Mary Bragg "Fight"

To paraphrase Merle Haggard, “If we make it through December…” Actually, for me May is shaping up to be that month. WMOT is throwing a two-day benefit, the 895 Fest on May 31st and June 1st in Murfreesboro, TN. We have 18 artists playing, including Rodney Crowell, Delbert McClinton, Lee Roy Parnell, and Mike Farris. Yikes, I think I have booked somewhere around 150 artists already this year for various initiatives! Plus, I’m looking forward to heading to Philly for the NON-COMMvention, and there is tons of stuff to celebrate this month besides. Hope you are looking at a fun and busy month too!

In the hectic workaday world, which only seems to be getting faster and placing more demands on us all the time, this is your reminder to take a moment to savor love. Mary Bragg, in delicious duet with co-writer Robby Hecht, breathe in unison on the song “Fight.” Mary released her new album Violets as Camouflage earlier this year. Today’s song debuted on Rolling Stone on Valentine’s Day. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Fight." It is sweet intimacy, and a reminder not to go to bed mad!

- Jessie Scott

The Cerny Brothers "Days of Thunder"

The Cerny Brothers are putting a record out on my friend Steve Popovich’s label, as he has relaunched Cleveland International, started by my life long music biz running buddy Steve Popovich Sr. who sadly, passed in 2011. Still miss him so much, he was a magical music man, with cassettes with new tunes in every pocket of his suit coat. You never knew what he was going to play next and he had the best ears ever. He was a kindred spirit, motivated by music. Oh, the stories he would tell. I wish that someone would capture these behind the scenes tales from the folks who helped birth the music. They had the zaniest stories to share when we would sit around and reminisce. 

On to the future. The Cerny Brothers make a whole lotta music for just two folks on stage. Scott and Bob Cerny have been making music for almost their entire lives. They are now both Nashville residents, and their new album, Looking For The Good Land, comes out next Friday. They are spirited lyricists and dynamic players. Here is the Music Fog recording of one of their new tunes, Days of Thunder, recorded here in Nashville in February.

- Jessie Scott

Jason Ringenberg "John the Baptist Was a Real Humdinger"

It was with sorrow that we watched Notre Dame in flames earlier this week. For anyone that has visited, you know the serenity and awe that walking in brought. Notre Dame is as much a testament to faith as it is to the greatness in man for its scope and beauty. We persevere, we rebuild, we carry on. This is Holy Week, and its an unusual one, as both Passover and Easter are aligned this year. No matter what you celebrate, or even if you don’t, spring is the season of renewal and rebirth. And leave it to Jason Ringenberg to bring a fresh slant to the story of John The Baptist.

So you know, Jason is the eponymous "Jason" of Jason & The Scorchers, yes, the original punk roots barnstormers. J&TS brought an early take to the world of Cow Punk Rock and Roll, paving the way for what would become Americana itself. Jason hadn’t recorded a new album for quite a while, nor was he planning to, until he got an offer from the Parks Service to write in a cabin in Sequoia National Park. The tunes came bubbling up. The new album is called Stand Tall, and this is one of the songs you will find on it, “John The Baptist Was a Real Humdinger.” And yeah, so is Jason Ringenberg! Here is the Music Fog recording from this past February in Nashville, part of our 10th Anniversary Sessions.

- Jessie Scott