Dirty River Boys "Carnival Lights"

This has been a crazy week as Music Fog barrels down on the final touches preparing our live webcast for the Spring Music Fog Marathon in Austin, at Threadgill’s. There are deadlines to hit, tickets to book, lines to install, plus all the usual other stuff that crashes into one’s consciousness via email, text and phone. My wanderlust is getting to me, though. Instead of being nose to the grindstone, as I have had to be, I really just want to jump in my car, blast the radio, (or iPod) and take off for parts unknown. Having time to tool around, have lunch in some historic town where there is plenty to explore - I guess it will have to wait until after the Marathon is done. We are getting ready to unveil our Music Fog Marathon line-up for the four days from Wednesday March 14 to Saturday March 17. Wow, that is just two weeks away. I am especially thankful to know that 200 people helped us make this event a reality through our Kickstarter campaign. Thanks to you all! We can’t wait to bring it!

We Foggers are on a mission to bring you cool music. Someone has to do it, ya know? A year ago during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs, we met the Dirty River Boys from the west Texas town of El Paso. They have had a meteoric year, touring all over the place and adding a fourth player on upright bass – Colton James. Nino Cooper, Marco Gutierrez and Travis Stearns bring the joy here as we saved one of their songs from way back in January of 2011. By the way, they are also doing a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds for their next album. They have until April 22 to hit their goal. If you can help, they would totally appreciate it. We know how that goes.

Here is the Music Fog recording of “Carnival Lights” from our Steamboat sessions, a tune you can find on their EP, Long Cold Fall.

-Jessie Scott

Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils "Secondhand Store"

On a Saturday night in Texas, you WILL hear a good band playing. There is just something about the gravitational pull of the local dancehall, tavern, bar, or club that attracts you to it. And people are not shy here; you can talk to anyone. Nor does it embarrass them to get up and dance, whether they know you or not. It is all fair game. I was at Billy’s Icehouse in New Braunfels, when the rush to the dance floor occurred during Flywood’s performance, not on one of their fine originals, but during a rousing version of Bob Seger's “Old Time Rock & Roll.” We were there to see the headliner out of Norman, OK, The Damn Quails, who will be gracing the stage of this year’s Music Fog Marathon just a few weeks from now at Threadgill's WHQ. Their album Down The Hatch, which was produced by Mike McClure, is sitting in the top ten on the Americana Radio Chart.

Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils brought the ’good ole rock’ themselves during last year’s Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin. Ian started hitting those establishments around Austin in the 90’s. We had the pleasure of presenting the band on the heels of the release of El Sonido Nuevo. Ian Moore, Matt Harris, and Kyle Schneider played us this rocking tune called “Secondhand Store,” which appeared on that album. There are a couple of key tour dates posted for March on Ian’s website. You will have a rollicking fun time, to be sure.

-Jessie Scott

He's My Brother, She's My Sister "Tales That I Tell"

The Music Fog Marathon schedule for March 14 through the 17 in Austin, TX is just about baked. I am hoping to be able to share the whole thing with you early next week. I can tell you we are going to have a blast, though, with Reckless Kelly, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Fullbright, James McMurtry, Chris Smither, The Sweetback Sisters, Ruthie Foster, The Hobart Brothers (Jon Dee Graham and Freedy Johnston) with Lil’ Sis Hobart (Susan Cowsill,) Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Sons Of Fathers, Mike Farris, The dB’s, Lydia Loveless, and Sugar & The Hi-Lows. Oh, there is way more, and yes, we will be webcasting it all from Threadgill’s WHQ. We are not an official SXSW showcase, so it is open to the public, with no badges or wristbands needed for entry. Remember to tip your waitresses, though, that is after having that fine comfort food: chicken fried steak with loads of vegetables, or pot roast, or my favorite, their barbecue chicken, which is the Wednesday special. If you are hungry and in Austin right now, Threadgill’s is at 301 W Riverside Drive in South Austin. While you are there, make sure you look at the memorabilia lining the walls.

We are about to make memories of our own, adding to the long legacy of the Live Music Capitol of the World, Austin, TX. If you love music, Austin in March is the place to be. There is something, actually multiple things, for every kind of music lover. It used to be that SXSW was about breaking bands, it was an insider industry event. But through the process of going direct to the audience, without the filters of record labels and radio station playlists, Austin is the epicenter of the new model. The SXSW website is featuring videos; here is one from the band He's My Brother, She's My Sister. They won’t be taking part in our Music Fog Marathon, cause we just can’t film everyone, though you know we would love to. There will be over 2,000 bands doing official showcases! He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister is a Los Angeles band featuring sibling vocalists Robert Kolar and Rachel Kolar, Lauren Brown, who is a bombastic tap dancing drummer, Oliver Newell rocking the standup bass, and Aaron Robinson, who takes his leads on a lap slide. Fun for a Saturday!

-Jessie Scott