Here we stand as it’s the unofficial start of summer. I hope things are opening up for you and the season ahead will be sweet with fun and frolic. It’s been a cold and dark winter but the sun is now shining.
Photo credit: Monica Murray
It is almost time for Music Fog to film again. Of course, we were about to hold the next round of sessions before all whistles blew to a stop with the quarantine. During our last sessions, Parker Millsap had a new album, Other Arrangements, and we were able to film him solo. From that session is today’s video, “Your Water.” What’s funny is that Parker has a new album out and it just might be time to get back together with him to capture songs from his latest, Be Here Instead. We seem to be on the same cycle!
A couple of weeks ago, I hit the road for Nashville driving I-81 to I-40, and then back through Virginia again. The drive was simply beautiful with the last glow of autumn colors. My car started acting weird outside of Bristol, and so started a bit of an odyssey through hill and dale to find the solution. Ain’t nothing like when the engine lights come on at 70mph to freak you out. First stop was Smith’s in Marion, VA. They diagnosed it dead-on and tried to do a quick fix, as otherwise I would have had to wait a few days for the rest of the parts to arrive. So I ventured back out on the road to try to make it to a bigger town, Blacksburg, VA. As it turned out, I had to wait a few days anyway for it to be fixed. All is good, and I had no further problems, but I have to say, sometimes the universe sends you a signal that you just have to slow down. The real joy of the weekend was that EVERYONE I encountered along the way was terrific: kind, caring, helpful, into listening and offering solutions, giving of themselves. It wound up being a wonderful exercise in trust, quick decision-making, and creative problem solving.
While in Blacksburg, I got back in touch with Virginia native Scott Miller. He offered his assistance if I needed it, but thank goodness, I was on my way. Scott is working on a new album with Bryn Davies and Rayna Gellert, AKA, The Commonwealth's Ladies Auxiliary, which of course pays homage in name to the 'Scott Miller & The Commonwealth' music era. Look for a multiple night stand at The Down Home in Johnson City, TN in early December. Allow us to continue in reverse chronological order; so right after college, Scott moved to Knoxville and formed The V-Roys with another dear friend, Mic Harrison. Mic Harrison recently christened a new show for Knoxville’s WDVX just a few weeks ago, called the WDVX 6 O'Clock Swerve.
In honor of my trip through the area, Music Fog brings you some footage of Scott Miller and Mic Harrison in Nashville a few years back, as they participated in our Music Fog Marathon during AmericanaFest 2011. Here they are as The V-Roys with “Sooner Or Later.” All in due time.
Nashville has been a busy place lately. Yes, for sure, over the course of the last fifteen years, it has become one of the hottest destination towns in the country. But these last couple of weeks were dizzying. Between last week’s CMA Fest, or being able to launch one’s trip down 1-24 from Nashville to Bonnaroo, and then this week, The Rolling Stones coming to play LP Field, it has been especially center of the universe stuff. I am tickled by how many friends went to see the Stones (wish I could have been there, but the Facebook posting were priceless!) I am beyond thrilled by the fact that my favorite rock and roll band keeps on after all these years. Also that Mick, Keith, Charlie, and Ronnie flew in a day early to attend a tribute evening to Bobby Keys at The Mercy Lounge. Bobby’s band The Suffering Bastards kicked some serious butt.
The night of the Stones show, in another close-in Nashville location, Acme Feed & Seed, Patrick Sweany joined Guthrie Trapp & The Mulekickers on stage. Patrick carries all of the DNA that I love about the early Stones, with homage to R&B, Blues and Rock - the simple stuff; the emotional, the evocative. Patrick is a consummate bluesman who plays with swagger and abandon, and who was just spotlighted in American Songwriter Magazine’s Blues Issue. He is just wrapping up details for his new album, Daytime Turned To Nighttime to be released in September, and has launched an extensive tour of the states from sea to shining sea through the end of this year. Do catch him if he is coming close, and immerse yourself in an evening of live music, just for the fun of it.
Today’s song can be found on Patrick’s 2011 album That Old Southern Drag. We bring you the Music Fog recording of “More and More” filmed during AmericanaFest in Nashville in 2011.
