Man oh man, the allergens are raging here in Texas. The weather has shifted, bouncing back from the crazy-cold winter weather of a couple weeks ago to the temperate 70s with sunshine. It feels good, and not just to humans, EVERYTHING is growing. Be forewarned, if you are thinking about migrating to Austin, there is plenty of particulate matter in the air. Right now, Cedar, Juniper, Elm, and Ash are high. It is weird, because you think you are coming down with something, but you don't actually get sick. That is a good thing, but that doesn’t stop everyone from talking about it all the time. It even has a name - Cedar Fever, and don’t forget that follows Sweater Weather. Yes, I still watch SNL.

Just a month ago, we were deep in the swaddling at The MusicFest in Steamboat Springs. Bundled up, with long johns, boots, and layers. And we met a man, similarly attired, who was able to sandwich a visit to the Music Fog studio at the Steamboat Grand in between his other gigs. When Charlie Robison comes to visit, the door opens wide. I asked him to surprise us, and he sure did, pulling “John O’Reilly” out of his bag of tricks. The song functions in so many ways; an Irish drinking tune, with fighting, gambling, intrigue, emigration, and yearning for home. Charlie is doing some planning for beach weather, as he is throwing his second Bay Bash in Rockport/Fulton, TX, on July 3rd. We’ll bring you details when they are posted. In the meantime, let’s hoist one, and listen to the Music Fog recording of "John O’Reilly," originally found on the Step Right Up CD, which came out in 2001.

- Jessie Scott