Suzi Ragsdale "I Found Jesus"

Some folks are "to the manor born." Enter Suzi Ragsdale. Her website is interesting: Music, Yoga and Cooking. She made her debut with the kiddie chorus on her father, Ray Stevens, recording of "Everything Is Beautiful." She has appeared on a glittering list of other people's albums. And she has been collaborating with one of my heroes, Darrell Scott, since 1991. Her label is called Stark Raven Records, I like that!!!!! And her latest project is called Best Regards.

Now, we had had all kinds of instruments on the bus during Folk Alliance. Upright basses, mandos, dobros, fiddles, weird percussion; we take it all in stride and anticipation. Then Suzi Ragsdale brought the first keyboard. And we realized we didn't have the proper cables for this particular unit. It became a mad scramble through gig bags to get the right converters, and voila, it took three different cables, but we got it done. Mind you three cables from three different people. And satisfied with ourselves, we rested, grins on our faces. Suzi said she wanted to get a prop out for the song she was about to play, and she scruffed around in her gig bag, and pulled out a Jesus figurine. And the tale ensued, and then this song.

-Jessie

Tommy Womack "Alpha Male & the Canine Mystery Blood"

Who is Tommy Womack? He's a "songwriter, author, creator of taut sensual tension," as well as frequent Music Fog contributor. He's media savvy and camera-ready, as we saw when he spooked Ben in Nashville last fall.

In Memphis, he kicked it up a notch, with "Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood," a tour-de-force that's part personal saga and part historical epic. Jessie Scott says that "Alpha Male..." became an XM listener favorite on X Country when it was released in 2007, and it's clear why. Packed with lines and phrases that beg to be carved on desks, notebooks, and bathroom stalls across the country, it's sort a of world-weary, post-modern, "American Pie." Tommy says that he wrote the song in a bar, in 20 minutes, on a roll of paper from a cash register, and that it's got "1127 words, not counting adjectives."

Music doesn't get much more indie than this, so it's also the perfect song to kick off our trip to SXSW 2010. All hail the gospel according to Tommy. Be sure to spread the word and share it with your friends. For even more of the good word, check out his site and YouTube channel.

-- Chris

Kevin Welch "Andaman Sea"

Kevin Welch and Music Fog have been playing proverbial footsy for a while. Not to say that we haven't had the pleasure, as he did grace our Threadgill's stage last year for one song. But there have been so many other times we were in the same space, but just couldn't get together for this or that reason. And you know, Mr. Welch is much in demand. He has this great welcoming aura, it makes you want to be around him. And what with Music Fog having done video of his kids, with son Dustin in Steamboat, and daughter Savannah with The Trishas in various places, well it was just Kevin's time.

When he got on the bus, he apologized for the songs being so mournful. He says that his forthcoming CD will all be like that. We did our best to break the mood in between songs. Sadness notwithstanding, we are so glad to have had him. Oh man, this is how it's done. It is personal, writing is. At least when it is at its best.

We're honored to debut "Andaman Sea" here on Music Fog.

-Jessie