Lisa Morales "I Don't Want to Hear What You Have to Say"

I admit it, I have been on the hunt for peach ice cream again. I am not sure how robust the crop will be this year, as we haven’t gotten very much rain, but when you pass by the fields where hand written signs beckon you to purchase peaches, it can weigh on your mind, especially in the form of ice cream. Sorry, I don’t mean to plant unwelcome seeds. But cruising the ice cream aisle at H-E-B has not yielded the aforementioned flavor. You have the vanilla, the strawberry, the chocolate, of course, and the Rocky Road and Oreo and Cookie Dough…but where is the peach? And pecans, that’s a Texas thing too, and I am on the hunt for those crispy and salted wonders as well.

The flavors of Texas are definitive and varied in Lisa Morales’ new CD, Beautiful Mistake. After an impressive run with her sister Roberta, as Sisters Morales, Lisa steps out solo. It has been three years since their last record, Talking to the River. And it has been a hard time, as their mother, Gloria, died after a struggle with cancer. Lisa has used the pain, strength and insight to pen this record. She collaborated with longtime friend and bassist, Michael Cornbread Traylor as producer. Guest performers include Walt Wilkins and Dustin Welch, who we recorded at Cherokee Creek, but didn’t list on Monday. My bad!

Here is Lisa from the Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s several weeks ago, with a live version of one of the songs on her solo CD. We present ”I Don’t Want To Hear What You Have To Say,” with Cornbread accompanying.

- Jessie Scott

Jimmy LaFave "Hideaway Girl"

We have been on site at Cherokee Creek Music Festival, immersed in craft and song.  The music of three days has washed over us, the friends and fun has made for a memorable occasion.  I am thankful for the opportunity to be immersed in music like this.  Good songs.  A good song can be interpreted in lots of ways. A good song takes you there, communicates, coveys, can touch your soul.

In Keith Richards' book Life, which just came out in paperback and which I highly recommend, he talks about music structure.  I appreciate the peek behind the curtain, because it is not just the song, but then the sound, the texture, the way the lyrics lay into the music, Keith even talks about the use of certain syllables working in different situations.  Fascinating.  When I stop to think about it, about music in general, and specifically what moves me, it keeps coming back to a delivery of authenticity. I don't care whether the voice is beautiful or gruff, I do care that it all works together, the song, the message, the delivery system.

Saturday, we captured nine more sessions, from Jess Klein, Patterson Barrett, Jude Johnstone, Chip Dolan, John Fullbright, Malcolm Holcombe, Stonehoney, and Ray Bonneville. We will be bringing you music from these folks soon. A huge thanks to Kelcy Warren, Fred Remmert, Mark Huber, and Ashley Warren for making us welcome at Cherokee once again. And special thanks to Jimmy LaFave. He was so busy running around this weekend, that we didn't get a chance to tape him, so we are bringing you one from a couple of months back. You can feel the passion from Jimmy and band, Jeff Plankenhorn, Glen Schueltz, Chip Dolan, and Bobby Kallus. This is the second version of the song "Hideaway Girl" that we are bringing you. The first was on the Music Fog Bus at Folk Alliance two years ago, and this one is from the Music Fog Marathon in March at Threadgill's. They are both simply a joy.  And we thank you all.

-- Jessie Scott

Chapin Sisters "Let Me Go"

Ah, the road.  I just love it!  Especially when it takes us to beautiful locations with amazing musicians.  Then, all is right with the world.  We are busy filming some of the people on the lineup at the fifth annual Cherokee Creek Music Festival, plus some of the folks who just happened to take the road trip to share this wonderful weekend.  Gonna have some cool surprises for you!

We finally got some rain in Texas on Thursday morning, and it cooled things off to the perfect temperature and feel on the skin.  It also inadvertently diverted Beans and Aaron’s flight to Houston, for an unscheduled refueling stop, before the second attempt to land in Austin.  After a Waffle House lunch, we embarked on our journey.  We got to Cherokee at the dinner hour, proceeded to start setting up, and once again are in this serene space, and are grinning from ear to ear.  BTW, Cherokee Creek Music Festival benefits several children’s charities, so it is indeed a good feeling deal.

Photo by Sita MarlierAnd while we are in music procurement mode here, we are still sorting through all the video from our Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s in March.  We were so happy to be able to showcase the Chapin Sisters on our stage.  Some things are just meant to be.  By way of introduction, they are Chapins, daughters of singer/songwriter Tom Chapin who has netted three Grammy’s for his childrens music; and they are nieces of folk hero Harry Chapin.  There is a wonderful counterpoint to their voices, there is a surefootedness to their songs, and they are a delight to behold.  In September of 2010 they put out their second full length album, Two, which followed the EP, Oh, Hear The Wind Blow.  From that EP, here is the song “Let Me Go.”

-- Jessie Scott