Ray Wylie Hubbard "Count My Blessings"

More Christmas present ideas, can you stand it? I am all about letting our fingers do the walking. A few years ago, when I was still living in DC, I flew down to Austin for a visit, and Ray Wylie Hubbard himself was dispatched to pick me up at the airport. He asked if I was in a hurry, and when I said that I wasn't, we made tracks to an unforgettable location. I actually must report that in my haze (fog, really) I have forgotten where it is, but not WHAT it is, as it made an indelible mark on me. It is the home of Despair, Inc, the people who put out the Demotivators calendar and collectibles, and having grown up on Mad Magazine, I relate. The choices for the 2011 version of the calendar are priceless. And Despair offers you the opportunity to customize your own calendar, including whatever specific demotivators you want to include, and you can even choose to start at a different month than January, if you like. I have to report that I save these, because even when the year is over, the messages delivered, and the ability for them to be wall hangings, remain a constant.

It doesn't surprise me that Ray would bring me to a place like that. He is a down home philosopher-artist, who casts a laser-beam light of reality on what he surveys. We are talking about truths here. I love that he has come into his own at this time in his life. And, yay, he is writing his memoir! Ray has spent the last couple of months in collaboration with All Music Guide writer, Thom Jurek for the upcoming book. Since I love the stories Ray tells on and off the stage, and his canny assessment of the morals contained within, I can't wait for the physical manifestation. And the feature film that Ray co-wrote with award winning director Tiller Russell, The Last Rites of Ransom Pride, has finally been released. And ya know, he wrote all of the songs for the movie, as well. Play it online, or add it to your DVD queue at Netflix. Also, on tap for early next year is a different kind of collaboration with Kevin Welch, as he and Ray Wylie will hold three weekend songwriter's workshops in, where else, Wimberley, TX. And speaking of songwriting, the performing rights organization SESAC, which recognizes the major impact and growing relevance of the Americana format, handed out awards to several top artists and songwriters in the genre last Monday night, including Bob Dylan, Jim Lauderdale, Allison Moorer, The Avett Brothers and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Ray and Hayes Carll were honored for their work on Ray's most recent album A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment (Hint: There Is No C).

So let's all raise our voices in a rousing round of Happy Birthday to you, Ray Wylie Hubbard! The celebration takes place tonight at the One World Theatre in Austin, then continues this weekend in Dallas and Houston. And beyond! We revisit the stage at Threadgill's during SXSW 2010, for an appropriate sentiment with "Count My Blessings." This is a new song from Ray, which he says might make it onto the next album!

- Jessie Scott

Paul Thorn "It's a Great Day to Whup Somebody's Ass"

What a weekend of music in Austin, as Denise and I headed to the Asleep At The Wheel 40th Anniversary Concert at The Long Center on Friday night. We were singing and dancing in our chairs to "Miles And Miles Of Texas," "Bump Bounce Boogie," "Choo Choo Ch' Boogie," "Roly Poly," "Route 66," and on and on, for an evening's worth of magnificent Western Swing. What a band! Multiple players for each instrument, as The Wheel brought back past members to share the stage with current ones. Leon Rausch guested, and then Willie Nelson took center stage with Brother Ray and reprised songs from his great American songbook, and then there was Willie and The Wheel stuff. It was an amazing night, and they videoed it, too, so here's hoping we'll see it in the not too distant future. Afterwards, I headed to Emo's for Ha Ha Tonka, and they were FAB! Edgy but tuneful, with really interesting time signatures. Inventive, articulate, and fun.

Saturday night was the dedication of the patio at the Saxon Pub to the late Stephen Bruton, and then a set from Malford Milliigan, who was so obviously touched by Stephen's music. Rockin' and soulful.

Then, last night at Threadgill's, there was a tribute to Gram Parsons, who would have celebrated a birthday last Friday, so Patterson Barrett saluted him with help from members of Stonehoney and The Mother Truckers, Michael Fracasso, Freddie Steady Krc and Cam King, Idgy Vaughn and lots of others.

I feel so lucky that I get to immerse myself in the music. It is such a treasure, and such a motivator for me. I guess the only thing is that I miss having a radio station to play this sumptuous smorgasbord. Wish I could be sticking it all in your ear! Here is another of my most favorites, Paul Thorn. From the sublime to the ridiculous, and this one is from the latter category. He never put this song on an album, but during one of the sessions he did for X Country at XM, with a twinkle in his eye, he played it for us. I had never heard it before, and when he was done singing, he said the phones would go nuts. And they did. He didn't really want to sing it for the Music Fog cameras, because it perpetuates an unfortunate stereotype, but I begged him. So, it seems appropriate to celebrate our 500th video with this exclusive tune, "It's A Great Day To Whup Somebody's Ass." Amen.

- Jessie Scott

Keith Sykes "Gray Beard and Whiskers"

I was thinking about Memphis yesterday. Blues and Stax and Sun and Elvis. What a birthright, and what a heritage to immerse oneself in. I was researching the clubs in Memphis long distance, trying to get a feel for that scene from afar. I know and love several Memphis bred artists; Kelley Mickwee from The Trishas, Cory Brannan, Jimmy Davis, and Keith Sykes. Todd Snider moved there in the mid 80's, where he had a residency at a club called The Daily Planet. That is where he was discovered by Keith Sykes, who signed him to his first label deal. Keith was then a member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, and the label was Jimmy's Margaritaville Records. In Todd's song "Vinyl Records" he pays homage, as in the piles and piles of albums around him on the floor, he names names: "…I got Rita, Kris, Keith Sykes and Country Joe when he was singin' with the Fish you know..." We love Todd Snider; it is so good to see him doing well. His show during the Americana Fest last month in Nashville totally rocked. And we all know he has a softer side too.

A friend of mine, Laurie Strongin, wrote a book about the heroic process she and her husband Allen went through to save their son Henry from a rare illness, though tragically, he passed. The book, Saving Henry: A Mother's Journey, came out earlier this year, and in one of the chapters Laurie quotes lyrics from the Todd Snider tune "Beer Run." Todd read the book, and graciously offered to play at a benefit for the Hope For Henry Foundation, which helps seriously ill children. "Hope For Henry Rocks" is set to take place on November 13th, at The Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington, DC. I am happy to report I will be there too, to interview Todd during the 'meet and greet.' See you there?

Ahhh, but now to revisit Memphis...how it felt to be there in the chill of February during Folk Alliance. How wonderful it was to have so many artists come aboard the Music Fog bus. Keith Sykes was one of them. His has been a storied career. Eyes on the prize, always writing, collaborating, gigging, keeping moving. We often link to people's websites, and especially this time, I encourage you to click-through and read about Keith's life, as he has had a phenomenal ride in these 40 years. We think this is a brand new tune, because as we researched it, we were unable to find it on an album. I did find it listed on the BMI database with the spelling "Grey Beard and Wiskers," though. Keith references a new album being in the works; maybe this song will show up there, and he says there may be a tour with Todd coming up...we'll for sure keep you posted!

- Jessie Scott