Sean McConnell "Somewhere Beautiful"

Repeat after me...Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell. Credit where credit is due. Last year at the start of SXSW, hooking up with Mattson Rainer from KNBT, he was playing McConnell's EP on the radio, and he was blown away by the guy. Then I was driving a couple of days later with Eddy Levy from East End Ink, and he popped the same EP into his player, and said, "Have you heard this guy Sean McConnell yet?"

Mattson had him play the Americana Jam in May. And I reached out to Mr. Rainer to get in touch with Sean at MusicFest so he could come to our condo. He played, he stayed, he hung, and ate, and we got to know him. It was a treat.

This is a powerful vocal. There is artistry and emotion, and it lights the dark. Say it with me again...Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell. Don't forget that name.

-Jessie

The Trishas "I'm on Empty"

You know, we spend a good deal of time talking about which video we should put up next. And on Friday, our last day in Steamboat, I saw Kelley Mickwee and Savannah Welch doing some skiing. They were appropriately attired, though it was SOOOOO cold, I don't know if that is really possible. I have been attending MusicFest for seven years, and I don't think it was ever colder! This was the day of the outdoor stage, with Doug Moreland and Jack Ingram performing. I hope they could feel their fingers. I'm just saying. We didn't hang around, because we were hooking up with Brandon Jenkins to film the Gondola Concert Series™. But before I left the area, I told Savannah that we were double dipping into The Trishas videos that we shot in the condo. Her reaction was self effacing. It is almost like they don't know how good they are. The fact that they are not complacent, and that they have grown more every time we see them, makes me think they will continue to do so. Fly high, ladies!

-Jessie

The Trishas "Against the Grain"

It just don't get better than this. I awakened at the crack of noon, had coffee and a plate of eggs, sausage, tater tots and fresh croissants put in front of me, and then The Trishas arrived amidst a flurry of morning mayhem and blew us away again.

Then the amazing Todd Snider stopped by, Ray Wylie Hubbard brought us some new tunes and an old favorite, and we had Cody, Willy, and Micky Braun...together in front of our cameras! As I write this post, I have the news on TV, (I am a news junkie.) Laying on the bed with my laptop, and my feet up with a pillow under the knees. There was a Shiner lip balm in the goodie bag (hey...can we start calling them "gig bags" instead?) so the dry alpine air is counter-acted. AHHHHHHH. Seriously, the music today was the most luxurious luxuries of all.

Starting a day with The Trishas is always a good idea. We did the same thing in Nashville during the Americana Music Festival. It's just a few months later, and my, my, my! It is so wonderful to check back in with them to watch their progress. I feel like we are witnessing the ground floor of a remarkable story, Jamie, Savannah, Kelley and Liz are fun, sweet, beautiful, and incredibly talented. Yeah Buddy! Here they are with "Against the Grain."

-Jessie