The Nadas "Drink It 'til It's Gone"

The Nadas are no strangers to our cameras, as we welcomed them on the bus for our first outing to Memphis for coverage of Folk Alliance in 2009. And they brought booze, rye whiskey, I believe. I was not a rye drinker until that moment, but I saw the light!

The guys formed at college in Ames, Iowa in 1995. By 2001, they were heralded by Playboy Magazine as "The Best College Band You've Never Heard Of." After 16 years together, Mike Butterworth (vocals, guitar) and Jason Walsmith (vocals, guitar) have recently released their 7th album, Almanac, a year-long project, during which they wrote, recorded and released a new song each month, crafting a portrait of 2009. What’s more, every step of the process was streamed live on the band’s website, delivering unprecedented access to the creative process. Fans were allowed to offer critique on everything from lyrics to instruments, and some of the suggestions were even incorporated into The Nadas’ music. In September of 2009, select fans that had joined the Almanac project were extended an exclusive invitation to a special songwriting session to write that month’s addition to this most unique album. That's brave and head's up stuff indeed, but it doesn't surprise us that they are embracing social networking in such an interactive way, as The Nadas were our Twitter spiritual guides early on.

“We started The Nadas sixteen years ago with just a couple of songs, a van and a newsletter, then grew a community from there,” said Walsmith. “The tools we have now to communicate with and build that community are crazy. But it’s still about the songs, and our fans. They’re why we do this.” Music Fog, as fans, invited them back for a session on the Threadgill's stage in Austin, TX this past March. And what do you know, they gave us a drinking song!

- Jessie Scott

Catherine MacLellan "Sparrows"

She walks in the grace of her talent. I can only wonder what will unfold for her as, it seems to me, her career takes her places that will be ivory towered. We first met up with Catherine MacLellan on a press jaunt to DC, where she arrived a bit road worn but game, adorned in omnipresent plaid flannel. Life has been frenetic for her of late, winning a bunch of awards (Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Performer of the Year, East Coast Music Awards for Folk Recording and Female Performer), being on stage with some of her heroes (Gordon Lightfoot, Gord Downie), but also continuing to create, write, and be a mom. There are a string of BC dates coming, before she flies into NB and New England at the end of May. You can read her blog by clicking here.

Catherine reminds me of an early Emmylou Harris in this video, it's just something about the set of her jaw and the sweetness of her voice. If you listen closely, you can imagine Gram singing harmony on this tune. You know what, I would LOVE to see a duet featuring Catherine and Emmy together. That would be close harmony heaven! Catherine wrote this as yet unreleased song "Sparrows" about a guy who has departed. The marvelous Chris Gauthier is seen here playing Lynn Miles' guitar, Lynn having played right after MacLellan on our Music Fog showcase at Threadgill's during SXSW. We thank True North Records for setting us up!

- Jessie Scott

Gurf Morlix "One More Second"

Gurf Morlix is an enigma. He is a major player. He can rock as hard as his lyrics pose questions. He is a roots MVP, having worked with a most impressive collective of artists through the years: Patty Griffin, Robert Earl Keen, Tom Russell, Warren Zevon, Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, just to name a few. In 2009 he produced albums by BettySoo, Slaid Cleaves, Romi Mayes, and porterdavis. Here are his credits from last year: Produced, engineered, mixed, mastered, played various instruments, including lap steel on Buddy and Julie Miller's Written in Chalk CD. 2010 is bringing more shows, more production, and I am sure, more surprises to be unveiled.

Morlix was acknowledged by the Americana Music Association as Instrumentalist of the Year in 2009 during the Americana Honors and Award ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. In pure Gurf style, he was not in attendance. I texted him only to find out it was to a land line. He is old school. So much so, that I hear the echoes in his lyrics of all those great brooding noir detective novels, you know, the ones where it is so clear the thought process, and you are screaming (on the inside) "No no no, don't do it!" I don't know why he chooses to explore the soft white underbelly, because he doesn't come off as dark when you talk to him, but for whatever reason, he deals well in dread. "One More Second" was on last year's CD Last Exit To Happytown, rendered here from our Threadgill's sessions in March.

-- Jessie Scott