Charlie Robison "John O'Reilly"

Man oh man, the allergens are raging here in Texas. The weather has shifted, bouncing back from the crazy-cold winter weather of a couple weeks ago to the temperate 70s with sunshine. It feels good, and not just to humans, EVERYTHING is growing. Be forewarned, if you are thinking about migrating to Austin, there is plenty of particulate matter in the air. Right now, Cedar, Juniper, Elm, and Ash are high. It is weird, because you think you are coming down with something, but you don't actually get sick. That is a good thing, but that doesn’t stop everyone from talking about it all the time. It even has a name - Cedar Fever, and don’t forget that follows Sweater Weather. Yes, I still watch SNL.

Just a month ago, we were deep in the swaddling at The MusicFest in Steamboat Springs. Bundled up, with long johns, boots, and layers. And we met a man, similarly attired, who was able to sandwich a visit to the Music Fog studio at the Steamboat Grand in between his other gigs. When Charlie Robison comes to visit, the door opens wide. I asked him to surprise us, and he sure did, pulling “John O’Reilly” out of his bag of tricks. The song functions in so many ways; an Irish drinking tune, with fighting, gambling, intrigue, emigration, and yearning for home. Charlie is doing some planning for beach weather, as he is throwing his second Bay Bash in Rockport/Fulton, TX, on July 3rd. We’ll bring you details when they are posted. In the meantime, let’s hoist one, and listen to the Music Fog recording of "John O’Reilly," originally found on the Step Right Up CD, which came out in 2001.

- Jessie Scott

Matt King "Eden's Apple"

Valentine's Day. Awww. Don't forget your sweetie, that is if you have one. I like how our holidays are so color coded these days that when you walk into the aisle at CVS to buy a greeting card, you are assaulted with the color of that month's "holiday." So we are all pink and red and rosy, and about to be emerald green next month. Blink! All of the Music Fog men are married, and all are doing something special for their Valentine today. Salut! L'Chaim. Love and kisses and candy and flowers and liquor, and dinner out, and then there should be song.

Matt King is our message delivery system for Cupid's quill. "Eden's Apple" is an attraction song, rich with the ache of lust. It comes from his album Rube. We recorded him solo during our foray up to Steamboat Springs for MusicFest in January. He was telling us that Jack White had done a session with his father Jerry, who is an auctioneer. Jack White is releasing a 45 with Jerry King, an instructional on auctioneering, and Matt got to hang out in the studio to watch it all.

Matt King for you now with "Eden's Apple." Yum.

- Jessie Scott

PS For a different twist on Valentine's Day, don't forget our exclusive video of Reckless Kelly performing "I Never Liked St. Valentine," an unreleased song written by Willy Braun and Todd Snider.

Jason Eady "This Old Guitar and Me"

I was on the road Wednesday afternoon, driving up from Bozeman, Montana to Big Sky for a gig with John Bohlinger, the band leader from Nashville Star, and Claudia Williams from the band Montana Rose. We are so deep in the Rocky Mountains that we are being swallowed by the pines. The audio accompaniment is the new Robbie Robertson album, How To Become Clairvoyant, and here is a hot tip - track 8, "Madame X," is a perfect tune to listen to as the sun goes down, as it is bathing us in a peach glow.

I look at The Rockies as old friends now, as this is the third time in the past year that I've visited. The first was Beans and me cruising from Albuquerque to Telluride for the Americana Music Weekend. BTW, the lineup has been announced for this year's event...check their website. The second trip was last month's MusicFest at Steamboat, where we soaked in the sun, snow, food, great music, and abundance of close friends.

Photo Credit: David BybothFrom those Music Fog sessions in Steamboat Springs, we bring you a video from one of the somewhat unsung Texas heroes, Jason Eady, a man that follows the heart and soul of his own muse. He brings all kinds of textures and flavors, delivered with flawless authenticity and musicality. On his next CD, AM Country Heaven, due out in April, he embraces some old school country forms. That has always been part of his subtext. "This Ol' Guitar And Me," will be on the new album, and here's the Music Fog version to act as a tease. Recorded in our Steamboat Grand studio last month during The MusicFest 2011.

- Jessie Scott