Paul Thorn "That's Life"

Full disclosure. Paul Thorn was not on the list for Folk Alliance, but he was down the road apiece, as his home is in Tupelo, though his website says Sulligent, Alabama. He has been in the studio recording a new album with his stellar band. He and I have know each other for the past 13 years, since his A&M CD, Hammer and Nail came out in 1997. BTW, Paul just got the rights back to the album, so he can sell it again and you will find that on his website. Hallelujah!

Last month The Paul Thorn Band brought the house down headlining at the Luckenbach Blues Festival. Always so good to see them. And always a treat to see Paul. He was a sight for sore eyes first thing this morning. Amazing, but he just keeps getting better; honing his craft, and delivering with that husky, emotive voice. He played three tunes for us, and this is one from his forthcoming CD Pimps And Preachers. It will make you cry. If you have a Mom, play it for her. Or your Dad. Or your kids. "That's Life."

-Jessie

Update on 2011-11-05 03:13 by Music Fog

The Music Fog version of this song is now available to download at either of the stores below:

Day 2 - Folk Alliance 2010

Big kudos to all the artists who came up on the Music Fog bus today. From early this morning to just now, we had all kinds of deliveries, from Canada to Australia, from sorrowful to ebullient, from acapella Keith Sykes to rousing Morgan O'kane. Here's who came by for a MF session, in order: Paul Thorn, Patty Larkin, Will Kimbrough, Phil Lee and Tom Mason, Kristi Rose and Fats Kaplin, David Olney and Sergio Webb, 8 Ball Aitken, Gordie Tentrees, Keith Sykes, Morgan O'kane, Madison Violet, and Kevin Welch. We laughed and cried, we foot stomped and finger popped.

Morgan O'kaneWe will be bringing you a video each from today's first two artists before the sun comes up, and into the morning. Then, onward to our Saturday schedule. We can't wait to bring you EVERYTHING we have captured, in the coming weeks, from the Folk Alliance of 2010.

-Jessie

Ray Bonneville "Run Jolee Run"

Man oh man, day one of Folk Alliance, and what a day of music on the bus. We recorded 12 artists yesterday starting at 10am, and ending at 10pm. The Music Fog Men are long distance runners. My hat is off to them. And the artists brought it! There were solos and duos, even some groups. And there was a visit from one of our perennial favorites, Ray Bonneville.

Ray makes the air ring so intensely that it is hard to believe it's coming from one man alone. Between his guitar chops, his foot stomps and his harp, it filled the bus - groin grinding, simmering, hanging in the air like the ozone from a thunderstorm, delivered with color and yearning. And this time, he brought a friend, the equally sonically interesting Mike Meadows, of Black Swan fame, on percussion. Lots of flavors therein, from the ankle shakers percussion, to the replication of flowing water, to the Black Swan itself. I just visited Mike's page to get the names of the things he was playing, and you really should check it out too by clicking here. These are definitive sounds. Not to mention that "Run Jolee Run" is one of my favs of Ray's, too! Get your earbuds and enjoy!

-Jessie