It’s Presidents Day, whatever that means. Well I know the banks are closed and there is no mail delivery, but really, has it just become an opportunity for white sales, car sales, who knows what other kind of sales? The holiday was originally George Washington’s Birthday, designated in 1880 by an Act of Congress to honor the father of our country. It was celebrated on his actual birthday, which is tomorrow, 2/22. In 1971, the date was shifted in the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which yielded some three-day weekends. It actually makes it impossible for it ever to fall on GW’s birthday, but who is counting. And actually, the holiday is still called Washington’s Birthday, even though it is never on that day. In some states, Lincoln’s Birthday is still celebrated as a stand alone, on February 12th. In any case, we hope you have today off, and are enjoying a three day weekend, yourself, and that maybe even you are pondering the march of democracy, the history of our country.

Civilization spread relentlessly across this continent. When I think about Muzzie Braun raising the Braun sons in remote Idaho, I am awed by what it must have been like, especially as they were so self-sufficient . Two weeks ago, I toured through that spectacular Rockies landscape; Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Today’s tune is a brand new song from Micky Braun that we recorded in Colorado during last month's MusicFest at Steamboat. We expect to find it on the upcoming album, which Micky & The Motorcars will be recording in March and April. Ooh, there is a gig coming up with Micky and company, Reckless Kelly and dad Muzzie, doing a day at Luckenbach on March 12th, as Spring Break with The Braun Family. And Stonehoney will be playing a free show there earlier in the day...so you can make a day and night of it! That sounds like fun! Here is the first-ever recording of “Never Been Out West.”

- Jessie Scott