Uncle Lucius "No Time Flat"

It is one week out from our Music Fog Marathon, presented by Neustar. Yes, we welcome a brand new sponsor to this event and into the Music Fog family. We are so happy to be working with them. They’re the guys who make it possible for you to keep your own phone number when you change carriers, like from AT&T to Verizon, or from Sprint to T-Mobile. They also are the folks who are making digital downloads of movies work through something called UltraViolet (think one giant leap from Blu-ray). And they pretty much make our phones and the Internet work, but for the most part no-one’s ever heard of them because they keep a pretty low profile. We’re glad they chose to raise it a little bit by helping us out during SXSW® Music week.

It is so hard to believe another episode is just about upon us. I am not ready. What’s more, the MF crew in DC is scrambling to make the necessary prep to head to Texas again. Aaron, Beans and Chris are traveling in the BBC (Big Blue Crew), which we suspect knows the way all by itself by now. Ah, but it would be great to have a smart car that you could set to take you to your destination and just go. One that would just deliver you like a magic carpet. You could sleep, eat, have animated discussions, hell, you could even produce videos during the trip. I like that! Oh yeah, and can we make it a hover craft? A girl can dream after all. At the end of the day, it is all about using the time wisely. All I know is that everything seems to be speeding by, passing quickly as our music marathon will be here, and then we will be done and the guys gone in the blink of an eye. Uncle Lucius, who we will be catching up with again next week, comments in song. From our Music Fog Steamboat sessions in January at The MusicFest, we bring you another unreleased song, “No Time Flat.”

- Jessie Scott

Stonehoney "Movin' On"

Abbey, from Luckenbach, and I were hanging out last night in Gruene at the bar (no surprise, right?), talking music with Zach and Shane from Lone Star Music. These were hours spent comparing stories, extolling virtues, and sharing strategizing. You might know that the Lone Star folks are getting ready for their annual Music Awards, coming up the weekend after SXSW on March 27th. Though it is hard to think past SXSW and its smorgasbord of music, too much is never enough, so bring it on! The Lone Star Music Awards will take place at the brand new, and we hear totally fabulous Texas Music Theater in San Marcos, TX. Appearing are Javi Garcia, Lincoln Durham, The Trishas, Max Stalling, and Hayes Carll.

We were sitting across from the legendary venue Gruene Hall. That space has had a huge impact on the Texas music scene through the years. Tonight Stonehoney is playing a free show there! I can’t believe it has been months since I have caught up with the Stonehoney crew. After all, we supposedly live in the same town! But between my trips and theirs, it has been a while since I've seen them. I know they ripped it up at Folk Alliance, as it was their fourth time in Memphis for that event just a couple of weeks ago. We had a wild time with them this past summer at WoodyFest, and today we bring you an unreleased song from our session with them during that festival in Okemah, Oklahoma.

- Jessie Scott

Dustin & Kevin Welch "Jolly Johnny Junker"

Toward the end of the last century, I got to be part of the team for the release of the Emmylou Harris album Spyboy, with Monty Hitchcock and Bob Goldstone putting an amazing cadre together. We were almost all outsourced, a harbinger of what has become a very common occurrence. We took lots of conference calls, and even the occasional face to face meeting to get things done. It was exhilarating working that way, with respected peers. Holly Gleason was our publicity person. I have simply been in awe of her ever since. She has the most amazing facility for description, coupled with impeccable taste. She has worn many hats throughout her career. You might know her from The Yummy List, in which she touts music, movies, books, fashion, products, and food for a head’s up on cool stuff. You can also become a fan on Facebook.

Now remember a week ago when I referenced the “country gets integrity” period? Holly Gleason just wrote an epic piece for the LA Times about the torch being passed to the offspring of those brave iconoclasts from the 80s. You have to read this article, there are so many people we love mentioned in it. Among the elders are Rodney Crowell, Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Kevin Welch. The second generation includes Justin Townes Earle, Colin Gilmore (who will be joining us for the Music Fog Marathon in Austin coming up in a couple of weeks), Savannah Welch and The Trishas (so will they), and her brother Dustin Welch. The article talks about being true to one’s vision, and following the path. We love that Dustin does that, that these brave artists all do; it is the reason Music Fog chases down this rabbit hole in the first place.

We witnessed a very special occasion at MusicFest at Steamboat in January, as we were so fortunate to record some Welch family. First Kevin with Dustin, then Dustin with Kevin, and on this song, Trisha Keefer from The Trishas joining in, too. Plus, we filmed Savannah Welch with The Trishas on the very next session! Here's an as yet unreleased tune from Dustin, "Jolly Johnny Junker."

- Jessie Scott