Henry Wagons "The Gambler"

It was another stellar week at Threadgill’s for my School Night Sessions series. On Sunday night, it was a double bill, with Wildflowers – Ashley Monical and HalleyAnna Finlay’s kickass band, then James McMurtry’s son Curtis McMurtry brought the whole band...and that included 4 horns! Monday night it was the folk family; Carrie Elkin, Danny Schmidt, Anthony da Costa, Raina Rose and Andrew Pressman. And then Tuesday night, Adam Carroll and Owen Temple brought great songs, and wonderfully left of center raps. I delight in the diversity, and the quirky stories and songs, so playful and inventive.

Henry Wagons is a quirk specialist. We never quite know what he will do on stage with our props. Last year, when he had the whole band in town for SXSW® 2011, he mounted and RODE our piñata Esteban. This year during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s, he was solo on stage. All eyes were on him, but we Foggers were nervous. What would he do this time? Our mascot piñata this year, Miguel, was eventually drop kicked off the stage by Henry, though, thankfully, he was still in one piece afterwards. Drama! Acting! Rumble, Shake, And Tumble is the latest Wagons album, and they are on tour in Canada and the US this summer. Do yourself a favor and go see them for a fun evening out. Here is Henry Wagons solo, with the Music Fog recording of “The Gambler,” a tune from The Rise & Fall Of Goodtown.

- Jessie Scott

Elizabeth Cook "Sometimes It Takes Balls to Be a Woman"

Elizabeth Cook’s new EP came out yesterday. It was not something she had intended to do. The process for it was set in motion after she was asked to participate in the Sunday morning gospel program at the Strawberry Music Festival. She complied, though somewhat reluctantly. Halfway through the set, she realized that the music resonated with her. And her release of the 7 song EP, Gospel Plow, is the proof of that. At the end of the day, this music was part of Elizabeth’s childhood, and connected her to her Florida upbringing. Gospel Plow, features some her favorite Southern Gospel songs, and a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Jesus.” BTW, it is not the first time that Elizabeth has covered the Velvet Underground. There is a video on YouTube of her version of their song “Sunday Morning” a few years ago.

Head’s up, Elizabeth will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight. Watch her, and then make sure you see her when she comes to your neck of the woods on an extensive summer tour. Elizabeth is on the road with husband Tim Carroll on guitar and Bones Hillman, from the band Midnight Oil, on bass. There will be a bit of testifying going on with songs from the new EP, sandwiched in between classics like “El Camino” and “Heroin Addict Sister.” And oh yeah, “Sometimes It Takes Balls to Be a Woman.” Let’s revisit that, from back in 2007.

- Jessie Scott

The dB's "That Time Is Gone"

I love a good reunion, don’t you? When we heard that the original members of the dB’s, Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Will Rigby and Gene Holder were getting back together for their first album in 30 years, we were over the moon. And at long last, Falling Off The Sky, comes out today. Actually, it is the first new dB’s album in twenty five years, but the first in three decades with the original lineup, the guys responsible for the early '80s classics Stands for deciBels and Repercussion. The dB’s formed in the summer of 1978. The path they walked paved the way for what would become the indie explosion that is upon us today.

Photo Credit: Stephanie ChernikowskiAfter disbanding, they pursued their own muses quite brilliantly; Chris Stamey produced albums for Alejandro Escovedo, Le Tigre and Whiskeytown. Peter Holsapple recorded solo albums, did three CDs as a member of the the Continental Drifters, and worked as sideman with R.E.M. and Hootie and the Blowfish. In 2005 there was a series of reunion shows, and then the dB’s decided to make a new album. Falling Off The Sky was produced by the band members at their own pace without a deadline. Production help came from Mitch Easter and Scott Litt. All the dB’s except Gene Holder visited us during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s, and laid down one of the hot tunes from the new album, “That Time Is Gone.”

- Jessie Scott