Sierra Hull "Queen of Hearts/Royal Tea"

So, here's a question. What were you doing when you were 13 years old? Me, I was playing kickball and trading baseball cards. (Wish I still had those!) Why is it that some people have such a clear path illuminated for them? Sierra Hull was already on her way at age 11, when Alison Krauss called her to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry to perform with her. Sierra signed her first record deal at 13, with Rounder Records, and for the decade the bluegrass world has been her home. The yearning came to reinvent, to explore, to push free, and at 24, with the aid of producer Bela Fleck, Sierra Hull has released the abum Weighted Mind. It is a major move toward artistic freedom.

This music is effortless, elegant, evocative. Bluegrass instrumentation and foundation gets new life breathed into it to become an orchestral expression. There are no structural limits. The coloration of the instruments, the voices, the interplay, all of this is simply delicious. Sierra Hull’s exploration is a testament to human restlessness. I can’t wait to see where her music takes her next.

Music Fog filmed Sierra Hull, along with Ethan Jodziewicz on upright bass and Justin Moses on banjo, at 3rd & Lindsley Backstage this past January. Here they are performing one of my favorite songs on the new album, "Queen Of Hearts/Royal Tea." Catch this trio on tour this spring. Enjoy, let your imagination run free.

- Jessie Scott

Waylon Payne "Sins of The Father"

Waylon Payne. His name fairly floats off the page. The first time I encountered Waylon was hearing the song “Jesus On A Greyhound,” soaring, ragged and beautiful, from his 2004 album The Drifter. We actually played both versions of that tune, Waylon’s and Shelby Lynne’s, on my now defunct XM Channel, X Country. We met somewhere around that time, and kept crossing paths. When the movie Walk The Line came out, I got to interview Waylon and Shelby together, as they both had roles in the film. Then there was a tour bus ride back from a Willie Nelson appearance at the old Backyard outside of Austin, with Waylon regaling us with tales and tunes on the way to the Saxon Pub to jump on stage with the late Stephen Bruton. All rich moments, they are etched in stone in my mind.

Waylon Payne has been called country royalty. Named after Waylon Jennings, his mother was Sammi Smith, who rode the Kris Kristofferson song “Help Me Make It Through The Night” into the white hot spotlight. His father was Jody Payne, who played guitar in Willie Nelson’s band for decades. They are both gone now, and Waylon has had to cobble his own way, finding sobriety, and purpose and the path. He lives in Nashville now, and has a couple of films coming out, including the autobiographical The Drifter: The Waylon Payne Story.  Look for Waylon in an upcoming appearance on the Grand Ol’ Opry on April 7th. We invited him before the Music Fog cameras in January at 3rd & Lindsley. From that session, here is “Sins Of The Father.”

Guitar Army "Hours In Between"

The sun has been shining in Austin! SXSW© is kicking my butt in the very best way possible, as I am immersed in glorious music. Tuesday night at The Saxon Pub, The Grahams, Gurf Morlix and Jimmy LaFave were on stage. Wednesday night it was The Chubby Knuckle Choir, Statesboro Revue, The Surreal McCoys, and Shinyribs at the Saxon. Dang, I sure wish the Foggers were here to capture the magic. Don't forget Sun Radio is in the midst of broadcasting some 54 artists from its Sonesta Bee Cave and Backstage at El Mercado South locations. Listen live at sunradio.com, you’ll like the artists we have playing.

Did someone say rock? Here is some total serendipity. When Music Fog was getting ready to do our shoot in Nashville at the end of January, Robben Ford was doing a residency at the High Watt. So I made a phone call to see if he was available, as I have loved his music for years. Little did I know what was to come next! Allow me to introduce the Guitar Army - Robben Ford, Lee Roy Parnell, and Joe Robinson...all kick-ass, world class musicians.

Ford is a five-time GRAMMY® nominee and was called “one of the top 100 guitarists of all time” by Musician Magazine. Parnell is a walking, talking embodiment of southern soul. The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Hall of Fame Member and noted slide guitarist has charted seven Top 10 country hits and earned two GRAMMY® nominations. Robinson is an Australian prodigy who, at the age of 11, met and started playing with acoustic virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel — a little over five years later, Robinson won Australia’s Got Talent. Can you say triple threat? I can’t wait to catch this band playing out. They are so good it makes me giddy! Today’s Music Fog tune is “Hours In Between,” which will be on Lee Roy Parnell’s upcoming album. Allow us to introduce you to Guitar Army. Scorching!

- Jessie Scott