Then there’s Last Train to Juarez — a band carving out its own lane in outlaw country with grit, authenticity, and a philosophy rooted in passion over polish.
At the center of it all is frontman Dejan Knezevic, whose road to country music wasn’t exactly traditional.
Long before the outlaw-country sound of Last Train to Juarez was packing venues and biker rallies across the country, Dejan spent years deeply embedded in Arizona’s local metal scene.
“I spent the majority of my life playing in the metal genre in the local Arizona music scene,” he explains.
In the 1990s, he fronted his own metal project called Core, later performing in a band with the unforgettable name Pelvic Meatloaf. But as the years passed, something started shifting.
Around 2015, Dejan found himself gravitating toward a very different sound — one rooted less in commercial polish and more in storytelling, grit, and authenticity.
Artists like Whitey Morgan, Cody Jinks, Sturgill Simpson, Billy Don Burns, Dallas Moore, and Turnpike Troubadours changed everything.
“Their music seemed more real to me and authentic as opposed to the polished Nashville industry-created products commonly heard on the radio.”
That realization planted the seed for what would eventually become something much bigger.
By 2019, Dejan had made the decision to fully commit to country music, and Last Train to Juarez officially began taking shape.
But this wasn’t a polished industry launch.
There were no label executives. No manufactured image. No carefully crafted marketing campaign.
Instead, the band’s roots trace back to the Metalheads MC motorcycle clubhouse, where Dejan started casually playing solo acoustic sets for guests.
What began as a hobby quickly grew into a full-fledged band.
And somewhere along the way, it became family.
According to Dejan, that spirit still drives everything they do today.
“We all play for the love and passion of it and aren’t necessarily driven by ‘making it’ or chasing trends, record deals, charts or whatever.”
That independent mindset has become one of the defining traits of Last Train to Juarez — and honestly, it’s part of what makes them feel so authentically Arizona.
What makes Last Train to Juarez’s story even more impressive is that they’ve earned national recognition without chasing the traditional music industry machine.
In 2024, the band accepted the Best Outlaw Group Award at the prestigious Josie Music Awards, held at the legendary Grand Ole Opry — one of the highest honors in independent music.
And they didn’t stop there.
For the current 2026 Josie Awards, Last Train to Juarez earned four national nominations, continuing to prove that Arizona-grown outlaw country can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with artists from across the country.
Their nominations include:
For an independent Arizona band built from motorcycle clubhouse jam sessions and fueled entirely by passion rather than industry backing, that level of national recognition says a lot.
And perhaps even more importantly — they’re doing it their way.
Sharing Stages with Country Heavy Hitters
Over the years, Last Train to Juarez has shared stages with some seriously recognizable names, including:
They’ve also appeared at major events including:
…and countless festivals, rallies, and venues across the country.
Rocky Point Country Fest – June 14
On June 14, Last Train to Juarez heads south for the Annual Country Fest in Rocky Point, performing alongside several talented Arizona country artists — including fellow members of the AZDCMA family.
Summer Tour & Sturgis Run – Beginning July 12
Starting July 12, the band hits the road for a multi-state tour through:
During that stretch, Last Train to Juarez will play approximately 15 shows in 11 days during the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, including performances at iconic destinations like:
That kind of schedule would wear most bands out — but for Last Train to Juarez, the road seems to be exactly where they belong.
Dejan’s vision goes beyond just growing Last Train to Juarez.
He’s also launching a new artist growth system called Zivio, designed to help independent artists build sustainable careers by following the same path that helped grow LTTJ from a motorcycle clubhouse side project into a nationally touring outlaw-country act.
The goal?
Helping artists grow without depending on labels, trends, or industry gatekeepers.
Ask Dejan what comes next, and the answer is refreshingly simple.
No record deal ambitions.
No chasing trends.
No industry expectations.
Just making real music for real people.
“Our path isn’t industry focused. I have no ambitions of getting a record deal or being beholden to anyone. We will keep building our audience one fan at a time.”
And with roughly 200 shows per year, it’s clear they mean it.
At AZDCMA, we’re proud to spotlight artists like Last Train to Juarez — artists who prove that authenticity still matters, hard work still wins, and Arizona country music continues to make noise far beyond state lines.
If you haven’t caught them live yet, trust us — jump on board.
*Photo courtesy of Cherie Pyles
