Tim Easton & The Freelan Barons "Daily Life"

Tim Easton is the kind of artist that Music Fog always strives to celebrate, an artist who has made a lifelong commitment to his music.  How long have I been aware of Tim? Good question, it has been years.  He has steadily put out exceptional stuff, thoughtful, articulate, and imaginative.  Right now, he's smack dab in the middle of a double release, the first was the electric Beat The Band, which came out on June 21. The second is a 22 song acoustic offering, Since 1966, being released digitally on July 5.  Tonight he plays the Beachland Tavern in Cleveland with more dates to come.

I have a vague memory of doing a session with Tim Easton at XM when we had a fire drill (at least we thought it was a drill).  Tim and the guys were recording a session for us, and at some point, we realized almost everyone else had left the building.  But we didn't move until the PA system bleated that we would have to leave now, and drop everything in its place.  That was a no-go, as the band needed their instruments for their next gig.  So we hauled ass, gear in hand, to escape the doors closing.  Adrenaline can be a wonderful thing. And especially for a Monday morning, when “we need a little something stronger to get us through.”

Here's "Daily Life,” recorded during our Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ, and featuring Tim with Alex Livingstone, Aaron Lee Tagian, and Mark Stepro.

- Jessie Scott

Susan Gibson "The Wood Wouldn't Burn"

Susan Gibson was supposed to come to see us during our sessions at the 2010 Folk Alliance but a car accident made that impossible, as she broke her arm, dislocated her elbow, and shattered her wrist. Yikes, never good for a musician, especially when they are as active as Susan is. Healing time was cut in half with the support of friends, physical therapy and the true grit for which Susan is known.

Not recognizing her name? You might recall her work from the penning of the Dixie Chicks anthem “Wide Open Spaces.” Iconic stuff, before that whole political mess went down, which caused the Dixie Chicks' music to disappear from the radio. But it yielded Susan some nice royalties, and she keeps on going. She is a Red Dirt woman...there are only a few, compared to the profusion of Red Dirt men. But that’s OK. Susan is blessed with a Great American voice, and an acute eye for lyrics. Music Fog brings you our version of a haunting song that can be found on Susan’s latest CD TightRope called “The Wood Wouldn’t Burn.” We filmed her, at last, during our Threadgill’s WHQ sessions in March.

- Jessie Scott

Update on 2011-06-27 02:18 by Music Fog

Hours after this article and video were posted, we learned that the Nashville home and recording studio of legendary producer Cowboy Jack Clement was destroyed in a fire. [Click here for the story in The Tennessean] Everyone in the house, including Jack and some pets, got out safely, however much of the famed music memorabilia he's collected over the years, and possibly master recording session tapes succumbed to the flames. Cowboy Jack was able to save some vintage instruments from the fire, though, including his "baby." A Gibson J200 he bought in 1951...the back scratched by Elvis Presley's belt buckle. Nope. The Wood Wouldn't Burn. 

The Civil Wars "Forget Me Not"

I was up in Nashville a couple of weeks ago, listening to Lightning 100, a radio station that does a damn good job of mining local music and bringing it to the fore. Not to mention they have a wonderful live music footprint, as they broadcast weekly shows Music City Roots from the Loveless Barn, and Nashville Sunday Nights from 3rd & Lindsley. I was heading to Bonnaroo the next day, and I was listening to the evening deejay talk about the ascendance of this band, The Civil Wars, who are local to Nashville. He then they played what they call in the biz, the latest “focus track,” the title track from the new CD, Barton Hollow. We posted the video for it a while back, but it is certainly worth a revisit. That evening I experienced “one of those moments,” you know, when you can’t get out of the car until the song is done. Yes that still happens to me.

Joy Williams and John Paul White have been on a tear, red hot and like lightning. They graciously played for us during our Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin this March, and I just couldn’t wait to bring you another song from their set. It is hard to believe that anyone can be that captivating, with just the basics: a couple of vocals and a guitar. But, Glory Hallelujah, magic happens when they perform! This is the Music Fog version of “Forget Me Not.” You will find the studio version on the Barton Hollow CD, and you will find their fame continuing to grow.

- Jessie Scott