Jonny Tex is the project of Jon Wallis, who grew up in Texas, trained to be a youth pastor, and left both for Cambridge, Massachusetts. He spent years in New England’s DIY scene with Pew Pew and Hereboy before putting out his own songs, which still borrow the language of revival. On stage and on record he’s joined by Harley, Corey, Holly, and Charlie.
Their debut EP, Mark of Cain (Happen Twice, May 2026), is four songs about men performing as someone larger than themselves: insisting everything’s fine, shutting people out, picking fights with their own reflection. The whole thing is held together by misguided sincerity and cheap heroism. WBUR called it “a self-assured debut.”
This year the band played SXSW, opened for Guerrilla Toss, Center Mid, and The Thing, and sold out the Lilypad for the EP release. Their debut album, out early 2027, is tight, fast, and restless: songs about leaving and finding you brought yourself along. It’s the sound of a band fully locked in, built to keep moving. You can catch them around Boston and the Northeast ahead of the release.
"A self-assured debut... melding basement heavy riffs with western soundtrack guitar licks, he proves he has his own mark to make."
Live
- SXSW 2026 Official Showcasing artist + headlining gig at Line Hotel Pool
- Fuzztival 2026, Boston Rodeo 2026, NICE a Fest 2026
- Mark of Cain tour — Boston (sold out), Cape Cod, NYC
- Sold-out Boston headline shows, most recently the Lilypad
- Debut singles tour — Montreal, Boston (sold out), NYC (sold out), Philadelphia, New London
- Opened for Center Mid (sold-out debut at The Sinclair), Guerrilla Toss, French Cassettes, The Thing
Streaming
- 24.4K Apple Music plays in first month
- Apple Music INDIY #4 (worldwide)
- Qobuz Indie Newcomers #6
- Radio: KUTX 98.9 Austin, WHUS 91.7 (UConn), WMBR 88.1, WZBC 90.3, WTBU 89.3
Press
- WBUR — monthly local music feature
- Atwood Magazine — SXSW interview
- Earmilk — "Mustard Seeds" review
- Glide Magazine — "Bill" review
- Ugly Hug — "Mark of Cain" premiere