Kenny Vaughan "Shimmy"

The GRAMMY® nominations were announced on Wednesday, and we salute all the folks that got one. Confused as they can be in terms of where to put what album, our sincere congrats go out anyway to:
Best Americana Album: Emotional Jukebox — Linda Chorney, Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down — Ry Cooder, Hard Bargain — Emmylou Harris, Ramble At The Ryman — Levon Helm, Blessed — Lucinda Williams.
Best Blues Album: Low Country Blues — Gregg Allman, Roadside Attractions — Marcia Ball, Man In Motion — Warren Haynes, The Reflection — Keb’ Mo’, Revelator — Tedeschi Trucks Band.
Best Folk Album: Barton Hollow — The Civil Wars,  I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive — Steve Earle, Helplessness Blues — Fleet Foxes, Ukulele Songs — Eddie Vedder,  The Harrow & The Harvest — Gillian Welch.
Best Recording Package: Reckless Kelly — Good Luck & True Love
Best Engineered Album (non-classical): Sarah Jarosz — Follow Me Down
Best Engineered Album (non-classical): Gillian Welch — The Harrow & The Harvest
While we are at it, nods also go out to Brian Setzer, The Decemberists, Mumford and Sons, Eric Brace and Peter Cooper, Jeff Beck, and Jim Lauderdale. The complete list is here. Can’t wait for the GRAMMYs, happening on February 12th in LA. We wish everyone good luck.

I know that one of these years, Kenny Vaughan will bag one of those awards. Yes he will. He started kicking around Nashville in 1987, where he played with The Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, Marshall Chapman, Kim Richey, and Greg Garing, with whom he joined in the reclaiming of Nashville’s historic Lower Broadway district. They played in the back room of Tootsie’s, planting the seeds for the future in what was once thought of as Skid Row, that has now grown into the bustling downtown mecca. Along the way, Kenny hooked up with Marty Stuart, and is a revered member of his Fabulous Superlatives. It was about time that Kenny put a record out of his own. V is it, and we were delighted to invite Kenny Vaughan to Marathon Recorders while we were in Nashville. He brought the boys; Rich Brinsfield on bass, and John Radford on drums. And they did rock. Behold, the Music Fog version of “Shimmy.”

-Jessie Scott

JD Souther "Go Ahead And Rain"

Last week in New Orleans, I ran into the magnificent Ruby James and arranged a visit to the Music Box with her the next afternoon. Interesting place - living breathing art on a lot that formerly had a house on it which imploded in the late 90s. The material, brick, stone, wood and such, was repurposed to construct the mini buildings. Each building makes sound, and is a musical instrument, defying logic or expectation. Street Artist, Swoon is the impetus behind this new project which brings a whole new meaning to 'touching music.' The Music Box: A Shantytown Sound Laboratory is a remarkable offering. And trotting through the Bywater neighborhood, seeing how many artist are now camping out there, makes a statement about reclaiming communities and about planting seeds that will grow. The artists come first, don’t they? You have to see these pictures! This space has had three major performances where musicians have gathered to "play" the structural instruments. The final performance at the Music Box takes place on December 10, 2011. Also, it is open to the public on Friday and Saturday afternoons from 12-5, at 1027 Piety Street, New Orleans. I recommend a visit if you are in The Big Easy.

I don’t care what the artist crafts his work out of; I just so appreciate what that is. Whether it has physical manifestation, or is word craft and burns deep in one’s brain. Today we bring you a master wordsmith. JD Souther put a new record out earlier this year, stripping things down to the core. It is called Natural History.  It includes a few deep tunes from his rich catalog, one brand new one, and mega hits that are burned into your synapses like “You’re Only Lonely,” “Faithless Love,” “The Best of My Love,” “The Sad Café,” and “New Kid in Town.” JD Souther will be on WXPN’s World Café stage this Friday at noon (eastern) for Free At Noon, listen on line from anywhere. “Go Ahead And Rain,” was originally found on the 1984 Home At Dawn album. There is a period piece video here: ours was filmed in October during the Fall Music Fog Marathon at Marathon Recorders in Nashville.

-Jessie Scott

Band Of Heathens "Nine Steps Down"

Man, it is such a whirlwind when "The Fog" blows through. I am just catching my breath from last week’s Americana Fest. Today I popped in to the website to watch several of the sets we posted from our Fall Marathon last week at Marathon Recorders. Elephant Revival, Billy Burnette, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, The Bottle Rockets...there are way more there, and I intend to watch a few every day until I have seen them all.

Right before we took off for our excursion to Nashville, we announced the arrival of our first ever compilation album, Who’s First? Music Fog Sessions Vol. 1. Audio ace Aaron Lee spent months prepping the songs, and getting the necessary behind the scenes prep work done. We especially thank the artists that participated. It has been one of our dreams for a long while, to deliver the audio to you as an album. We have even gotten some requests from DJs to play these tracks on their radio stations. On a personal note, I downloaded the 12 tracks into my iPod, and have been digging listening to them on my travels.

The twelve are Cody Canada and Seth James (AKA The Departed), The Trishas, Elliot Randall & The Deadmen, Kasey Anderson, Uncle Lucius, Chris Knight, David Jacobs-Strain, Morgan O’kane, Deadman, Sons of Bill, Paul Thorn, and of course The Band of Heathens with "Hanging Tree." I must say, it is an in-the-pocket vibey, cool collection, as so much of the music we get to capture is. Like today’s song, which is another from the soulful and earthy Band of Heathens, and was recorded during the same session as the song on our album.

“Nine Steps Down” is one of the songs you will find on their 2007 self-titled album. The New Orleans reference in it predates the motif of their most recent album Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son, which is steeped in the gumbo of the mighty Mississippi. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Nine Steps Down,” from our sessions during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs in January.

-Jessie Scott

PS: Let us know what songs you would like us to consider for the Music Fog Sessions Volume Two. Leave your suggestions in the comment box below and we will reach out to the artists and try to get them cleared for the next one!