Fred Andrews "This Side of Crazy"

I have been driving by Franklin Barbecue just off I-35 at East 11th Street in Austin at lunch time for the last 6 months, seeing this incredible line waiting to get their daily meet. Franklin’s started as a well-respected food cart in 2009, and when this building became available, they jumped at the chance of having a brick and mortar establishment. They opened right around SXSW 2011, if I recall correctly, and there were lines from the start. There is a total buzz on this place; Bon Appétit magazine named them best in the country during the summer. Now you know I love my Q, but I was having a hard time looking at the people waiting for two hours to eat. Then I tried some brisket and some smoked sausage, quite heavenly. Still I think it is a tad crazy to wait that long to get your lunch.

Steamboat time is upon us. Music Fog is not attending this year, but I am on the mountain with fond memories. Last year, we had the honor of doing another edition of the Gondola Concert Series™ where we bring our cameras and audio recording gear, tweet for a contest winner to take the ride with us, and grab a game artist to serenade us. Last year, Fred Andrews was our ski-lift crooner. Now it happens that Tuesday was the release date for Fred Andrews and Honeybrowne’s new album This Side Of Crazy. Take the virtual ride with Fred, as he does a solo version of the title song from the brand new album.

- Jessie Scott

Gondola Concert Series w/ Fred Andrews

Woot! Year Three of the Gondola Concert Series™! We are so stoked to have been able to do it again. It was the brainchild of Music Fog founding member Ben Krech, hatched when we were still at XM. That year, we were stopped from the trip by high winds, but Robert Earl Keen had kindly agreed to take the ride up the mountain with us. We held it in the Steamboat Conference room instead, with contest winners up close and personal.

The first year we did it under the auspices of Music Fog we had Paula Nelson and George Devore, and it was the trip that we met Sheila on. Last year, Brandon Jenkins was our magnificent artist. Saturday morning of this year's MusicFest we were at the outdoor stage, watching performances at the base of the mountain from Corb Lund and Jack Ingram, (Eds Note: You really need to think about coming to MusicFest at Steamboat next year, cause it rocks!) when we spotted Fred Andrews of Honeybrowne fame. He said yes! And so last Sunday morning we sent a tweet out and posted the request on Facebook for a fan to accompany Fred on the Gondola for a private concert. Johnny Van from Chicago was the lucky winner waiting for us, as we stopped by the office for our lift tickets. Again, thanks to the folks at Steamboat Resort for making all the strategics so effortless.

Sheila and I were on the first car, with camera two, while Aaron, Beans, and Denise were on the car with the action! The temperature was much warmer this year, but heavy snow proved to be a view stealer. One of the shining moments of this video, though, is where contest winner Johnny Van inserts an impromptu line into the stop down section of the tune...just classic! Here's Fred Andrews performing "I'm Not Saying Goodbye Today" from high atop the Steamboat gondola. Enjoy the ride!

- Jessie Scott

Brandon Jenkins "Anymore"

Reflecting back on the fading voices in my head of what this month has brought, I am glad to be able to have video of some of it. One of the highlights, for sure, was the Gondola Concert Series™ the last day of Steamboat 2010. Ben Krech named it, and frankly, we had wanted to do it in 2008, when we were broadcasting the event on X Country. The first year we tried with Robert Earl Keen, but high wind prevented us from going up; rather, we could have gotten there, but coming down was iffy. Ben still had the dream the next year, and Paula Nelson and George Devore took the ride with Music Fog. We thank Brandon Jenkins for making year two happen, and marking the occasion by recording this song for the first time ever. Riding up with him, I was struck by how good a songwriter he is. How more people should know his name. So here is Part 2 of the Gondola Concert Series™ 2010 from the MusicFest. Take the ride!

-Jessie