Mary Gauthier "Drag Queens In Limousines"

On the plane from New Orleans to Nashville, and then heading to Bonnaroo today. Somehow in the last week, I have visited eleven states, and have spent time in some of my favorite cities. Yes, I am tired, but exhilarated too, as this kind of movement rocks me. 24 hours in New Orleans is always a good touchstone. The part of town I was staying in reminds me of where I live in Austin; the other side of the tracks, a dicey, transitioning area. We needed some extra hands, so I talked to the man working on the house next door. He said, "Hell, I wouldn't want to hire anyone from around here." OK! New Orleans is on the slow comeback. There are still totally blighted areas, but the charm and spirit of the people is immediately enticing. You feel that things are regarded differently, just from the comebacks you get when you greet someone.

We bring you a New Orleans refugee, Mary Gauthier, who is now a Nashville resident. And a wholly appropriate song from her, that captures a snapshot  of NOLA back when Mary lived there. We recorded it in September 2010 in Nashville at AmericanaFest. And while we are on the subject of Americana, make sure you pick up the latest issue of Spin, titled The New Americana Revolution. Here, here!

Mary is doing a bunch of touring this summer, here is a taste, "Drag Queens In Limousines."

-Jessie Scott

Cracker "Eurotrash Girl"

A couple of days ago, I drove through Virginia on the way to New Orleans. As we started the road trip in DC, you really get the full effect when you drive the entire state, from the northern suburban sprawl of our Nation's Capital, to the incredible beauty of the rural mountains as you head southwest. Virginia is a state that very much embodies the cross cultural influences in America, from bustling and sophisticated, to home spun and natural. And it's all good. Virginia will soon lay claim to a new festival hosted by two native son bands, Sons Of Bill, and Cracker. Even the poster for the event was done by a Virginian, Wes Freed.

The inaugural event is coming up on June 17th and 18th at Misty Mountain Camp Resort, the first annual Campout East in Greenwood, Virginia. It will feature some of the area's best food, art, and cool music from some bands we love, with sets by Camper Van Beethoven, Those Darlins, The Futurebirds, American Aquarium, The Mag-bats featuring Wes Freed, Johnny Corndawg, and of course Sons Of Bill. Here is where to find out more info on ticketing, lodging and camping.

By the way, David Lowery of Cracker is producing the new Sons Of Bill record. Look for that to come out in a few months - but SOB will be touring this summer, as they just keep rolling down the highway. Also, note that Johnny Hickman of Cracker is about to drop a new Hickman Dalton Gang CD. (And we filmed Jim Dalton with Roger Clyne in Steamboat last January.) Lots of friends of the family here! We wanted to bring you a Cracker video today, from their 1994 EP Tucson which then found its way onto the Kerosene Hat album as an unlisted track, "Eurotrash Girl."

-Jessie Scott

Telluriding 2

This is one cool town! Lots of handmade, homemade, and arty things in the shops. There are a surprising lack of the chain stores that populate every town in America. I am hunting a CVS but have yet to see one. Telluride has a strange undercurrent, that is, we think the DOGS are really running this town. They are everywhere, small and large, and they all carry an air of entitlement. They let you check out free pink bicycles at the library. Then there are these weird cans of oxygen, which I was happy to pass around with Amanda Shires and Stacey Earle. It was almost as if we were passing a joint.

We see five year olds on the loose with hundred dollar bills buying Rocky Road, cause life is rough, and ice cream ALWAYS makes it better. There is a "FREE STUFF" cubby hole on the street corner, akin to what you would have found in a kindergarten classroom, and people were rummaging in it. What? - you come here on vacation and scuttle your stuff, so you can buy more? WTF????

We are not here on vacation. Beans and I are here to bring you coverage from the Americana Music Weekend, and SHEILA has joined us! Yay! Beans gave her a quick lesson on Camera 2 yesterday, and she performed brilliantly. Last night at the Sheridan Opera House, which is 100 years old, and like being inside a Whitman's Sampler Box, was Jason Eady and then Band Of Heathens. Tonight is Sam Baker and Joe Ely. A couple of nights ago there was a song swap from Amanda Shires & Rod Picott and Stacey Earle & Mark Stuart. They were magical together. Lots of fun and welcoming on stage with one another and the audience. We have a Mark Stuart blues tune for you now, "Gonna Love Me Someday." Life is TOUGH!

-Jessie Scott