Sometimes events just conspire to create their own mini era. For whatever reason, I have been immersed in music history more than usual. I met the folks from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week for some spirited discussion, and also had an impassioned conversation with Dr. Gary Hartman from Texas State University, the director of the Center for Texas Music History. Then there is a bit of personal history to dig into. When one is a radio programmer playing new artists,  autographed artwork is frequently sent to thank us for playing someone’s music. I have an impressive collection of these things from years of being on the radio. Over the weekend, I started unfurling posters from decades gone by. There were slicks and handbills, and parchment, and Hatch prints, and some HUGE posters.

One of the full size posters was from Chris Smither, sent to me when his Leave The Light On album came out back in 2006. Cool to find that! Chris’s 12th studio album,  Hundred Dollar Valentine is just out. It provides a glimpse into a more mature artist, while carrying on the acoustic blues tradition for which Chris is heralded. The new album was recorded in early 2012 at Signature Sounds Studios in Pomfret, Connecticut, with drummer Billy Conway, Jimmy Fitting on harmonica, vocalist Anita Suhanin, and violinist Ian Kennedy joining Chris and producer Dave “Goody” Goodrich. When we filmed Chris Smither during the Spring Music Fog Marathon in March, he was solo. No matter, as he is magnetic whatever the configuration. Here is the Music Fog version of one of the songs found on the new album, “Make Room For Me.”

-Jessie Scott