Will Hoge "The Reckoning"

Today we celebrate Will Hoge, as it is the occasion of the release of his new album, Tiny Little Movies. Man, what a fine songwriter he is. And thank goodness, he is keeping the rock and roll spirit alive. I am ever in awe at the ease with which he writes, and I'm blown away by his performances, whether solo, or with his kick-ass band. Recently, Will came to play for WMOT’s Public Radio Music Day broadcasts in April, just before we shut it all down, and I have a new interview coming up with him on the radio in the 6pm Central hour today. We did a Zoom for release day, and you can find it on WMOT.org, Live Sessions on NPR, or listen live to us on your favorite smart speaker, or on the radio if you live in middle Tennessee, at 89.5 FM. By the way, we play a bunch of his music.

Music Fog goes back a ways with Will, too, having recorded him in 2009, and at AmericanaFest back in 2011. A year ago, Will Hoge returned to the Music Fog set to lay some more tunes down. One that he performed for us is on his 2017 album Anchors, and we bring that to you today. Here is “The Reckoning,” filmed during a private session in Nashville last year.

- Jessie Scott

Mike Farris "Selah! Selah!"

Wow, who wrote this script anyway? Each week seems to bring twists and turns that are totally unexpected and that stop you in your tracks. Since we are all in it together, here is to healing, both physically and spiritually. We can always lift our voices in song or take a knee in prayer, and I have just the person to bring it, Nashville treasure Mike Farris.

Farris is a force of nature. He possesses one incredible voice, with the power to find common ground. He has been doing some live streaming events, like Wheelie Wednesdays, because of course Mike was lead singer for the Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies. And then there is Light Up The Lockdown on Sundays . His shows are live streamed, so please remember to tip or buy some merch. Support is so important right now. Mike’s latest album is Silver & Stone, but when Music Fog caught up with him in a private session in Nashville, he dug back into the Salvation in Lights album for a classic, “Selah! Selah!” Its about perfect for right now.

- Jessie Scott

Jenny Leigh "Good Men"

Are you still sequestered? Are you getting antsy? Have you been interacting on FaceTime or Zoom, or are you at home with only your core folks? What kind of things have been keeping you busy, what is giving you joy? Music still does that for me, thank goodness. There are a dizzying array of streams to check out and I find that I am listening to more music in general. My radio station, WMOT, was planning to do our second live festival this weekend, and we didn’t even get a chance to unveil the line up before all was silenced due to the pandemic. So, this weekend, we are streaming and broadcasting last year’s 895 Fest sets, all 18 of them! It goes 12p to 6p CT Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and you can listen at WMOT.org or go to NPR Music/Live Sessions/WMOT if you would like to watch.

Today’s video comes from Nashville songstress Jenny Leigh, who just put out a new track a couple of weeks ago with Adam Wakefield. Check out “Where The Real Love Starts." The thing about music that I most love is that it stops your mind from reeling, and centers you while you are experiencing it. Jenny does that on this tune, which Music Fog filmed in a private session last year in Nashville. Here is our exclusive studio recording of "Good Men."

- Jessie Scott