Darrell Scott "River Take Me"

Monday morning, and I don’t want to break the reverie of the weekend. Not that I actually have a job to report to. Jobs are hard to find, as we all know. So you gotta do what you can. For me, that means making the decision to be self-disciplined every day. I never did like having to punch a clock much, but I do have the utmost respect for people who do what they must, because that is the only way their families will thrive. It is impossible to believe that there just aren’t enough jobs to go around anymore. I would love to see the 10% or 9% of America’s unemployed get back to work, but don’t get me started!

“The river can drown you or wash you clean.” So writes Darrell Scott, of a man out of work, with the rain coming down. His lyrics carry you through all kinds of emotions, just in this one song. It is a thing of wonder to be able to write the way Darrell does. Not to mention to be able to sing and play the way he does, too. There are a smattering of solo tour dates coming, and then more ahead with Band Of Joy. They are all a thing of beauty, and I encourage you to catch this remarkable troubadour in action. Here is a taste, Darrell Scott with one of the songs from his album Theater Of The Unheard. It is the Music Fog version of “River Take Me,” recorded in September at the Americana Fest in Nashville.

- Jessie Scott

Exene Cervenka "Alone In Arizona"

In so many ways, I am a Luddite, except for the violent aspect, though certainly the meaning has changed a bit from its original usage. I refuse to combine my electronics into the one convergence unit; I am PC, not Mac; I still like to shop in stores rather than online. There is something really wonderful about the atmosphere of a well done retail environment. I am particularly sad about the closing of 200 Borders Stores nationally. I have spent countless hours perusing the racks for music, magazines and books. There was a closing sale in my local store this weekend, and I loaded up on as many books as I could stack up and carry, to stand on line for the registers with the other old school readers. What it says about publishing scares me. I look at the printing press as the beginning of mass communication, and we are seeing all that devolve. Yes, the internet is an incredible forum, but I, for one, still think books are important to have and to hold. Having worked in a digital environment, I know that data can be wiped out in a moment. I think it is important to have a backup. And I do not like the idea that one can’t impact the population the way one used to be able to do, be it via newspapers, magazines, television, radio, CDs and yes, books. But we at Music Fog believe in the internet, and we thank you for finding us here, and for telling your friends about us. This period of development is pretty exciting, as the paths have not matured yet; there is no status quo. In so many ways, it is still becoming. We ride the wave, and it is infinitely interesting seeing where it takes us and what is possible. At the end of the month, we will celebrate our 3,000,000th view on the Music Fog YouTube channel. We are forging on, pioneering in our own way.

It is so wonderful to be able to follow careers that have been iconic and innovative on these pages. Take Exene Cervenka, for instance. She has a new album, The Excitement of Maybe, coming out in a few weeks, and it continues paving the path that this Renaissance woman walks. Exene, of course, is best known for her work as the singer for the legendary punk band X, as well as The Knitters and The Original Sinners. She has lived an exotic life, has explored creation in many modes. The Excitement of Maybe is her next solo project. She graced us with a song from it when she stopped by our Sweet Suite at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown, back in September during the Americana Music Festival & Conference. Here is “Alone In Arizona,” with Cindy Wasserman from Dead Rock West, and Cheryl Lyndsey from The Breeders.

- Jessie Scott

Tommy Emmanuel "Sanitarium Shuffle"

It is hard not to live in the past, when you have decades of 'history.' That means decades of fuzzy memories, of savored moments, and yes, some you just want to forget. Having music as a passionate pursuit, which thankfully marches on, helps to make each day present time. And you don't have to forsake the old to embrace the new. My iPod spans somewhere in the vicinity of 75 years of recorded music. It makes for whiplash segues sometimes, but the songs are like jewels, they shine in their own light. From the Memphis Jug Band doing "He's In The Jailhouse Now," to the Black Keys, Decemberists, Spoon and the new Gregg Allman and Hayes Carll albums. LOVE music. Keep on bringing it.

Use to be that I would spend hours in record stores, looking at the alphabetical bins for the tactile, first with singles, then LPs and CDs. Now I gaze in wonder at the new music lists, clicking next page, and then the next. I was just looking at today's new releases; from the abovementioned Hayes Carll KMAG YOYO, to the Drive-By Truckers Go Go Boots, to the brand new Tommy Emmanuel, Little By Little, a two disc set. There are not enough discs in the world for me of Tommy's imaginative, acrobatic, and effortless music. As we bring you video, his playing is all the richer for the pictures of what his fingers are doing. It is utterly amazing to watch him. But you could just as easily close your eyes to allow the music to wash over you, too. We recorded Tommy Emmanuel this past September at the Americana Fest in Nashville. "Sanitarium Shuffle" is from his 2006 album Endless Road.

- Jessie Scott