Frazey Ford "Mimi Song"

I was reminiscing a few days ago about the Nancy Drew mystery books, the formative fiction of many a girl’s childhood. Nancy could do it all, and do it all well. She solved mysteries with her friends, her home life with her father and a housekeeper seemed somehow rarified. Oh yeah, there was her trusty Roadster, too. Back in those days, there were only a few pictures accompanying, so one’s imagination was engaged to fill in the gaps. The self-sufficiency and glamour was something to aspire to as we grow toward fulfilling our destinies.

Such strength among women. Me, I am ever intrigued by the girls in the band who have carved their own path. Today is the day The Be Good Tanyas album A Collection (2000-2012) comes out. It is a 16-song career retrospective, including some favs, along with two brand new tracks, "Little Black Bear" and "Gospel Song."  The trio Sam Parton, Frazey Ford, and Trish Klein deliver a sweet throwback to the Jimmie Rodgers/Carter Family era. The band is on the road to support the new album. Though we have not had the pleasure of filming The Be Good Tanyas, we did have Frazey Ford come visit us during the 2010 American Fest in Nashville. Today’s tune is of a life well lived, “Mimi Song.”

-Jessie Scott

the V-Roys "Cold Beer Hello"

Today let’s drink to beer. Especially this time of year when we are all hot, it is everywhere. The snap of the pop top, the uncapping of the bottle, the Ahhh of satisfaction after the first swig. Cold beer is written into the American DNA. Cold beer is a rallying point for musicians everywhere. Where the beer flows, the music cranks. Threadgill’s got the first beer license in Austin,TX which is why the musicians started hanging round there. It was one of the seeds planted early on for Austin’s music scene to grow.

There is evidence of beer being made and consumed as far back as 7000 years ago. The history on WIKI is a good place to start. Last year, while we were recording our Fall Music Fog Marathon in Nashville at Marathon Recorders, we had Mic Harrison and Scott Miller come by to play together as they were issuing a V-Roys reunion album called Sooner Or Later and doing a select amount of shows. There is a brand new Mic Harrison & the High Score album, Still Wanna Fight which just came out, and Scott is working on a new one too. Let us revisit a song from their collective history, that was originally released on Just Add Ice. “Cold Beer Hello.” It’s beer thirty people!

-Jessie Scott

The Bottle Rockets "Kit Kat Clock"

On Wednesday night, I found myself at legendary venue, the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, TX where owner and guiding light Kent Finlay presides over Songwriter's Night. He runs a tight ship, reminding the audience before the music gets started for the evening, that this is not the place to socialize as it is a listening night. It reminded me of auditions for Broadway or TV shows in New York. There was a hush amongst the audience members, many of them awaiting their turn to walk on stage and play their two songs. It has to be nerve wracking to bring one’s music to the public for the first time, for many the stage fright never leaves as they marshall on through long careers. I think some of the best continue to question their performance, and do not take it for granted, not ever. Songwriting is such a divine gift. When done well, it sets the mind to reeling. It can be pure communication.

One of the best songwriters, for my money, is Brian Henneman of The Bottle Rockets. The eye for detail, the way the lyrics scan; not to mention this is totally relatable stuff. You see yourself in their songs, as you have experienced moment like this, too. The Bottle Rockets are a seamless outfit; a great band, both hard rocking and truth telling. We had the honor of filming them during Americana Fest in October at Marathon Recorders in Nashville for our Fall Music Fog Marathon. They were touring behind their new stripped down release Not So Loud, doing acoustic versions of previously released songs. If you want to catch The Bottle Rockets live, they are on a run up the east coast now. Today’s tune is a classic – here are Brian Henneman, Mark Ortmann, John Horton, and Keith Voegele with the Music Fog recording of “Kit Kat Clock.”

-Jessie Scott