he’s always fascinated by where these free-form conversations go, whether it’s deep dives into lyrical obsessions, personal history, chord progressions, Shakey lore … or some indefinable blend of all of that.
This week’s episode is no different! We’re back in the 1990s this time around, taking a look at a song from Harvest Moon — “From Hank To Hendrix.” It’s a song that has been a regular setlist inclusion ever since it first appeared in late 1991. Young usually does it solo acoustic, and it feels like a fairly straightforward statement of intent from Neil, an acknowledgment of his restless nature, his refusal to stay in the same place for too long, the joys and dangers of duality. A simple song, right?
Well, probably not. Nothing is ever completely simple when it comes to Shakey. And here to plumb the depths of “From Hank To Hendrix” today is Texas-based singer-songwriter Jerry David DeCicca.
Like Neil, Jerry’s songs are often made out of seemingly simple materials, but the more you listen to them, the deeper they become, simplicity transforming into something wonderfully complex. For example, one of his best songs deals with the cosmic pleasure of watermelons. Jerry’s albums are all awesome — if you need an entry point, go ahead and start with the most recent one, Cardiac Country from 2025, which Aquarium Drunkard writer Jennifer Kelly praised for detailing “the sweet transitory pleasures of living here on earth with an awareness of the unknowable beyond.”
Jerry doesn’t have a new album coming out this year, but he is also an active producer, with great records by Ed Askew, Chris Gantry, Bob Martin and more under his belt. His latest production effort is the debut album by 83-year-old living legend Frank “The Wild Jalapeño” Rodarte, entitled, naturally, The Return of the Wild Jalapeño.
It’s a fantastic listen, featuring tunes written by Jerry, alongside killer covers of songs by Bill Callahan and Greg Cartwright of Reigning Sound. It’s soulful, spiritual, strange and an album that could only have been made in Texas.
But hey, back to Neil Young. Tune in to hear Jerry David DeCicca on All One Song …
