Dirty River Boys "Carnival Lights"

This has been a crazy week as Music Fog barrels down on the final touches preparing our live webcast for the Spring Music Fog Marathon in Austin, at Threadgill’s. There are deadlines to hit, tickets to book, lines to install, plus all the usual other stuff that crashes into one’s consciousness via email, text and phone. My wanderlust is getting to me, though. Instead of being nose to the grindstone, as I have had to be, I really just want to jump in my car, blast the radio, (or iPod) and take off for parts unknown. Having time to tool around, have lunch in some historic town where there is plenty to explore - I guess it will have to wait until after the Marathon is done. We are getting ready to unveil our Music Fog Marathon line-up for the four days from Wednesday March 14 to Saturday March 17. Wow, that is just two weeks away. I am especially thankful to know that 200 people helped us make this event a reality through our Kickstarter campaign. Thanks to you all! We can’t wait to bring it!

We Foggers are on a mission to bring you cool music. Someone has to do it, ya know? A year ago during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs, we met the Dirty River Boys from the west Texas town of El Paso. They have had a meteoric year, touring all over the place and adding a fourth player on upright bass – Colton James. Nino Cooper, Marco Gutierrez and Travis Stearns bring the joy here as we saved one of their songs from way back in January of 2011. By the way, they are also doing a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds for their next album. They have until April 22 to hit their goal. If you can help, they would totally appreciate it. We know how that goes.

Here is the Music Fog recording of “Carnival Lights” from our Steamboat sessions, a tune you can find on their EP, Long Cold Fall.

-Jessie Scott

Bonnie Bishop "Lucky Ones"

Valentine’s Day requires advanced notice, if you are to do it justice. This is a head’s up that you have a week to get it done, whatever ‘it’ is. I am just doing my civic duty. I am not in love, bah humbug. What’s on the list? Candy, liquor, flowers, diamonds, dinner out, champagne...have at it. His and her spa days for treatments, ooh, and massages, or a weekend getaway at a lux hotel. The main thing, though, is that you have to plan ahead for this stuff. You have been forewarned. Of course, for my money, things always go better with music. The fine folks at Thirty Tigers have the right idea, releasing a love song album today called Hearts Across Texas a week before Cupid shoots his arrow. It features the likes of the Josh Abbott Band, Kevin Fowler, Casey Donahew Band, Aaron Watson, a previously unreleased cover of “Leather and Lace” by Elizabeth Cook and Aaron Watson, plus a brand new song from Jack Ingram called "Miss You."

It also contains a Bonnie Bishop tune called “Lucky Ones,” and since we recorded a session with her doing that song, at the MusicFest 2010 in Steamboat Springs, we just couldn’t help but bring that to you again. Bonnie will be hitting the road at the end of the month, and coming down to Texas for a while. She is going to play my School Night Sessions concert series at Threadgill’s WHQ on March 5th, and here are the rest of her dates.

From the Fog Bank (archives), this is a beauty; Bonnie Bishop with keyboard wizard Michael Webb.

- Jessie Scott

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers "Dinero"

Saturday, Miss Abbey Road of Luckenbach threw a simply marvelous blues festival. The Fifth Annual Luckenbach Blues Fest was an all-day affair, but I got there as the sun was going down; set to the strains of Johnny Nicholas, WC Clark, Guy Forsyth, Band Of Heathens, Seth Walker and Ruthie Foster. Great line up and a fun hang. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to canvas backstage for auction items for tonight’s Bastrop Wildfire Benefit at Hill Country Barbecue Market in Washington, DC. If you are in DC, come by for the show! Dallas Wayne, The Deep Dark Woods, Sons of Bill, Chris Berardo and the DesBerardos, and Ruthie and the Wranglers will all be on hand. As will Senator John Cornyn, and Congressman Michael McCaul. Gonna be a fun night for a great cause, as we raise money for those that lost their homes in the Bastrop Wildfires in September. Dinero...gimme some! Well not me, actually, The United Way will collect and administer, along with the Bastrop City Council. Hill Country is at 410 Seventh Street, NW Washington, DC 20004. See you at 7 pm. And yeah, thanks to all for the cool collection of stuff from Todd Snider, Cory Morrow, Guy Forsyth, Bloodshot Records, Band Of Heathens, Gary P. Nunn, Luckenbach, and photographer Robbyn Dodd.

Today’s tune IS “Dinero,” from Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers. Nobody has enough, it seems. Of course if you do, you can make plans now to head to Sandy Beach, next to Chango's Bar near the Sea of Cortez for fireworks, sombreros, Mexican Moonshine and more than four hours of rock-n-roll! Roger and company know how to throw a party, so put Circus Mexicus XXI on your calendar for June 9 in Rocky Point, Mexico. Music Fog caught up with RCPM last year during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs in January. Here is the result, our recording of a song you will find on the most recent Unida Cantina album. Here are Roger Clyne, Jim Dalton, Nick Scropos, and PH Naffah  with “Dinero.”

-Jessie Scott