Lydia Loveless "Can't Change Me"

A good cup of coffee is imperative first thing in the morning. And woe, the grinder on my coffee maker was making this whirring, whimpering noise. Avanti - to the internets for information! The consensus was to unplug it, turn it upside down, and clear it all out with a chop stick, so as not to damage the wheel of the burr grinder. And voila, success! This morning I am a happy camper for two reasons, I don’t have to buy a new machine, and there is a place to do research which actually provides meaningful information. So while I sip my brew this Monday morning, let’s dig in. What can I say, I am a woman of simple pleasures.

I recall being deliriously happy when I took the shrink wrap off the Lydia Loveless album almost a year ago. I love when you hear new music, and ‘get’ it instantly, when that connection is clean and pure and total. Lydia Loveless simply rocks. She was raised on a farm in Coshocton, Ohio, her dad owned a country music bar, which meant there was often a house full of touring musicians. She struck out on her own to Columbus, OH where she immersed herself in the punk scene. I love when the worlds of country and punk collide! We have been trying to get Lydia Loveless in front of the Music Fog cameras since the Indestructible Machine album came out. When we found out she was coming to Austin to play SXSW, we knew we were going to do a session with her at last! She and her band, Ben Lamb - upright bass, Parker Chandler – drums, and Todd May – guitar, brought us a whip smart set. Here is the Music Fog recording off “Can’t Change Me” from the Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s in Austin.

-Jessie Scott

Steve Poltz "Dreamhouse"

You know how hard it is for musicians to make a living these days. We watch our road dog friends tour incessantly, and sell their merch off the stage, which allows them to get to the next town and then to the next. So anything the helps to make things more profitable for them is very cool in our book. Enter Tikly, a ticketing website which allows artists, venues and events to keep more of the money for each ticket they sell. So, if a ticket is $10 or less, Tikly charges the buyer an extra $1. Above that, fees are 10 percent of the transaction, up to $7.50. Just to give you a bit of insight on how fair that is, Ticketmaster fees can often add 50% per ticket. And they don’t ask for contracts or upfront fees.

They have a couple of clients we know and love, The Nadas and Steve Poltz. Music Fog got familiar with the Tikly story when they donated to our Kickstarter campaign. Steve Poltz swears by them, so much so, that he is using them for his present Australian tour.

Steve has a new album coming out next month, Noineen Noiny Noin, which was named during one of his previous Aussie jaunts. Steve asked a promoter if he remembered the year when he first came to Australia, “Oi reckon it was noineen noiny noin,” the man said, referring to the year 1999. Voila, an album title is born! Today’s tune comes from Steve's 2010 release, Dreamhouse.  It's the title track and this version was filmed during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in March.

- Jessie Scott

The Mastersons "Birds Fly South"

This is a tale of sticking to it. I first met Chris Masterson a decade or so ago, when he was playing guitar for Jack Ingram. He rocked back then, and I always looked forward to seeing him on stage for his swagger and chops. Of late, he and his wife Eleanor Whitmore have been touring as part of Steve Earle’s Dukes and Duchesses, which is a really special show that I recommend seeing if you get the chance. They are playing New Orleans Jazz and Heritage today at 4:15 CT. Lucky you if you are there! Of course, Steve is one of the amazing folks on the New West Records roster, and happily one thing led to another. New West Records has just released an album last month from The Mastersons called Birds Fly South.

Photo Credit: Paul Robert WrightThe Mastersons are both from Texas, but call New York home now. They recorded the album in Austin and drove down with all that was dear to them in the car. They took a path traced by snowbirds since the highways of America were first built. Just because they are a couple performing together, don’t pigeonhole them as some sort of modern day George and Tammy. Instead, think of them as a band. I gotta hand it to them, both are consummate musicians with mad skills and lots of ideas, and the creativity bubbles over on their new CD. We had them come visit the Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ, and they brought Pete Coatney on drums and Eleanor’s sister, Bonnie Whitmore on bass. Here is the Music Fog version of the title track, “Birds Fly South.”

- Jessie Scott

PS: You can watch New Orleans Jazz & Heritage, as it is being streamed on YouTube.