Todd Snider "Like a Force of Nature"

And just like that I am back in DC. Washington holds a special place in my heart. I was so honored to come to live here at the start of the century to work at XM Satellite Radio. Of course you know that all us Foggers were employed there until the merger. Long before that, I spent time marching on the Mall, Anti War, Pro Civil Rights and the like, and I was always taken by the beauty of this city and by its gravitas. Accompanying all of that, of course, was the folk music of the day. It was a call to action, a builder of common ground. A movement.

Todd Snider is a folk singer. Folk singers deliver the goods with a very sparse accompaniment, in this case, just an acoustic guitar and harp. They cast a canny eye on life, so much so that recognition sparks within the creation. Todd performs “Like A Force of Nature” one of the tracks on his new Cash Cabin Sessions, Vol. 3, that were recorded in the Cash Cabin. Yes, that would be Johnny Cash. Vol 1 & 2 have yet to see light of day, but no matter. Todd goes back to the simplicity of the song, to the eternal energy of folk. With a bit of musical flourish at the end, that I'll leave as a surprise for you. Tada! Here is “Like A Force of Nature” filmed during a private Music Fog session in Nashville.

- Jessie Scott

Shannon McNally "Now That I Know"

Today’s message is to remember to be purposeful. I am attending the Non-COMMvention, which is put on every year by WXPN in Philadelphia. It is a joy to be in a roomful of people who are all motivated to bring great music to their audiences in towns and cities far and wide around America. All of our radio stations have different formats, but all have the same goals, to build community in our market around the music. Let me just say there is electricity in the air.

Shannon McNally has today’s video. She is a devotee of what Gram Parsons called Cosmic American Music. Shannon’s most recent album, Black Irish, was produced by Rodney Crowell, and when we filmed her, she was about to go on the road with Steve Earle. We are celebrating a milestone with Shannon McNally here, with today’s video. “Now That I Know” was originally recorded 20 years ago, and was later released on the Jukebox Sparrows album. To mark its 20th year, Shannon has released a new acoustic version of the tune. Here is the Music Fog recording, filmed in Nashville this past February.

- Jessie Scott

Sugarcane Jane "Campfire"

Yowsa! Summer is just around the corner! The unofficial start, Memorial Day Weekend, starts this year on 5/25. Our minds are already wandering to beaches and boating, cool lakes and fun with friends. May your circle of friends continue to grow and be a thing of love, respect and comfort.

Are you hip to the collective of Willie Sugarcapps? It is a musical aggregation of friends, including Will Kimbrough, Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes and Sugarcane Jane. Sometimes they make music together, and other times they break into the fundamental parts. We brought you a Will Kimbrough tune from his new album I Like It Down Here several weeks back here at Music Fog. Today’s video comes from Sugarcane Jane. They are Savana Lee and her husband Anthony Crawford, who has musical credits including Neil Young, Steve Winwood, and Dwight Yoakam. Sugarcane Jane bring an effortless jam sensibility to their music, and as we think of all the summer fun ahead, let’s gather ‘round the “Campfire.” You’ll find it on their new Southern State of Mind album, and here is the Music Fog version, recorded this past February in Nashville.

- Jessie Scott