Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones "Harlan County Line"

Looking back at the channel I programmed for XM Satellite Radio, X Country, I would have to say one of the things I am most proud of is the roster of artists that contributed shows to us. There was Robbie Fulks with Robbie's Secret Country taped live at The Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. Robert Earl Keen did The Texas Uprising, Jack Ingram had his Real American Music Hour, Lee Rocker contributed Rumble and Twang, Threadgill's gave us the twice monthly live performance show, The Armadillo Radio Hour. And there was Dave Alvin's 9 Volt, named after his song homage to the transistor radio, "Nine Volt Heart." What a show it was. Dave is the consummate musicologist, with a specialty in California music history; but spanning the genres and flavors and decades from gospel to singer/songwriter, to R&B, to Blues, to Folk, to Rock & Roll, to Cow Punk and Rockabilly and Western Swing and Honky Tonk, all the way to 80's LA. Back and forth he cruised, offering a soulful, lucid and erudite insight into the music he was playing, and somehow connecting the dots between these seemingly disparate genres, eloquently making it all make sense.

Dave has morphed and grown from his days in the Blasters, X, and The Knitters; then with band aggregations from The Guilty Men, then The Guilty Women, to now, with Dave Alvin and The Guilty Ones. There is a new album heading in our direction this summer, and a song has been released as a teaser already. "Harlan County Line" continues Dave's great romantic story song tradition, it is one of his strong suits, fleshing out these characters so we see them walking among us. The song was written and recorded for the FX television series Justified, fictionally based in Harlan County, KY. Dave and the band appeared in an episode earlier this season.

We can't wait for the new CD Eleven Eleven to be released on June 21st. In advance, here is the Music Fog recording of "Harlan County Line." From Threadgill's a few weeks ago, here's Dave with Lisa Pankratz, Chris Miller, and Brad Ferdham.

- Jessie Scott

PS: 11/11 is Dave's birthday!

Eddie Spaghetti "Marie"

Back at home, and healing nicely from my recent adventure in modern medicine. Again, huge thanks to Dee and Hag for the patience with this patient, and to the dogs and cats for helping bring me back to feeling better. There was one point that I was actually able to lessen the initial pain after surgery by petting Brat the kitty, allowing me to sleep. Magical powers animals have, you know? Not to mention the morning greeting you get from them; it's as if they never expected to live another day - happy to see the morning light, happy to see your face!

Getting through SXSW® was a labor of love and endurance. The Music Foggers worked their butts off, and we can only imagine how difficult it must be for the artists to get across town to the next gig, and the next after that. Full dance cards, indeed! We, however, got to stay put at Threadgill's WHQ and have everyone come to us. Among them was Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers of course! I mean, really, how many Eddie Spaghetti's do you think there are? So good to see him again in all his mystery; the shades, the hair, the hat.

Today's tune was originally released in 1995 on The Sacrilicious Sounds of The Supersuckers. The song "Marie" was allegedly dedicated to original member Eric Martin's mother, after his death. The remaining members decided to continue as a four piece with Eddie Spaghetti taking over the vocalist role. "Marie" is reprised on Eddie's new solo CD Sundowner. And here is the Music Fog version. Cha, cha, cha.

- Jessie Scott

Lincoln Durham "Living This Hard"

When we posted some brand new Band Of Heathens a few days ago, we told you about meeting them for the first time during MusicFest at Steamboat four years ago. It was that same trip, heck it might even have been that same afternoon, that we first met Lincoln Durham. We had asked Ray Wylie Hubbard to visit our studio, and as he was producing a couple who had just come to Austin, Liz and Lincoln, so he brought them with him. Liz has gone on to form The Trishas, and Lincoln has carried on with his blues drenched music.

Ray Wylie Hubbard is still producing - more than one thing actually, as it is not just Lincoln's forthcoming album he's working on, but also, today Ray is producing his 3rd Annual Grit 'n Groove Festival, at Whitewater Amphitheater in New Braunfels, TX. It is a fabulous lineup, including Joe Walsh, an acoustic set from Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, The Gourds, Tony Joe White, Teenie Hodges, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, The Trishas, Matt King, Charlie Shafter and Lincoln Durham. What a day! Hope you are in Texas and can attend!

We filmed Lincoln Durham during our Marathon at Threadgill's in Austin a couple of weeks ago. Here is the Music Fog version of a tune from Lincoln's self-titled EP from last year, "Living This Hard."

- Jessie Scott