Elephant Revival "Go On"

As I write this,  I am watching Hurricane Isaac coverage, and as I just visited New Orleans last week, I am feeling especially kindred with the folks in that town. I know that a lot of people didn’t evacuate with this storm, thinking it wasn’t going to be that dangerous. My son lives in NOLA, and I am texting him every few hours, as they are hunkered down, without power. It is hard to monitor these kinds of events from afar, and it is sure unsettling trying to second guess Mother Nature. With all of that, I am sweating out how slow moving this storm is, wondering if the infrastructure, which was rebuilt after Katrina, will hold up to the winds and rain and possible flooding. I am praying for everyones safe passage through the storm.

Today’s tune is one of encouragement to seize the moment and run with it. “Go On” from the amazing Colorado based band Elephant Revival. You know, I read all the comments that are posted on our YouTube channel, and the sentiments about these guys, by far and away, are raves. They are spectacular to see in concert, really special players and wonderfully intuitive as an ensemble. The good news is their fall tour takes them across the country eastbound, and then back! Here are Bonnie Paine, Sage Cook, Dan Rodriguez, Bridget Law, and Dango Rose with a tune from their Break In The Clouds album, filmed at the 2011 Americana Fest in Nashville at Marathon Recorders.

-Jessie Scott

The Believers "Wait Around"

I’ve been walking around the French Quarter in New Orleans this weekend. It has been great observing people at their work. Hospitality is such a great calling card in this town. You know folks are earnest about accommodating you for a meal or, a bit of music, or whatever else you need. It is easy on the skin here. You get the sense that people know that they must earn their daily bread, but that it doesn’t get in the way of play. Moderation in all things. I think you probably need to be mindful of that when you live in a place where the party virtually never ends. But you can feel the balance, and the intention. People here are doing it; rebuilding a city, reknitting the social fabric. And it is good. If you haven’t been back since Katrina, you owe it to yourself to return. Here’s hoping Hurricane Isaac comes ashore as a non-event this week.

We filmed founding members Craig Aspen & Cynthia Frazzini of The Believers, during our Americana Fest Fall Music Fog Marathon last October in Nashville. BTW, Americana Fest is a month earlier this year, so I will be heading to Nashville in September. Unfortunately, Music Fog won't be there filming our sessions this time, though, because we didn’t make our Kickstarter goal.

The Believers formed in Seattle during the Alt. Country - No Depression era and have been recording and performing ever since. We actually filmed them for the first time two years earlier, when Tara Nevins brought them up on the Music Fog bus in 2009. Here is one from last year, a brand new song called “Wait Around.”

-Jessie Scott

James McMurtry "Red Dress"

Today is the last day to donate to our Kickstarter campaign for us to be able to do the Fall Music Fog Marathon in Nashville during the Americana Fest, September 12th - 15th. We wouldn’t have undertaken another campaign if we hadn’t been successful earlier this year. Funny, last time we were on deadline, which was back in March for the Spring Music Fog Marathon during SXSW, we had $4,000 to raise the last afternoon. It became something of my own personal telethon, as I did outreach via email, Facebook, and phone to friends and industry folks, keeping them updated as the goal got closer. We hit it with two hours to spare before the deadline. I do not expect to be doing that this afternoon, however, as we are still so far away. I am sorry that it is not likely to happen, and that Music Fog will not then be able to attend the Americana Conference to film another forty artists. The good news is, though, if you pledged and we don’t make our goal, the money simply reverts back to you. We can’t keep it, wouldn’t want to, either, because we needed the whole sum, $15,000 to be able to travel to Nashville for a week for a crew of five, and have a production budget. Maybe someone will wave a magic wand and make it happen. Ya never know!

One of the most watched artists we have filmed is James McMurtry. He is always in Music Fogs top ten watched videos. We are honored to be given access to capture him, and it happened again during our Spring Marathon at Threadgill’s. I love the way he occupies the narrative, he wears the words he sings, you can see it in his eyes. James is on a western swing of dates. Today we bring you a total classic, “Red Dress,” originally found on the 2002 Saint Mary Of The Woods CD, which I recommend highly. There is also a version of it on Live in Aught-Three. The latter album was re-mastered and reissued since its original 2004 release. We have a solo version from back in March for you today. ”Red Dress.”

-Jessie Scott