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 Sweetback Sisters "Looking For A Fight"

I watched the Independence Day fireworks from my friends back yard. They live up on a hill (yes, there are hills in Texas!) We had a panoramic view of the sky, and in every direction, there were bombs bursting in air, all over the place. We take the fireworks thing really seriously here in Texas, and don’t just leave it to the town to do the entertaining. As several people told me they were stopping at roadside stands to get their rockets, this is the great American tradition: drink a bunch and blow things up. I am not trying to make light of it, this is just the prevailing mindset. I do hope that you had a safe and happy 4th, celebrating the birth of our nation with no ill effects. For all the beauty, and the oohing and aahing, I do think it a bit odd that we replicate war when we have giant fireworks displays. I am happy we ain’t fighting, that this is just symbolic, even if the smoke hangs heavy in the air afterwards.

The Sweetback Sisters are here today to celebrate fighting. Well sort of, anyway. What do they say, all’s fair in love and war?” The Sweetback Sisters are not related, except by their common love of music. Whether Honky Tonk, Country, Rockabilly with a touch of Swing thrown in for good measure, this band smokes it in that retro comes alive kind of way. And let’s face it, there are never enough songs about heartbreak, revenge, and remorse. We had a ball when the Sweetbacks’ came to visit us during the Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in March in Austin. They woke the entire room up with their explosive energy. Here is their tour schedule, cause ya really gotta see them live yourself. Today’s tune is “Looking For A Fight,” from Zara Bode, Emily Miller, Jesse Milnes, Ross Bellenoit, Peter Bitenc, and Stefan Amidon. It is the title track from their most recent album, done Music Fog style.

-Jessie Scott