Band Of Heathens "Nine Steps Down"

Man, it is such a whirlwind when "The Fog" blows through. I am just catching my breath from last week’s Americana Fest. Today I popped in to the website to watch several of the sets we posted from our Fall Marathon last week at Marathon Recorders. Elephant Revival, Billy Burnette, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, The Bottle Rockets...there are way more there, and I intend to watch a few every day until I have seen them all.

Right before we took off for our excursion to Nashville, we announced the arrival of our first ever compilation album, Who’s First? Music Fog Sessions Vol. 1. Audio ace Aaron Lee spent months prepping the songs, and getting the necessary behind the scenes prep work done. We especially thank the artists that participated. It has been one of our dreams for a long while, to deliver the audio to you as an album. We have even gotten some requests from DJs to play these tracks on their radio stations. On a personal note, I downloaded the 12 tracks into my iPod, and have been digging listening to them on my travels.

The twelve are Cody Canada and Seth James (AKA The Departed), The Trishas, Elliot Randall & The Deadmen, Kasey Anderson, Uncle Lucius, Chris Knight, David Jacobs-Strain, Morgan O’kane, Deadman, Sons of Bill, Paul Thorn, and of course The Band of Heathens with "Hanging Tree." I must say, it is an in-the-pocket vibey, cool collection, as so much of the music we get to capture is. Like today’s song, which is another from the soulful and earthy Band of Heathens, and was recorded during the same session as the song on our album.

“Nine Steps Down” is one of the songs you will find on their 2007 self-titled album. The New Orleans reference in it predates the motif of their most recent album Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son, which is steeped in the gumbo of the mighty Mississippi. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Nine Steps Down,” from our sessions during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs in January.

-Jessie Scott

PS: Let us know what songs you would like us to consider for the Music Fog Sessions Volume Two. Leave your suggestions in the comment box below and we will reach out to the artists and try to get them cleared for the next one!

Sean McConnell "Praise The Lord"

I found myself in deep reverie a few nights ago when Blondie played the ACL Moody Theater at the W Hotel in Austin, TX. Yeah it was a slamming show, loud and filled with familiar music, dramatic moves, guitar parts and everything else you would expect. I have to say that Debbie Harry looks damn good for 66. But I was melancholy thinking about New York in the 80s, and friends who are gone from the planet. It was a weird time in New York, what with the AIDS epidemic sweeping the city and a certain amount of denial about it all, especially at the beginning. The particular person I was thinking about was a true friend who came to LA to drag me back to my life when I was ‘on the lam,’ rock and roll style, holed up at The Mondrian Hotel for six weeks. Most people won’t go that far out of their way to make things right. Debbie Harry reminds me of my friend, who died  several years ago. I will miss her forever.

So many times when you meet someone and become friends, it is a mutual convenience, superficial and no more. But sometimes there is a deep connection and secrets are shared. True friendships are to be savored. They can be looked at after the fact when the person is gone with astonishment for the degree or respect and love they engendered.  Today’s song is from Sean McConnell, and it should be savored as well. It is a new tune, as yet not released on CD. Beautiful, though, as it gently hangs in the air. We recorded Sean during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs in January. This is “Praise The Lord.”

-Jessie Scott

Kevin Welch “Flycatcher Jack and The Whippoorwill's Song”

I am walking the thoroughfares of the French Quarter, hearing the whispers and seeing the ghosts. Eating the remarkable food of NOLA, and encountering street scenes with music tumbling out from the balconies and the hurricane doors and windows.  It is always a good touchstone to come here, to see the mix, to feel the immigrant nation that spawned the greatness of America.  Everyone is in it together to make a multicultural society, stronger than the sum of its parts.  Song is a universal truth, one that we can all share, one that can touch all hearts.  Kevin Welch is one of those songwriters, that can take it off the printed page and make it float in the air, hologram like.

Before we bring you “Flycatcher Jack and The Whippoorwill's Song,” I just wanted to make sure you know that Kevin will be in the house to salute another exceptional songwriter, Guy Clark, for "Wish I Was In Austin:  A 70th Birthday Tribute to Guy Clark" on November 2nd.  Guy himself will be in attendance for the evening at The Long Center, in Austin, Texas.  It will be an evening honoring the majesty of Texas’ homegrown song, to benefit The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University, San Marcos.  The evening will feature appearances by Terry Allen, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Joe Ely, Rosie Flores, Radney Foster, Terri Hendrix, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram, James McMurtry, The Trishas, Jerry Jeff Walker, and surprise guests.  The concert is the companion to the release of the double CD set,  "This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark", which features many of the people who will be on stage.  Kevin Welch will be there, and so today we bring you a special moment with Kevin from MusicFest earlier this year, when he stopped by the Steamboat Grand with Dustin Welch in tow. 

- Jessie Scott