I watched the Independence Day fireworks from my friends back yard. They live up on a hill (yes, there are hills in Texas!) We had a panoramic view of the sky, and in every direction, there were bombs bursting in air, all over the place. We take the fireworks thing really seriously here in Texas, and don’t just leave it to the town to do the entertaining. As several people told me they were stopping at roadside stands to get their rockets, this is the great American tradition: drink a bunch and blow things up. I am not trying to make light of it, this is just the prevailing mindset. I do hope that you had a safe and happy 4th, celebrating the birth of our nation with no ill effects. For all the beauty, and the oohing and aahing, I do think it a bit odd that we replicate war when we have giant fireworks displays. I am happy we ain’t fighting, that this is just symbolic, even if the smoke hangs heavy in the air afterwards.

The Sweetback Sisters are here today to celebrate fighting. Well sort of, anyway. What do they say, all’s fair in love and war?” The Sweetback Sisters are not related, except by their common love of music. Whether Honky Tonk, Country, Rockabilly with a touch of Swing thrown in for good measure, this band smokes it in that retro comes alive kind of way. And let’s face it, there are never enough songs about heartbreak, revenge, and remorse. We had a ball when the Sweetbacks’ came to visit us during the Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in March in Austin. They woke the entire room up with their explosive energy. Here is their tour schedule, cause ya really gotta see them live yourself. Today’s tune is “Looking For A Fight,” from Zara Bode, Emily Miller, Jesse Milnes, Ross Bellenoit, Peter Bitenc, and Stefan Amidon. It is the title track from their most recent album, done Music Fog style.

-Jessie Scott