Suzanna Choffel "Hold Of The Night"

There is an irresistible pull to Texas. It might be the weather this time of year. Or it could be  the feeling of space, of chasing down endless roads, with live oaks stoutly laying claim to the land as the path unwinds. Or it could be the hospitality, the genuine welcoming, the time at hand to make memories. One thing I know, for musicians, there is something more, almost something in the water that encourages exploration. Genres, traditions and influences abound and are as limitless as the Texas sky.

I would be happy bouncing between New York and Texas season to season. I am not the only one; The Masterson's do it, as does Suzanna Choffel. I hear she is working on new material, and has put a band together. All this of course, after her appearances on NBC's The Voice at the end of the year. I think she made the best possible use of shows like that, being on long enough to make an impact and show folks what she can do, without getting sucked into the big machine and losing credibility.  Music Fog captured her solo, powerful, last year at SXSW at Threadgill's WHQ in Austin. Here is "Hold Of The Night" from that session.

-Jessie Scott

The Civil Wars "From This Valley"

We have an early Christmas present for you today from a band of two that recently announced a hiatus from each other (they called it irreconcilable differences, but they are not married – at least to each other.) Joy Williams and John Paul White, better known as The Civil Wars, catapulted into the Americana world with meteoric trajectory. They won our hearts at the Americana Honors and Awards, and are nominated for a Grammy this year with Taylor Swift, who has been a fan of theirs since almost the beginning of their union. The Civil Wars: VH1 Unplugged will come out on January 15, 2013, and you will only find it on iTunes.

Here's hoping they reunite to tour behind it, as they create a communication on stage that is utterly captivating. Here is a taste, from 2011, when they played for the Music Fog cameras at Threadgill's WHQ during SXSW. The song is “From This Valley,” which can be found on the Mercyland, Hymns For The Rest Of Us album, which came out earlier this year.

-Jessie Scott

Jon Dee Graham "Beautifully Broken"

There are touch stones that make you stop and take note, even when one is in pain. This weekend up in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, the colors co-mingled to glorious effect. This morning, I am up with the sunrise, heading into NYC for meetings. The streets of New. york are a contact sport, ready or not here I come. Over the last two weeks, I have been physical in a way that just doesn't exist in most cities. In New York, you walk, you take the stairs, you carry bags. Every night I feel like hamburger meat, but I am seeing results already; tighter, lighter, more energy. And, it is woven seamlessly into your life, plus it's free! 

Whatever your addictions, your bad habits, use this day to start a new cycle. It starts by simply mustering up the will to change. Get off the couch, come into the sunshine. Don't think you can't. Jon Dee Graham is here to tell you that you can, having dealt with addiction himself. He sings about it here, "Beautifully Broken," filmed during the 2011 Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill's WHQ in Austin.

-Jessie Scott