Tuesday was my birthday, and it was a glorious day, made especially so by the stealthy arrival of my son Trev and his girlfriend Kate. They totally surprised me by driving from New Orleans on Sunday, and hiding out in the back room at Threadgill’s when I was getting ready for my Sunday night School Night Sessions show there. It was totally disarming, and I so appreciate it. Truly, their presence was my best present. Tuesday night, I had Rosie Flores, and her new band The Rivetors, and Jackie Bristow come and play my Threadgill’s series, and Phoebe Hunt got up and played fiddle with both ladies. The room was rocking, there was chocolate cake and candles, not to mention a roomful of people singing “Happy Birthday.” Just delightful. No stress, either, the night just fell together beautifully.

I think that things happen when they are supposed to, and you can’t rush them, though sometimes we sure would like to. I gotta think it was that was for Cory Branan, who is a magnetic, albeit quirky, songwriter out of Memphis, who was recently signed to Bloodshot Records in Chicago. I have known him for a decade, and have been waiting for him to have some light of day, which is finally happening. He is a remarkable performer; engaging even if it is just him on stage. He writes compelling, left of center songs, and he came to play some of them for us during the Music Fog Spring Marathon in Austin this past March, also at Threadgill's. Cory’s new album Mutt came out on Tuesday. Here is the Music Fog version of one of the tracks, “The Corner.”

- Jessie Scott