Walmart

The Zoo Crew, those groovy hippie DJs at THE ZOO radio station, are spinning "Walmart" by Jesse Welles from his album Patchwork, and the Zoo Freaks are loving it. This song’s sharp, satirical take on American consumer culture has struck a chord, with lyrics like “I saw a toddler eat a cigarette on a cart of Keystone beer” painting a vivid, darkly funny picture of life in the retail giant’s aisles. In an interview with Pancakes & Whiskey, Welles shared a story about his own frustration at a Walmart, saying he “threw a huge fit” because “it was taking too long,” reflecting his lifelong struggle with life’s injustices, big and small. This personal anecdote hints at the song’s roots in his real-life observations. On Reddit, fans in the r/walmart community have embraced the track, with one user posting it for “all of you who have had the displeasure of working for Wal-Mart,” earning dozens of upvotes and comments for its relatability. The song’s biting humor and social commentary, as noted in a Demo Magazine review, make it a standout on Patchwork, balancing witty cynicism with the album’s more earnest folk tunes.

Another layer to “Walmart” comes from its reception as a cultural snapshot. KCOU called it “undoubtedly one of the best tracks” in Welles’ discography, praising its relevance and ability to blend humor with deeper social critique. The song’s lyrics, available on Genius, capture absurd yet all-too-real moments, like “some dude named Tanner called me queer” while Welles browses art supplies. This specificity, paired with its universal appeal, has fueled its popularity on platforms like TikTok, where Welles’ acoustic performances often go viral. His ability to turn everyday absurdity into folk poetry has drawn comparisons to John Prine, with Arkansas Times noting how “Walmart” anchors Patchwork in his “searing political sphere.” The song’s raw honesty resonates with fans who see it as both a protest and a mirror to modern life, making it a perfect fit for the Zoo Crew’s eclectic, truth-seeking vibe.

Jesse Welles, born Jesse Wells on November 22, 1994, in Ozark, Arkansas, kicked off his musical journey at age 11 when he picked up a guitar. Growing up in a small town with a turkey plant and a couple of gas stations, he was steeped in folk, country, classic rock, and Motown, drawing inspiration from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Nirvana. As a teenager, he burned his own CDs to sell his recordings, a DIY spirit that still defines him. Under the alias Jeh Sea Wells, he started posting homemade tracks on SoundCloud and Bandcamp around 2012, building a grassroots following. That same year, he formed the band Dead Indian with Dirk Porter and Simon Martin, releasing two albums before starting Cosmic American in 2015 with Simon Martin, Skyler Greene, and Blake Foster. After moving to Nashville to work with producer Dave Cobb, he released his debut solo album Red Trees and White Trashes in 2018 under the name Welles, marking his shift to a solo career.

Welles’ early years were shaped by more than music. He lived in an art commune in the Fayetteville mountains until 2016, an experience that fueled his outsider perspective. Literary influences like Walt Whitman, Herman Melville, Cormac McCarthy, and Mark Twain also shaped his lyrical style, blending poetic depth with plainspoken grit. His 2024 social media breakthrough came after his father survived a heart attack, prompting Welles to write folk protest songs like “War Isn’t Murder” and “Cancer.” These tracks, shared on Instagram and TikTok, amassed millions of streams and earned praise from The New York Times and Rolling Stone. His unpolished, “everyman” voice and fearless commentary have made him a voice for the disenfranchised, a trajectory that started with those burned CDs and led to sold-out shows on his Fear Is the Mind Killer Tour.

Fans can connect with Jesse Welles through his official website or follow him on social media for updates and new music. His Facebook page shares tour dates and personal posts, while Instagram and TikTok showcase his viral acoustic videos. On X, he engages with fans and posts about current events, often with his signature wit. For fan communities, the r/walmart subreddit has become an unexpected hub for “Walmart” enthusiasts, though no dedicated Jesse Welles fan groups on Facebook or standalone fan websites were found. The Zoo Freaks can keep vibing with Welles’ music and join the growing crowd of fans rallying around his raw, honest sound.