The Legend of Outlaw Black Jack Ketchum to be Celebrated in San Angelo on Saturday

Fast-forward over a century, and Black Jack's shadow looms large over modern outlaw country music through the Boise, Idaho-based band Tylor & The Train Robbers. Led by singer-songwriter Tylor Ketchum—who proudly claims to be the great-great-grandson of the legendary train robber—the group channels the spirit of the Old West into twangy, storytelling anthems that blend Americana, country, and rock. The band's name itself is a direct nod to Black Jack's criminal exploits, particularly his gang's multiple train robberies, including the infamous 1899 holdup of a Colorado & Southern Railway train near Folsom, New Mexico, which led to his capture after a botched solo attempt left him wounded and eventually hanged in 1901.

The parallels between Tylor Ketchum's band, Black Jack's history, and the San Angelo area are as striking as they are poetic. Geographically, the connection roots in West Texas soil: Black Jack's outlaw life took a pivotal turn in Knickerbocker, a quiet spot in Tom Green County where he worked as a cowboy before turning to crime. After the Powers murder, he evaded authorities by heading west toward rugged terrains like Ketchum Mountain, symbolizing a desperate flight across the same arid landscapes that now inspire Tylor & The Train Robbers' music. The band, though based in Idaho, draws heavily from this Texas heritage—Tylor has spoken of his ancestor's tales influencing the group's identity, with their 2019 album "Best of the Worst Kind" featuring the track "The Ballad of Black Jack Ketchum," a non-fictional recounting of the outlaw's life, capture, and gruesome execution (where a miscalculated rope drop infamously decapitated him).

Thematically, the link to train robbing is unavoidable. Black Jack's gang, including his brother Sam, specialized in holding up trains for payroll and valuables, embodying the romanticized yet brutal archetype of the Wild West bandit. Tylor & The Train Robbers mirror this in their moniker and lyrics, evoking a sense of rebellion and wanderlust. Songs like "Lost and Lonely Miles" and "Good at Bad News" from their discography paint pictures of outlaws on the run, much like Black Jack's evasion through Tom Green County's fringes. Tylor has shared in interviews that the family tie—verified through genealogical claims of direct descent—informs the band's outlaw ethos, turning historical notoriety into musical narrative.

Tylor & The Train Robbers' sound is a raw, authentic force—gritty and soulful, with haunting melodies that carry a powerful, rebellious edge. Their music feels timeless and melancholic, deeply narrative-driven through Tylor's deep-voiced delivery that's both iconic and Americana-infused, channeling an outlaw spirit that's heartfelt yet introspective. Resonant and brooding, with folksy undertones and a defiant streak, their tracks evoke dusty trails and shadowed canyons, pulling listeners into a world where the past's echoes meet modern defiance. Attending one of their concerts is like stepping into a living legend: the air thick with energy as the band unleashes soulful riffs and haunting harmonies that build to powerful crescendos, leaving audiences captivated by the raw authenticity and gritty narratives. It's a rebellious gathering, where melancholic ballads give way to defiant anthems, creating a timeless, introspective vibe that's resonant and brooding—folksy tales of outlaws and heartbreak delivered with heartfelt passion, making every show feel like a defiant stand against the ordinary.

For San Angelo residents, this connection adds a layer of local pride to the band's story. Tom Green County, with its history of frontier justice and cattle drives, served as the backdrop for Black Jack's early crimes, and today, echoes of that era persist in cultural touchstones like the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo or the nearby Fort Concho historic site. Tylor & The Train Robbers, through their West Texas-rooted ancestry, bridge the gap between 1890s lawlessness and contemporary country music, reminding us that the spirit of the train robber lives on—not in heists, but in harmonies that capture the untamed heart of the American Southwest.

Fans won't have to wait long to experience this live: Tylor & The Train Robbers are set to perform at the Arc Light Sports Bar & Grill inside the Clarion Hotel, 441 Rio Concho Dr. in San Angelo, on November 8, kicking off around 10 p.m. after the college football games wrap up. It's the perfect post-game unwind, blending outlaw vibes with West Texas hospitality.

As Tylor Ketchum continues to tour and release music, including recent tracks like "Whiskey Preachin'," his band's saga proves that some family legacies are too wild to be left in the past. In a region where history and myth intertwine, Black Jack's ghost rides the rails once more, courtesy of his purported descendant and a band that robs hearts with every chord.

• Listen to Tylor and the Train Robbers on Spotify
• Watch Tylor and the Train Robbers on YouTube
• Follow Tylor and the Train Robbers on Facebook

Prior to the concert, College Football featured on the largest video wall in San Angelo at the Arc Light will be:

• 11 a.m. - #8 BYU at #9 Texas Tech 
• 2:30 p.m. - #3 Texas A&M at #19 Missouri
• 6:30 p.m. - #4 Alabama at LSU

The Arc Light has 30 flat screens in addition to the video wall and other games will be featured on those surfaces. 

Drink and food specials for Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, include:

• $20 Sirloin (with your choice of finish of) Steak Tips, Steak, Quesadillas, or 'Everything But the Kitchen Sink' Steak Nachos on crisp, freshly cooked tortilla chips
• $5 Tito's mixed drinks
• $5 Single-flavored Chiltons
• $6 Patron Tequila
• $4 Rumple
• $13 Big A** Domestic Beer Pitchers
• $15 Coors Light Buckets (of 5 bottles)

Advance tickets and reserved tables are available for the Tylor and the Train Robbers show on Stubwire.