Chatham County Line "Country Boy City Boy"

Oh no…it hit 109 degrees on Tuesday in Austin. That’s the kind of heat that makes it hard to escape. Heck, it makes it hard to justify living here in the sunbelt. If you were walking on the sidewalk the pavement radiated like it was 120. It was worse still if you were having a chat in a parking lot. All us folks that were here last summer are a little gun shy about it. Every time it hits 100, we fear triple digits will follow for days and days and days. Ahhh, but there is something to be said for green grass and shade trees. Throw in a watering hole; either for swimming or drinking…or both, and we’ll be right there.

Chatham County Line illuminates the classic dilemma, country or city, with their song “Country Boy City Boy.” They have a new live CD/DVD coming out called Sight & Sound. It was originally schedule to be released this week, but now it will make its debut on July 10th. Festivities are under way for the release by the band, who get together around one microphone, old school style, at the turn of the century. They have six albums to their credit. Today's song was originally from IV, which came out in 2008. We had the great good fortune to catch CCL at SXSW in 2010, and here is the Music Fog recording of “Country Boy City Boy,” from the Threadgill’s WHQ appearance during SXSW 2010.

-Jessie Scott

Mindy Smith "Closer"

On the School Night Sessions at Threadgill’s this past Monday night there was a very cool double bill, in essence a baton pass of tradition. The first band, Aidan, an Austin based traditional Irish outfit, plays as a three piece: guitar, flute and fiddle. There were jigs and reels and mournful songs of lost love and separation. The second set was from Wood & Wire, an articulate bluegrass band with unearthly harmonies that calls Austin home, though they will be heading to record an album in Nashville soon. Their lineup was banjo, mando, guitar and upright bass. The evening provided a unmistakable sonic connection through the generations. It was simply an amazing evening with an avid audience hanging on every note. Music that makes your heart soar. YES!

There is more cool music to dig into, with the release of Mindy Smith’s fifth, self-titled album, which hit the street yesterday. You might remember her haunting rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” in 2004 or the plaintiff track “Come to Jesus,” from her One Moment More album the same year. Mindy wrote or co-wrote all eleven songs on her new album. She will be touring like crazy this summer, showcasing her jewel-toned voice, torching and twanging and digging down deep. See for yourself, as the first song has been posted from the new CD, “Closer.”

-Jessie Scott

Chris Smither "Make Room For Me"

Sometimes events just conspire to create their own mini era. For whatever reason, I have been immersed in music history more than usual. I met the folks from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week for some spirited discussion, and also had an impassioned conversation with Dr. Gary Hartman from Texas State University, the director of the Center for Texas Music History. Then there is a bit of personal history to dig into. When one is a radio programmer playing new artists,  autographed artwork is frequently sent to thank us for playing someone’s music. I have an impressive collection of these things from years of being on the radio. Over the weekend, I started unfurling posters from decades gone by. There were slicks and handbills, and parchment, and Hatch prints, and some HUGE posters.

One of the full size posters was from Chris Smither, sent to me when his Leave The Light On album came out back in 2006. Cool to find that! Chris’s 12th studio album,  Hundred Dollar Valentine is just out. It provides a glimpse into a more mature artist, while carrying on the acoustic blues tradition for which Chris is heralded. The new album was recorded in early 2012 at Signature Sounds Studios in Pomfret, Connecticut, with drummer Billy Conway, Jimmy Fitting on harmonica, vocalist Anita Suhanin, and violinist Ian Kennedy joining Chris and producer Dave “Goody” Goodrich. When we filmed Chris Smither during the Spring Music Fog Marathon in March, he was solo. No matter, as he is magnetic whatever the configuration. Here is the Music Fog version of one of the songs found on the new album, “Make Room For Me.”

-Jessie Scott