Lake Street Dive "Got Me Fooled"

From here on my perch in New Jersey, the destruction that Sandy left behind is surreal. We still have no power at the house, so I sleep with many layers on, plus with my hooded jacket. I am thankful that it wasn't worse in my neighborhood. Some fared better, and tragically, some lost everything. I do have power at work, so it is possible to get some things done. It is remarkable how important having a charge for your phone is. The power strip has become king. Last night I waited on a gas line for an hour, only to have them run out before I got there. I can't wait til I can do the laundry again!

So I have the blues, along with all the other folks in the huge swath that Sandy cut. As life slowly returns to normal, I figured it would be soothing to hear a bluesy number today from Lake Street Dive doing the ultimate cold shoulder tune, “Got Me Fooled.” The band entered the studio mid-month in Maine to record their next album. They are as off the grid as you can get while they explore the creative process, and we can’t wait to hear what they lay down. We bring you a track from their self-titled album, done up Music Fog style from our Fall Marathon last year during Americana Fest in Nashville at Marathon Recorders.

Jessie Scott

David Jacobs-Strain "Ocean Or A Teardrop"

Sandy is coming, and here on the east coast we are waiting. Our preparations are done; water, batteries, canned food. If the power goes out, we hope we have what we need. I spent an inordinate time on Sunday buying all that stuff, and then looking for a portable radio. Time was that radios were on the shelves everywhere. I tried the usual places, remember Radio Shack USED to even have ‘radio’ in its name. Walgreen’s was out. Marshall’s had only iPod accessories. I finally found one at a tobacconist/newsstand in Denville, NJ. They even had the C batteries to power it, hallelujah. Radio used to be ubiquitous. Sunday’s search is a sad testament of how things have changed.

I keep hearing the strains in my head of a classic radio tune from way back when; “Sandy, 4th of July, Asbury Park.” It would be a cruel irony indeed if Sandy makes landfall on the Jersey shore. This storm is so huge though, that it will bring misery to many - wind and flood damage, disruption to normal life. Heck, it is not every day they shut down the NYC transit system. So if you are in the affected area, Godspeed through it all. May you and yours stay safe. Here is an offering from David Jacobs-Strain, “Ocean Or A Teardrop,” originally found on his 2004 album. Here is the Music Fog recording, filmed during Americana Fest 2010.

-Jessie Scott

Gretchen Peters "Five Minutes"

Today, this right here, is exactly what is wrong with today’s country music. The emotional resonance is just up and gone, you know? Everything is too squeaky clean, too packaged and predictable. Not like this song. This covers ground! This takes you from the insignificant to what is really happening with a fine eye for detail, one that makes it possible for all of us to see ourselves.

I was going to write about how fast everything is, then remind you to get your doctor for a check-up, and then I was just swept away by the human drama; regret, sadness and resignation to it all. What a song. And what a performance. Gretchen Peters is an impassioned purveyor of the truth. She is also on tour, glory be! You should go see her if she is in your neck of the woods! This is “Five Minutes,” from Gretchen’s latest album Hello Cruel World, with Barry Walsh on keys.

-Jessie Scott