Phil Lee "Let Your Mind Roll On"

Last Sunday was supposed to be a day of rest after the slow burning nitro insanity of the Music Fog Marathon. After a sumptuous brunch at La Reyna on South 1st Street, whereupon the Foggers all indulged in Mexican bounty, we then parted, all scattering to the winds and the four corners of the earth. My brother Mitch and I intended to go to San Antonio for the day. BTW that is ‘SA’ for the uninitiated in the initials we assign to Texas locales; There is also ‘NB,’ ‘SM’ and ‘ATX.’ But I digress. Mitch wanted to do some shopping, so we hit the outdoor market for some tasty tie dyed items on South Congress Avenue, where food carts also reign supreme, though we weren’t even hungry for a cupcake, let along the other offerings. And because there were still plenty of things going on in the music department, we crafted a plan, and wound up seeing Jon Dee Graham, Dustin Welch, and Susan Cowsill at Olivia. That led to the G&S Lounge for Mitch Jacobs, Freddie Steady Krc, and who should waft over our way but Tom Mason.

Where there’s Tom, sometimes there is Phil Lee. He emerged from his vehicle resplendent in black from head to toe, announcing that his clothing had been created by Leprechauns. He was as effervescent as ever; a total character, funny, irreverent…aw, you know Phil. So today, we bring you the Mighty King of Love, along with master accompanist Tom Mason, taped a year ago at Folk Alliance in Memphis. “Let Your Mind Roll On” is the song Phil claims he wrote in the hotel elevator on the way to the Music Fog bus.

-Jessie Scott

Paul Thorn "Ray Ann's Shoes"

Paul Thorn continues his relentless march across the United States. I can't believe there are so many dates on his dance card. He aims to have a busy spring and then a busy summer, that is for sure. Take a look for yourself. I was talking to a friend about Paul a couple of days ago. We were agreeing if people would just go to see him, they would become fans for life. This is where the juice is, where the music is real. Just one taste of the fruit is all you need to 'get' him. Music Fog was honored to be with him in Muscle Shoals this past January for a DVD shoot and webcast, and once again, I have to stress the ease of working with the whole team. It is just amazing how nice, how welcoming the Paul Thorn crew is. And that is how they greet the day with everyone; family, friends, fans. You know Paul and the band love it, love being on the road, love performing, want to grow it and build it and never stop.

Then there are the lyrics he writes. They can get inside your head, you can feel like Paul is simply reading your mind. They are that relatable. Even if you haven't experienced the exact thing the song is about, there is still that glimmer of acknowledgement, the silent nod of understanding. You know this woman, she might have lived next door, and she up and left, inexplicably. This is one of those songs that you can't believe is new, as it feels like you have known it forever. "Ray Ann's Shoes," comes from Paul's most recent album Pimps & Preachers. We filmed this version over a year ago in Memphis during Folk Alliance, captured on the magical Music Fog bus. And if you are around Dayton, Ohio tonight, I encourage you to go to see Paul solo acoustic live at the Canal Street Tavern.

- Jessie Scott

David Olney & Sergio Webb "If I Were You"

Ain’t no telling what you will find when you start looking at the internets. I wanted to hear the lyrics to today’s song, so I could write about it. Oh, it is “If I Were You” from David Olney and Sergio Webb. First I tried those hoser lyric sites, you know, the ones that immediately want to sell you the ring tone, and tease you into believing that they have the lyrics, but then they don’t? And then I found some TV appearance, with the obligatory straight, non-hip, overdressed anchorwoman asking all the wrong questions with all the wrong attitude. When is TV going to realize that a pretty face is not enough? When is television going to be dragged kicking and screaming into this century? They are losing audience for a reason. But I shouldn’t complain, as they gave airtime to David Olney and Sergio Webb, and that counts for something in my book!

You will find David Olney plying his abundant craft on the web; unedited, direct and unexpected on his “Hear & Now” series on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm EST. David comments on what’s going on in the world, and performs. Sometimes it is even a brand new song that was just written that day. You can post comments and questions while he is webcasting, if you become a member of Ustream.

We filmed David and Sergio at last year’s Folk Alliance in Memphis up on the Music Fog bus. Sergio Webb provides a beautiful lace to David Olney’s tapestry. You won’t find a more beautiful song. “If I Were You,” wistful, yearning, resigned.

- Jessie Scott