Joy Kills Sorrow "Reservations"

It is a wonderful thing indeed, this communication that we humans do. Sometimes there are unspoken signals that you can pick up on, maybe not totally clear in your mind, but come away with that feeling that there is an underlying message that was indeed received. Without saying anything. Love that! Ah but sometimes it goes awry, sometimes the signals aren’t received or they are, and they are unwelcome. And just sometimes, there is just something that doesn’t feel right…reservations.

That’s today’s song “Reservations,” from the virtuoso Boston outfit Joy Kills Sorrow, who came to play for us during SXSW this past March. Music Fog was able to do a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise money to attend and webcast live from Threadgill’s WHQ for that event. Unfortunately, so far, this new Kickstarter campaign just isn’t working to raise the necessary funds to get us to Nashville for Americana Fest in September. We are sorry to come back to you, Dear Audience, for your support, by yourself, or for your company. The days are waning to contribute, and if we don’t make goal by our deadline, August 24, we won’t be attending to capture more amazing videos. Your pledge can be as little as $5. What is that, a McMeal? If you love our videos, we would sure appreciate your pledge.

So here you go, from Joy Kills Sorrow with the Music Fog version of “Reservations.” Emma Beaton – vocals, Bridget Kearney – bass,  Jacob Jolliff – mandolin, Wesley Corbett – banjo, and Matthew Arcara – guitar. The song is originally found on their This Unknown Science album. The band is doing a California run this week, so catch them if you can.

-Jessie Scott

Gary Nicholson "Listen To Willie"

The first time I got to hang with Willie Nelson was when the Teatro album came out. I traveled to Boulder, CO to accompany Emmylou Harris, Willie’s designated hitter for back-up vocals on that album. It was for a performance at a music industry event, The AAA Summit, held in August ever year. We stopped at legendary radio station KBCO for an in-studio. I chatted with Willie for a few minutes afterwards, and his eyes told me the story. There is such quiet strength and peace in them. The constant demands through the decades must be really hard to reconcile though, folks tugging on him - that just keep coming all the time. Somehow, Willie is his own vortex of calm. I have had many visits with him in the years since then, and I am always in awe of the aura that surrounds him. It is a gentle magnetic force that Carlos Castaneda might have crafted. Powerful stuff.

Willie just keeps on, a Texas gift, and a national treasure. Today we bring you a video homage from another Texas treasure, Gary Nicholson. You know his songs, even if you don’t know his name. We brought you his version of “Fallin’ & Flyin” a while ago on the Music Fog pages. That was one of the featured songs on the Crazy Heart soundtrack, a co-write with the late Stephen Bruton, delivered in the film by Jeff Bridges. Gary has written for too many folks to mention, plays guitar for even more, and has produced albums you know and love. His credits are here.

Clever devil that he is, there is a song on his most recent album Texas Songbook, saluting the words of Willie Nelson, "Listen To Willie." It starts by citing "Bloody Mary Morning," then references "The Party's Over," "Hello Walls," "Night Life," "Crazy," "On The Road Again" and "Me And Paul." Here is Gary Nicholson from last year’s Fall Music Fog Marathon from Marathon Recorders in Nashville during Americana Fest.

-Jessie Scott

Blackberry Smoke "The Whippoorwill"

I have been doing research lately on regional styles of barbecue and their respective histories. Fascinating, really, the different cooking methods, different recipes, even different conceptions of what barbecue is. Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, Texas; they all have their charms. Mesquite or hickory, slow smoking or crisping up on a hot fire - chicken or pork, or sausage or beef. It is indeed a wondrous world. There is something so primal about the smell of meat being smoked. It takes hold and makes you follow, though I can’t imagine what that must be like for a vegetarian. Smoke. Yum.

Got another kind of smoke for you to try, as Blackberry Smoke's new album The Whippoorwill came out yesterday. The are known for prodigious and historically crafted hair, and have achieved rock outlaw status. Ain’t nothing quiet about that. Their shows are wailing and quaking affairs. I have just been in a serious Southern rock and roll mood lately, so the gloves are off for both the food and the music. The Whippoorwill comes on the heels of 2009's album Little Piece of Dixie, and is produced by the band, along with Clay Cook, Matt Mangano, and Zac Brown.

For today’s taste, we bring you Blackberry Smoke via a clip from their Live From the Georgia Theatre DVD which came out last year. It is the title track of their new album, “The Whippoorwill.” This one sways soft and sweet.

-Jessie Scott