Tommy Womack "On & Off the Wagon"

Tommy Womack is a wordsmith. Pure and simple. Well, actually there is nothing simple about Tommy...pure and complex! How is that? The words manifest in all different kinds of ways. There are songs, some delivered solo, and some with bands current and past; in reverse order with DADDY, The Bis-quits, and Government Cheese. There are books, The Cheese Chronicles, which is in my estimation one of the finest rock and roll books ever written; The Lavender Boys and Elsie, the collected civil war era letters of Albert and Elsie Deveraux which came out in 2008; and now we await an illustrated children's book to be published this year called Jack The Bunny. He has even contributed columns to Music Fog's website from time to time. His blog over on his website is a literate and illuminating glimpse into his life. From it, posted back in May:

"On Tuesday I got my second day of recording done for my next solo venture. John Deaderick and I – the same team who gave you There, I Said It! - are at it again. Expect a 2011 release for this one. (It makes no sense to rush these things anymore, does it.) Songs recorded so far: “On & Off The Wagon,” “Play That Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick Play,” “It Doesn’t Have to Be That God,” “Bye & Bye,” “Wishes Do Come True,” “Pothead Blues,” “I’m Too Old to Feel That Way Right Now,” “Darling Let Your Free Bird Fly,” “Guilty Snake Blues,” and “I Love You to Pieces."

Whoo-hoo! A new Tommy Womack CD is an well anticipated and wholly awesome thing to contemplate!

Tommy came up on the Music Fog bus this past February, at Folk Alliance, and brought Lisa Gray with him to lay down one of the above mentioned new tunes. Is this a song about sobriety, about being on the road, about marital fidelity, about the human condition? Answer, likely all of the above. A lot to stuff in, delivered in just two minutes and thirty-eight seconds! "On and Off the Wagon."

- Jessie Scott

Catherine MacLellan "Old Tin Can"

Sweet. I am in New Jersey, the Garden State, so named for its one-time ability to feed the city of New York, not to mention itself. No, it is not all highways and exits, as billed. There are little towns, and everything from the shire, to dense industrial areas, to farmland contained within. Whatever your expectations of the place, there are other defining vistas as well. And the state is a whole lot bigger than you think it is, too. Locally grown tomatoes, corn, and blueberries are found in road side stands, the bounty of summer. I can't believe I am talking food again today, but Jersey takes her cuisine seriously! There is this way cool restaurant called the Reservoir Tavern that we ate at - a "neighborhood" Italian roadhouse that has been serving up awesome food since the 1936 "Happy Motoring" days.

Catherine MacLellan has recently posted a blog about her garden, up north from here, in Canada. She's growing garlic, and songs of course. A quote from it, "This note is to say, there is food growing in the garden, songs getting ready for recording, ideas running about my head, and summer flying away as I write this." She and Chris Gauthier came to the Music Fog stage during our SXSW 2010 stay at Threadgill's in the back room. The song "Old Tin Can" is from that session, and is slated for her forthcoming album, which we think will be released in 2011. I am thinking the Old Tin Can reference might be about the clunky headphones we used to wear in the studio, as we called them "cans." The songwriter's story contained within chronicles their journey over the border from Canada to New York, and then on to Nashville, which happens to be the next stop for Music Fog, in early September, too.

- Jessie Scott

Stonehoney "Tear It Down"

The show was fun Tuesday night at Rodeo Bar in New York City. [Editor's note: Jessie is on the road with Walt Wilkins & the Mystiqueros this week.] Thanks to Jack Grace for making it happen! Met a lot of nice folks and sang along to every song. Ah, a good day all in all. Everyday I get to hang with friends who are also marvelous musicians, it is fine indeed. And I love going to amazing cities and seeing family and friends, too. Chinatown is always on the list when I am in NYC, and so my brother Mitch and I hit 17 Mott Street, Wo Hop, for a bowl of their legendary wonton soup, and some clams with black bean sauce. There is nothing like a fermented legume!

At the end of the day, it is about sharing the love. Food, music, companionship. Blowing off steam, being in the moment. Whether you get to do those all the time, occasionally, or just for special occasions, it enriches your life. Not only do we believe in the artists' music that you see here at Music Fog, we like hanging out with them too. That is significant. Let me explain. When I started doing radio it was rock, and there was a line drawn in the sand between artists and DJ's...as if they wouldn't give us the time of day. When I started doing country radio, I noticed a change immediately! We, and even the fans, were much more considered to be part of the family. I liked that. Americana follows in those footsteps. Fun folks, and less 'tudes makes for a wonderful community. And so we come to Stonehoney. We just can't get enough. Nice guys, real guys, talented guys. We have been following them around the country, so here's one from the Thompson's loft during WoodyFest in Okemah, Oklahoma last month. Stonehoney's new CD is named after Cedar Creek Recording, where it was produced, but "Tear It Down" is a MF bonus that you won't find on the album, The Cedar Creek Sessions. And yes, their tour continues with North East dates that will wind them into the south in September. See the tour section of their website for all the dates!

- Jessie Scott