I stayed in one of the many stunning rooms at The Mansion on O in Washington, DC last week, having done a show there with Chris Berardo and the DesBerardos. Shall we say they raised the rafters in joyous song? Well, hell, they did! The audience was up on their feet, the night was spectacular. And a word about the room I was staying in; the first thing I saw when I opened the door was an autographed Bob Dylan guitar. Then in chatting with H and Ted, the proprietors of The Mansion, they told me that Rosa Parks had lived in this room. The walls resonated. The Octagon Room, as it is called, is beautiful, a soothing shade of China Blue, with ornate furniture and objects d'art. Stuff that makes you think about who made it. Craftsmanship is alive and well in this house of art and ideas. I was humbled to be sitting at this desk, pondering the history of Miss Rosa, and her contribution to history. Weighty stuff indeed. And to gaze at Dylan's guitar, and wonder where the words came from. Wow. All I can say is it must have been intense growing up a Dylan, and it is so good to see that Jakob embraced the family biz.
On hiatus from their Dixie Chicks incarnation, sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Robison released their self-titled Court Yard Hounds CD this past May. The debut of this new project took place on stage at Antone's in Austin, during the Americana Music Association Showcase in March at SXSW. There is footage included from that night, so look for the AMA banner in this new video for "See You in the Spring," in which Jakob Dylan provides accompaniment. A perfect winter tune.
- Jessie Scott
