Warren Hood & The Hoodlums "Last One to Know"

It was a Sunday night, and I was at Momo's in Austin, just a couple of weeks before SX this year. Warren Hood and The Hoodlums were holding court on stage. They were doing what they always do, weaving intricate rhythms and intelligent jams. Creating joy. They were spectacular. I cornered Warren, who thankfully I had met a few years ago when we taped a Waybacks session at XM in DC, and invited him to play our showcase at Threadgill's. So good to see him! Right here, this is it exactly, this is the reason I moved to Austin, because I believe in the music being made here. Warren. Wow. He began playing fiddle at 11. So if the instrument looks like it ought to be in his hands, it ought to, and the mando, too. He is the proverbial child prodigy. His Dad was the celebrated Champ Hood from the equally celebrated Uncle Walt's Band.

Of course Warren has surrounded himself with stellar players, including Emily Gimble on piano and vocals, granddaughter of the legendary Johnny Gimble. Also on stage making a mighty sound are Willie Pipkin, Chris Gilson and Nate Rowe. They could have played all day, and all night for that matter. This music just makes me happy! It might make you happy, too, that is if you're in Texas or California...primary stops on his spring/summer tour. Watch the red line on the map for the journey at hand on Warren's website.

-Jessie Scott

Matt Harlan "Dresses"

There was a spooky sundown tonight, so compelling in its peach and turquoise blaze, that I had to follow it, though I shouldn't have been driving west, but south. As it faded, I headed home, looking in my rear view mirror to catch its last glorious rays. Only it no longer had that amazing glow, but had devolved into a gently cool mauve. You would have never known, had you just come outside. Here I am geeking out about the sunset, happy that I still look, and that I get excited by the beauty of something like that. And I still listen to music...yes, that includes new music.

I had a conversation with my brother Mitch today, talking about the sad state of radio. "Why don't they play new music?" he asked. Well, the answer to that is long and complicated. The best we can hope for is the divestiture of the giant corporate entities, and maybe when indies and Mom and Pop's can own radio again, there might come a new day of exploration on the dial. And there are still the occasional radio stations that defy the odds and bring it. Of course, in the meantime, there are myriad other sources of music: streaming, Pandora, Slacker, Satellite, and of course websites like ours. Did you know you can even launch 50 of our tunes in a row, kinda like radio, with our Music Fog Video Player? Look for it on the upper left hand corner, under our crew names. Why am I telling you all this? Oh yeah...when I listen to Matt Harlan, he brings me back to why I listened to folk music in the 60's. For the sake of the song as old as the hills, for the delivery as clean as a mountain stream. For the honesty and commitment to quality.

Matt Harlan's CD Tips and Compliments spent the month of March at #1 on the Euro Americana Charts. Patty Griffin's Downtown Church was #1 for February, and John Hiatt's The Open Road is #1 this month. Mighty fine company! Now ask yourself why our American music is so well embraced over there, and not here. But that is another age old story. Authenticity.

-Jessie Scott

Annie & the Beekeepers "Like a Dog"

It is awesome to watch artists just beginning to blossom, no pun intended. And so it is with Annie and the Beekeepers. Annie Lynch (voice, acoustic/electric guitars, banjo, kick and assorted percussion), Alexandra Spalding (cello, voice, harmonica, viola, electric guitar, kick and assorted percussion) and Ken Woodward (upright bass, mandolin, assorted percussion, voice) came to our bus in September during the Americana Music Conference and Festival and knocked us out. Then they returned to see us last month during our Threadgill's Showcases in Austin. Different spaces, yet they brought the same feelings to the room - of purity, artistry and grace. I love when a band can weave a mood, and AATB, who met in Boston and now live in Brooklyn, sure are masters of it.

Lots of new stuff going on with them, as they are in the process of building a new website, have new tour dates that they just announced, and are traveling to the UK for the first time in September to play The End Of The Road Festival.

Annie and Alexandra's close harmony suggest angels being summoned, and with gentle lyrics and instrumental support...well, it's just something to behold.

-Jessie Scott