Mario Tarradell

Shooter Jennings is 28. He was born in 1979, during the heyday of disco and at the tail end of the classic rock era.

Universal Records South

Shooter Jennings

But the son of singer-songwriter Jessi Colter and late outlaw country legend Waylon Jennings is an old soul. Just look at him, with his long, straight hair, full beard, dark sunglasses and tattooed arms. His image harkens to a time before gym bunnies, makeup artists and photographic airbrushing.

Now listen to his music. His brand of roadhouse country comes fueled by Rolling Stones-styled rock, just a smidgen of heavy metal, a bit of psychedelic soundscapes and plenty of that outlaw verve reminiscent of his daddy.

Clearly, Shooter Jennings was born too late.

"I like playing music in the now, and I like doing music that is different and from that day," he says by phone from a tour stop in Phoenix. Mr. Jennings admits that before he reached his 20s, he delved into the Stones, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, Gram Parsons and, of course, the country classics such as George Jones, Buck Owens and Jimmie Rodgers.

"I wish I were born five years earlier or 10 years earlier because of the state of music today. Radio is screwed up. Labels are screwed up. You get one shot. We are surrounded by a system that is not built for people who make albums."

He's not letting that thwart his momentum, though. The Wolf, released last October, finds Mr. Jennings continuing his creative climb that began with 2005's debut Put the O Back in Country and kept pace with 2006's Electric Rodeo. The latest CD has its share of personal songs, such as the autobiographical "This Ol Wheel"; cool collaborations such as "Slow Train," featuring the Oak Ridge Boys; and fun covers, such as his loose, honky-tonk take on Dire Straits' "Walk of Life."

Roping in the Oaks to sing on "Slow Train" further proves that Mr. Jennings digs into the past to inform the present. It all began with his record producer, Dave Cobb. Mr. Cobb's father is a huge Oak Ridge Boys fan.

"Dave's dad had the number of Duane Allen's daughter's husband," he says. "I called Duane after weeks of looking at that number. I was afraid to call. I had that number memorized by the time I called it, 'cause I looked at it so much. Duane was really sweet, and he talked about hanging out with my dad. It was so surreal. Duane came in and directed the whole session, and it was so awesome."

Mr. Jennings is proudest of the way those Oak Ridge Boys harmonies blend into the Southern rock chorus of "Slow Train." So what if the Oaks' mainstream country heyday is over?

Universal Records South

Being a dad has changed his life 'in every possible good way,' says Shooter Jennings.

"It had to be something so cool," he says. "It's such a classic group. It's not like putting Kenny Chesney on your record to get radio play. They are such a part of country music history. I love that."

Mr. Jennings, who performs Saturday night at the Granada Theater with his band, the .357's, seems most at peace with his life and career. Soon after completing The Wolf, .357 member Leroy Powell departed. "He really wanted his own thing," says Mr. Jennings. "It was better all the way around."

Personally, Mr. Jennings is a recent father. His longtime girlfriend, actress Drea de Matteo, gave birth to daughter Alabama Gypsy Rose in November. The couple goes back and forth between homes in Los Angeles and New York.

"It changed my life completely but in every possible good way," he says. "It puts the whole thing in perspective, 'cause life is now moving at her pace. It's driven me more creatively, too. We've brought her out on the road so that I can be with her more. She's such a great baby. Drea and I thought we were too young to have a baby. But we love it. All the priorities in my life have just changed."

Yes, Shooter Jennings is still an old soul, but with a new purpose.

PLAN YOUR LIFE With the Drams and Miles From Nowhere, Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. Doors open at 7. $15. 214-824-9933, www.granadatheater.com.