It is hard not to live in the past, when you have decades of 'history.' That means decades of fuzzy memories, of savored moments, and yes, some you just want to forget. Having music as a passionate pursuit, which thankfully marches on, helps to make each day present time. And you don't have to forsake the old to embrace the new. My iPod spans somewhere in the vicinity of 75 years of recorded music. It makes for whiplash segues sometimes, but the songs are like jewels, they shine in their own light. From the Memphis Jug Band doing "He's In The Jailhouse Now," to the Black Keys, Decemberists, Spoon and the new Gregg Allman and Hayes Carll albums. LOVE music. Keep on bringing it.
Use to be that I would spend hours in record stores, looking at the alphabetical bins for the tactile, first with singles, then LPs and CDs. Now I gaze in wonder at the new music lists, clicking next page, and then the next. I was just looking at today's new releases; from the abovementioned Hayes Carll KMAG YOYO, to the Drive-By Truckers Go Go Boots, to the brand new Tommy Emmanuel, Little By Little, a two disc set. There are not enough discs in the world for me of Tommy's imaginative, acrobatic, and effortless music. As we bring you video, his playing is all the richer for the pictures of what his fingers are doing. It is utterly amazing to watch him. But you could just as easily close your eyes to allow the music to wash over you, too. We recorded Tommy Emmanuel this past September at the Americana Fest in Nashville. "Sanitarium Shuffle" is from his 2006 album Endless Road.
- Jessie Scott
