John Fullbright "All the Time In the World"

It was Saturday night, the last night of Cherokee Creek Music Festival , and we were sitting in the back lounge of the bus. We had been working on the videos we were about to put up on the Music Fog site, getting ahead for the guys to take the long drive back to DC. Earlier, Denise and I had gone to the after party, where Paul Thorn was singing Sam Cook's "Bring It On Home To Me" with Stonehoney and friends backing him. It was about 4am and we were about to call it a night when we heard a rustling sound outside the window of the bus. Then a plastic Jesus appeared against the darkness on the window sill. Beans asked in his gruffest voice "Who's there?" and a tiny one came back, "Jesus. Can I come up?" And John Fullbright, with his pocket Jesus, came aboard. He asked for a guitar, and wanted to sing for us, there in the quietude of the wee hours, in the still of the Cherokee, TX night. Can you imagine? But we had no guitar, and so an impromptu jam session was not to be. (Dang!) But the good news is that we had already recorded him earlier! So we used the time to engage in deep conversation and song writing stylings.

A word about John Fullbright. His music is a calling, rooted deep in his soul. He walks the path tentatively, scarcely believing that he is on it. I can't wait to see him get discovered by the world. His is a voice of the common man. Asking questions his town mate, Woody Guthrie, might have also asked. John is from Okemah, OK, too. Looking at him, well, if truth be told, he doesn't even look like he is old enough to know about any of this stuff. But don't let that fool you...he knows it well. His voice is a revelation. His playing is eye opening on every instrument that he touches; guitar, harmonica, piano and accordion. I can't wait for his album to come out, produced by Kevin Welch!

John slept on our bus the last night of Cherokee Creek Music Festival. In the morning he woke up and came to me with concern that he had lost Jesus. I told him Jesus was still in his bed, which He was. So John found Jesus again. And John, you are welcome anytime---we'll save you a bunk.

- Jessie Scott

Freebo with Dan Navarro "Something To Believe"

Freebo. The name says all kinds of things, just on its own, and about the legend that it belongs to. We are not talking freebo.com, as that is one of those newfangled free car advertisement sites. We are talking Freebo on the WIKI...

Freebo is a bass and tuba player, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer noted primarily for his work with Bonnie Raitt. He is also a respected session musician who has recorded and performed with Ringo Starr, John Mayall, John Hall, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Willy DeVille, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Maria Muldaur, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and many others.

His long collaboration with Raitt began when he attracted Raitt's attention as a member of Philadelphia's Edison Electric Band in the 1960s. Freebo was soon in great demand for studio work and touring.

In recent years, he has recorded three solo albums: The End Of The Beginning (1999), Dog People (2002), and Before The Separation (2006).

Wow, what a career! Now Freebo has embarked on a deeper exploration, which manifests in his songwriting and beyond. He is working on a brand new album, which we are hoping to see in the near future. His love of all earthy, real, roots music and rock 'n roll will make it a treat, I am sure. When he was up on our bus in February he contributed to the Keep The Light Alive recording for Eric Lowen, and then he asked to lay down one of his brand new songs. He wrote this with Eric Lowen, and performed it for us with Dan Navarro.

- Jessie Scott

Margo Valiante "Mama Don't Know"

She has such an evocative voice, such an easy, masterful delivery. Margo Valiante (you pronounce all the syllables) was the last person we booked for our Threadgill's showcases back in March. The last few slots fell like Pachinko balls, I had people want to do what was left, one after the other until there was just the one open, and it was gone. Margo, unknown to me at the time, was working with the legendary and wonderful Rich Brotherton. He produced her EP I Can't Pray which hit the street about a month ago. She moved to Austin from Jackson, WY in autumn of 2008. Austin is such a Mecca for those that hear the muse; reminiscent of young actors relocating to LA, of young theater folks being drawn to New York.

Me, I am loving the blues-infused soulfulness creeping back into the music that I listen to. It is deep and rich and moving. Margo Valiante is touring now, maybe she's coming to a town near you. Hope so, cause we were SO impressed when we saw her!

- Jessie Scott