Garage Logic – December 15, 2025

Guest: Jeff Dayton (Nashville-based musician, former Glen Campbell bandleader)
Hosts: Joe Soucheray ("The Mayor"), Chris Reavers, John Height, Kenny Olson, Gabe, Matthew ("Rookie")

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
The show welcomes acclaimed musician Jeff Dayton for a lighthearted, nostalgia-rich episode that provides a respite from the usual focus on Minnesota politics and "ruination." Dayton shares stories from his prominent Minnesota family, delves into Minneapolis music history, performs new and old songs live in studio, and discusses everything from the music business to artificial intelligence — all in the signature common-sense, convivial Garage Logic style. The team also touches on recent political headlines and news, but the heart of the episode is storytelling, music, and laughter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Jeff Dayton & Minnesota Musings

• Joe and the crew introduce Jeff Dayton, noting his dual roots in Minnesota and Nashville and his local gigs.

  • [02:17] “We have a visitor from Nashville in the studio, Mr. Jeff Dayton, who is just as at home in Minnesota as he is in Nashville.” (Chris Reavers)

• Jeff jokes about Minnesota winters vs. Nashville's climate.

  • [04:21] “We... went down to 14 there last night.” (Dayton)
  • [04:34] “Golf courses close in Nashville over the winter?” “I think they hit the ball no matter what time of year it is.” (Dayton)

• Dayton shares he's visiting out of homesickness and a love for the state.

  • [03:45] “I just got homesick... I just missed Minnesota.” (Dayton)

2. A Deep Dive Into Jeff Dayton's Minnesota Family History

• Jeff’s grandmother flew with Charles Lindbergh in the Spirit of St. Louis on a St. Paul publicity tour.

  • [09:24] “She offered... Who wants to go ride up in the plane? And they were like, no way. She goes, I'll go.” (Dayton)

• Rich St. Paul roots: grandma was three-term mayor of Delwood, sat at literary roundtables with F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway, ran the University Club.

  • [15:00] “Ran a story in the 60s called the Lady Mayors of Minnesota. And she was one of only four.” (Dayton)
  • [15:36] “Erna sat in on a roundtable discussion with Dorothy Parker and such literary notables as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway…” (Matthew)

• Delwood childhood memories; describing historic St. Paul houses and family businesses (restaurant by 3M, egg and butter distribution, hockey ancestry).

  • [13:19] “Pop died suddenly in 63. But he's in the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame...” (Dayton)

• Jeff’s great-grandfather (Newton Horace Winchell) was Minnesota’s state geologist, coined “taconite.”

  • [16:18] “He coined the word taconite… He was with an army escort, mapping the Dakotas…” (Dayton)

• The Dayton department store dynasty: how a handshake between family members determined ownership and led to the founding of Target and Marshall Field's growth.

  • [20:34] “Whoever survived would get the store. My great-grandfather passed away at age 43 playing golf at Minnakata.” (Dayton)

• Mother (Patty) and father (George Dayton III) musical and cultural influences; Jeff’s early music education at home.

  • [22:09] “Both sides. My dad and my mom. And my mom played piano and sang these old songs…” (Dayton)

3. Music, Family, and Making a Living as a Songwriter

• Jeff describes being the impromptu child entertainer at family dinners (“the circus monkey” mentality).
  • [22:55] “Anytime they had a dinner party, mom would say, Jeff, go get your Joe. That's what she called the banjo.” (Dayton)
• Proud parent: his daughter Carrie Dayton is a successful LA-based YouTuber/influencer.
  • [24:01] “Her name's Carrie Dayton... she's got a vlog and a fashion channel.” (Dayton)
  • Crew dives into Carrie's social stats and online presence, banter about possible family inheritance.
• New album "Songs from the Walnut Room"; connections to area venues and past Twin Cities music figures.
  • [24:55] “Songs from the Walnut Room.” (Dayton)

4. Garage Logic Riffs: Culture, Civics & News

• Sunsets in Gumption County marking the seasonal “turn” and mental lift.

  • [02:35] “The sun will set at 4:32pm... breaking a string of nine consecutive 4:31pm sunsets.” (Chris Reavers)

• Minnesota political news: Fraud, Feeding Our Future scandal, Ilhan Omar’s legislation, Governor “Cockwamble” (Tim Walz) hiring a Director of Program Integrity.

  • [05:08] “It’s The Fraud capital of the world... But thankfully, our governor, Governor Cockwamble, also known as Elmer Fraud...” (Reavers)

• Breaking down how local and national press covers (or ignores) Minnesota’s fraud scandals.

5. Music in Studio: Songs & Stories

• Jeff plays several original songs live, including "Heart Like a Dog" and “Up on the Bow,” sharing the stories behind them.

  • [33:09] Performance: Heart Like a Dog
    • “I've got a heart like a dog. Just wants to be loved. A little affection is more than enough…” (Dayton)
  • [37:05] Performance: Up on the Bow
    • “Up on the bow, the world feels better somehow…” (Dayton)

• Hosts praise Jeff's voice, compare his sound to Kenny Chesney ("audio separated at birth")

  • [36:35] “You're an audio separated at birth from him. Is that a compliment or am I saying something wrong?” (Reavers)

• Discussion on the realities of being a working Nashville songwriter; contrasts with modern mainstream and “bro-country” demographics.

  • [35:40] “I'm not the demographic...I don't throw chairs off of rooftops. I'm sorry I said that.” (Dayton)
  • Quote referencing Vince Gill: “It’s not my cup of tea, but I wasn’t Hank Williams's cup of tea either.” (Dayton, paraphrasing)

6. Artificial Intelligence and the Music Industry

• The crew and Jeff discuss how A.I. is changing music, copyright, and performance careers.
  • [41:25] “It's terrifying. It's terrifying and it's beautiful. It's amazing and it's frightening. It is a challenge and it's a gift to mankind.” (Dayton)
• Jeff confidently asserts live musical performance can't be replaced, describing the irreplaceable human connection.
  • [42:31] “They cannot replace us. The musician with a guitar and a story to tell.” (Dayton)

7. More Music Biz Tales, Booking Gigs, and Local Scene

• Jeff does his own bookings, hustling "like a duck, looks calm on top but legs moving fast."
  • [43:19] “I try real hard, you know, my legs are moving. It's like the duck. I look good on top, but my legs are…” (Dayton)
• Cancellation and rerouting for football games at southern bars, culture shock switching between Minnesota and Nashville, and running jokes about “turn it down!” encounters with audiences.

8. Honoring Glenn Campbell, Songcraft, and Podcasting

• Jeff’s career-defining tenure as Glenn Campbell’s bandleader; key moments on the road and odd brushes with country music royalty.
  • [38:47] “I mean, my career is what it is because of Glenn Campbell.” (Dayton)
• Critical analysis: which is the bigger “heartbreaker” – Glenn Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” or “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”?
  • [78:41] “Wichita Lineman does it for me.” (Reavers)
  • [78:45] “No contest. Wichita Lineman might be one of my, you know, if you put a gun to my head, 20 favorite songs ever.” (Sucherer)
• Deep-dive on songwriter Jimmy Webb’s process and Campbell's musical instincts.
  • [82:18] “Carol K was the one who came up with the… beginning.” (Dayton on “Wichita Lineman”)
• Plug for Jeff’s podcast Count It Off, featuring interviews with music insiders, local heroes, and a previous Garage Logic crew member guest spot.
  • [89:09] “The podcast is called Count it Off and it drops a new episode every Tuesday morning…” (Dayton)
  • Fun banter about the challenges and joys of podcasting and the breadth of Jeff's guest list.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On AI and music:

  • “It's terrifying and it's beautiful. It's amazing and it's frightening. It is a challenge and it's a gift to mankind...They cannot replace us. The musician with a guitar and a story to tell.”
    – Jeff Dayton [41:25–42:31]

• On Glenn Campbell’s trust in songs:

  • “Glenn knew a hit song... when Wichita Lineman came to him, you know, he said, yeah, this is a great song.”
    – Jeff Dayton [82:17]

• Family legacy humor:

  • “If only you were a boy because you were really ahead of your time.”
    – Jeff Dayton quoting his great-grandfather [12:25]

• On being a working performer:

  • “I'm probably the guy that's just gonna do me until the day I'm gone… I cut a path that's my own.”
    – Jeff Dayton [35:30]

• Live performance – “Heart Like a Dog”:

  • “A little affection is more than enough? You're gonna love it when we cuddle up. I've got a heart like a dog.”
    – Jeff Dayton [33:09]

• On the current music business:

  • “I don't have gold teeth, you know, and times are changing.”
    – Jeff Dayton [35:56]

Timestamps of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:17 | Jeff Dayton introduced, Minnesota-Nashville banter | | 09:24 | Grandmother’s legendary Lindbergh flight & St. Paul roots | | 13:02 | Minneapolis Hockey history, Conroy restaurant story | | 16:18 | Newton Horace Winchell, state geology and “taconite” | | 20:34 | Founding of Dayton’s store and rise to Target | | 24:44 | Family music legacy, daughter Carrie Dayton | | 33:09 | First live song in studio: “Heart Like a Dog” | | 35:30 | Music business realities, “doing my own thing” | | 41:25 | AI in music – promise and downside | | 42:31 | “They cannot replace us” – defense of live musicianship | | 43:19 | Gig booking hustle, “duck on water” analogy | | 38:47 | Glenn Campbell stories and influence | | 78:41 | “Wichita Lineman” vs. “Phoenix” as all-time heartbreakers | | 89:09 | Plug for Jeff’s podcast Count It Off |

Further Information & Ways to Connect

• Jeff Dayton:

  • Website
  • Podcast: Count It Off
  • Instagram
  • YouTube: Carrie Dayton (Jeff’s daughter)

• Garage Logic:

  • YouTube Channel
  • Daily Logician newsletter

Tone and Takeaway

The episode is a classic example of Garage Logic’s blend of local color, humor, warmth, and unapologetic nostalgia—with ample ribbing, community pride, and real talk. Jeff Dayton’s stories and songs create a window into Minnesota’s past and present, while allowing for substantial side-conversations about the unpredictability and resilience required to build a life in the arts. The hosts’ rapport with Dayton, and their delight in music’s power to outlast trends and technology, make the show accessible—and enjoyable—even for listeners with no prior context.

For More Garage Logic:
Subscribe on your favorite platform, watch on YouTube, and check out Jeff Dayton’s music and podcast for more stories and stellar musicianship.