Wagons "Willie Nelson"

I don’t know where I go when I go away. I meant to take time to tell you all about Farm Aid, which took place in Kansas City this past Saturday. It was a great line-up with a doubled sense of urgency this year with how awful the economy has become. It makes it all the harder for people to hold on to those family farms. The artists appearing were stellar again this year, and the good news is that if you are of a mind to donate - that goes on all year. There are always interesting things to be found on the Farm Aid website too.

Of course, the musician board of directors continue to spearhead the efforts for Farm Aid; John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and the irrepressible President of the Farm Aid board, Willie Nelson. Today’s song is an homage to him, called “Willie Nelson,” that was originally done by Melbourne, Australia band The Wayfaring Strangers, though it was co-written with Henry Wagons. The video we bring you is a somewhat stripped down version of it that we recorded back in March during the Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill's in Austin. Wagons album, Rumble, Shake & Tumble, hits the street today. Henry Wagons' performance, set against the high energy band he fronts, was described by Justin Townes Earle, as “like Dr. Seuss meets Conway Twitty, a great performer, a good man . . . (he) struts like a Tennessee Walking Horse on PCP.” The guys are coming back to the US in a couple of weeks, you gotta see this band!

-Jessie Scott

Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones "Johnny Ace Is Dead"

Driving the Hill Country in Texas at night with my iPod as my guide...well that, and my cruise control to moderate my trip. A full moon, deer scattering, tunes kicking one after another, and then the unmistakable sound of Dave Alvin’s guitar rivets me, stabbing in the glow of the dashboard lights. “Out Of Control,” is a story song, and one of my favorites of Dave’s. That’s hard to say, because with Dave so much of what he does hits home for me. Dave Alvin's music spans the sweet, the important, and the dangerous. He captures the rawness of life and punctuates it with his riffs, which act as exclamation points on the emotion. I could make you a “must listen to” list of Dave Alvin tunes...just ask.

It was a fair day in March, the sun was shining, we were at Threadgill’s and Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones blew in like a hurricane. Boy are they intense, and boy were we lucky to have them. They played us some tunes. The room was packed, and today we bring you the Music Fog recording of a true crime drama, “Johnny Ace Is Dead,” which is a song off the new CD Eleven Eleven.  I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t urge you to go see this band. If you have never had the pleasure, tomorrow night Dave brings the Guilty Ones to the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. And here is the rest of the tour. Get ready for some kickassitude; here’s Dave Alvin, Christy McWilson, Lisa Pankratz, Chris Miller, and Brad Fordham.

 -Jessie Scott

 

Elliott BROOD "Oh, Alberta"

I am out at the FMQB Triple A Conference in Boulder.  This is an industry event for artists, radio station decision makers, promoters and record labels; all of which makes for a very simpatico, music loving tribe.  On Wednesday night, I was hanging at the Fox Theatre watching Brett Dennon, and Matt Nathanson; this after a day which included Jimmy Cliff singing a gospel song simply and beautifully accompanied himself on guitar. WOW. Right after that Edwin McCain played a set in the tent, and after dinner, we were entertained by Blackie & The Rodeo Kings. You know, I thought of them as Canadian, but tonight talking to Colin Linden, I found out he grew up where I did, in Westchester County, NY, before he made his way to Canada in his teens.

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings have an amazing new record out which was over two years in the making. Kings & Queens features duets with some of the best and brightest; Rosanne Cash, EmmyLou Harris, and Lucinda Williams among them. It is an incredible offering that I highly recommend.

I was thinking that we should look to the north today to pick up another tune from Elliott BROOD. They have a new album, Days Into Years coming out at the end of September, and are offering a 7“ single of "Northern Companion," that’s just a heads-up if you are a collector.  We MF-ers are entrenched in the collection of music ourselves, and are happy to bring you an Elliott BROOD tune from last year’s Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s. Love these guys, can’t wait for the new record!  Your next chance to see them is at the Wapiti Fernie Music Festival, in British Columbia on August 20th. That sounds like fun! Here is the Music Fog take on “Oh, Alberta.”

- Jessie Scott