In the K. Phillips & The Concho Pearls song “Lincoln City (Keep It Safe)” there is a mention of Medicine Hat, which is a town in Canada known for its natural gas fields. The first thing that came to mind is Son Volt’s song called Medicine Hat, and then I was off on the research that is so easy to do on the internets. Back in the day when you had an encyclopedia, but that was the only access, it was nowhere so easy, or fun, I might add, to learn about stuff. So, Medicine Hat actually is Blackfoot for the medicine man’s headdress (the name is ‘Saamis), and of course it is the stuff of legend.
photo by Steve CirceoK. Phillips writes about a trek from Medicine Hat, Alberta to Lincoln City, Oregon. At the wrong time of year, that could be a grueling journey. The song can be found on the wonderful American Girls album, which came out a few months back. On it, there are tales of longing and love, desperation, and misbehavior. But this song is the tale of a weary traveler. We filmed K Phillips & The Concho Pearls during our Spring Music Fog Marathon in Austin in March at Threadgill’s WHQ. “….keep it safe, “ here is the Music Fog recording of “Lincoln City.”
- Jessie Scott
