Chris Smither "Make Room For Me"

Sometimes events just conspire to create their own mini era. For whatever reason, I have been immersed in music history more than usual. I met the folks from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week for some spirited discussion, and also had an impassioned conversation with Dr. Gary Hartman from Texas State University, the director of the Center for Texas Music History. Then there is a bit of personal history to dig into. When one is a radio programmer playing new artists,  autographed artwork is frequently sent to thank us for playing someone’s music. I have an impressive collection of these things from years of being on the radio. Over the weekend, I started unfurling posters from decades gone by. There were slicks and handbills, and parchment, and Hatch prints, and some HUGE posters.

One of the full size posters was from Chris Smither, sent to me when his Leave The Light On album came out back in 2006. Cool to find that! Chris’s 12th studio album,  Hundred Dollar Valentine is just out. It provides a glimpse into a more mature artist, while carrying on the acoustic blues tradition for which Chris is heralded. The new album was recorded in early 2012 at Signature Sounds Studios in Pomfret, Connecticut, with drummer Billy Conway, Jimmy Fitting on harmonica, vocalist Anita Suhanin, and violinist Ian Kennedy joining Chris and producer Dave “Goody” Goodrich. When we filmed Chris Smither during the Spring Music Fog Marathon in March, he was solo. No matter, as he is magnetic whatever the configuration. Here is the Music Fog version of one of the songs found on the new album, “Make Room For Me.”

-Jessie Scott

Guy Forsyth "She's Crazy Now"

Ah, what to do with just a little bit of free time, but a large desire to get healthier? Well, if you are in Austin on a Tuesday afternoon, it might just be Tai Chi with Guy Forsyth, which happens weekly at Ruta Maya, coffee purveyors of the first order. Their Cubita coffee beans are to die for! Guy’s Tai Chi sessions are sponsored by the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians which helps musicians get the care they need if they don’t have insurance. For the uninitiated, Tai Chi is a martial art therapy to foster health and longevity. It teaches balance, and makes it easier to roll with the highs and lows of life, and to remain in the middle somewhere, both mentally and physically. Oh yeah, everyone is welcome to attend.

Guy Forsyth is a man of many colors, Tai Chi notwithstanding. He is a talented guitarist, singer and songwriter, and has spanned the genres through the years from the theatrical, to the blues, folk, rock, and beyond, all the way to playing the saw. You should hear him deliver “Silent Night” on that thing. It makes you melt. There is news to tell you about, if you have been wanting to get your hands on some of his earlier music. Three albums, Steak, Can You Live Without, and Needlegun, are all available for digital download, thanks to our friends at New West Records. Some mighty fine stuff to tuck into there. There is also a new album on the horizon, which will be out in early September. Music Fog welcomed Guy Forsyth back in front of our cameras during the Spring Marathon in 2010 at Threadgill’s. Here is an unreleased tune from that session "She's Crazy Now."

-Jessie Scott

Henry Wagons "The Gambler"

It was another stellar week at Threadgill’s for my School Night Sessions series. On Sunday night, it was a double bill, with Wildflowers – Ashley Monical and HalleyAnna Finlay’s kickass band, then James McMurtry’s son Curtis McMurtry brought the whole band...and that included 4 horns! Monday night it was the folk family; Carrie Elkin, Danny Schmidt, Anthony da Costa, Raina Rose and Andrew Pressman. And then Tuesday night, Adam Carroll and Owen Temple brought great songs, and wonderfully left of center raps. I delight in the diversity, and the quirky stories and songs, so playful and inventive.

Henry Wagons is a quirk specialist. We never quite know what he will do on stage with our props. Last year, when he had the whole band in town for SXSW® 2011, he mounted and RODE our piñata Esteban. This year during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s, he was solo on stage. All eyes were on him, but we Foggers were nervous. What would he do this time? Our mascot piñata this year, Miguel, was eventually drop kicked off the stage by Henry, though, thankfully, he was still in one piece afterwards. Drama! Acting! Rumble, Shake, And Tumble is the latest Wagons album, and they are on tour in Canada and the US this summer. Do yourself a favor and go see them for a fun evening out. Here is Henry Wagons solo, with the Music Fog recording of “The Gambler,” a tune from The Rise & Fall Of Goodtown.

- Jessie Scott