Lincoln Durham "Mud Puddles"

Just stuff. Yeah, but when you have harbored it for decades it poses a mythical quality, telling the tale of one’s life through objects. I still have a storage space filled with boxes, too much to digest at once, and too much for the square footage in my house. So Trevor, my son, came up with a brilliant solution when he said, “Mom, why don’t you just take one box a week out of there and go through it an deal with it?” Huzzah! So that is my new plan. It might still take a while, but it will get done, I swear it will. I am still shocked at really how little one NEEDS! I am still bound and determined to pare it down to the bare minimum. Someone shared the sentiment that at some point with too much stuff, it owns you rather than the other way around.

Of course, the lack of stuff is the lot of the rambler, too. Lincoln Durham captures the sentiment in the song ‘Mud Puddles.” Lincoln is really coming into his own as this year marked the release of his amazing album, The Shovel VS. The Howling Bones. The album was produced by Ray Wylie Hubbard and George Reiff, a stunning work for a powerful performer who can recreate the mood all by his lonesome on stage. There are Texas dates this summer, before Lincoln heads to the UK in September. Go see him, I promise he will entrance you. Music Fog captured Lincoln Durham at Threadgill’s WHQ in March of 2011. “Mud Puddles” can be found on the new album; today we bring you the Music Fog recording of it.

-Jessie Scott

Billy Joe Shaver "Freedom's Child"

We all should take the next nine days off, starting today. What with the 4th of July happening midweek, what are we supposed to do? When to celebrate, the whole week, that’s what I say. There are festivities on both weekends, too. It puts me in mind of a July 4th I spent in Ft. Worth for one of Willie Nelson’s legendary Picnics. We were there to broadcast it live on XM, and at the time, every set from the beginning of the day was delayed, sometimes because Willie joined the other artists on stage. By the time Willie was to perform, it was so late, that it actually wasn’t even the 4th anymore, as it had passed midnight. Because it was midweek, a lot of folks split, opting to go to work the next day rather than see the massive fireworks display. So yes, I think we need this whole week off. Oh yeah, Willie is back at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth for another edition of the Willie Nelson 4th of July Picnic this year.

Just watch yourself. Between the sun and the fun and the beer, and the easy ability to overdo it all, we just want to caution you that both weekends are in play here. So, let us indulge, but as my mother used to say, moderation in all things. Not that I listened. Today’s video is a precursor to the Independence Day holiday which after all, should not be forgotten in all the revelry. Billy Joe Shaver recorded “Freedom’s Child” six years ago, and he has lost a considerable amount of weight since then. Believe it or not, he looks younger now. He is playing Willie’s Picnic, along with our friends Ray Wylie Hubbard, Deadman, The Dirty River Boys, and Stoney LaRue, to name just a few. Gonna be a great day, if you are in the DFW area. Here is the video for “Freedom’s Child,” from American treasure Billy Joe Shaver.

-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