Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros "Night Train Rolling By"

I got to tour the Northeast last week with Walt Wilkins and The Mystiqueros. First stop, the magnificent and ever eclectic Mansion on O in Washington, DC. I don't like to share too much information to newbies in advance of their stay at the Mansion. The O 'wow factor' is alive and well, and I just loved the looks on the guys faces as they toured the rooms and pledged to bring their ladies back with them the next time they stayed there. I am ever amazed at how many people that are long time DC denizens don't know about the Mansion. I encourage you to go for a brunch, or set up a birthday or anniversary dinner, or even a soiree, there. And for out of towners, a stay at The Mansion is just the ticket for a getaway, short or long! We scouted room locations within the Mansion, to figure out where we should shoot this time, settling on The Billiards Room, with a pledge not to move the pool table. Way too heavy, not to worry! And so Sunday afternoon, we trooped into a sweet, wood paneled, darkened "set," and the band mates materialized for the video shoot.

Johnny Greenberg, Bill Small, Walt Wilkins and Ray Rodriguez are The Mystiqueros. This is the first song they wrote as a band, each taking a verse. They have been at it for five years now, with some personnel changes, and along the way, they have become just 'The Mystiqueros.' Fine songwriters, accomplished musicians, and friends. It takes a village...or a band anyway, to make it down the road. They bring rich harmonies, fluidity, earth, soul and substance. I have to say it was a pleasure traveling with them from DC to NY, and judging from the reviews in upstate, it would have been fun to accompany them to Buffalo and Rochester, too!

From a week ago Sunday, this is a song that you can find on their new CD Agave, "Night Train Rolling By." And by the way, I highly recommend this album!

- Jessie Scott

Margo Valiante "First Born Son"

It's pretty cool being mobile and having the "rolling office" come along with you. I live in my own purple haze of electronic wizardry. Think aircards and smartphones, and of course the right cords! That is always the key, can you make it work, do you have the right inputs? It is fun to work this way, except for when you wind up in a space where you have no connectivity, as was the case when we were at the Cherokee Creek Music Festival. Being without service for 4 days was really hard for me. I am sure some people take a deep breath when they can unplug. I am an addict. I admit it. I now try to put my phone out of site for meals, or the red flashing light beckons me, rudely.

Sometimes, though, it is a blessing of efficiency, as when Margo Valiante reached out to me as I was in transit last Saturday, flying home to Austin. Could we, she asked, ready the video of "First Born Son," as she had been accepted as a Regional Round Finalist of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. And yes, you can support Margo by voting. The 2010 contest winner will get the opportunity to record an EP with 2010 Grammy winning producer Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones) to be released on the NewSong Recordings label. In addition, the winner will get to perform on an internationally broadcast Mountain Stage (NPR) show. As we wish her luck, we also wanted to acknowledge her other recent accolades; 3rd place at the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriters Showcase in Lyons, CO August 13th, and 4th place at the Telluride Troubadour Competition. She also just made a pit stop to play for the movers and shakers at the Triple A Radio Conference in Boulder, CO last week.

We invited Margo Valiante to our stage at Threadgill's in Austin, during SXSW 2010, and she brought Matt Meyer with. This one is just beautiful, "First Born Son," from her EP I Can't Pray.

- Jessie Scott

Paul Thorn "You Might Be Wrong"

What with another round of stories in the news about religious intolerance, it is with particular interest that I listened to this Paul Thorn song again. If you want to know my philosophy (and maybe you don't), it is simple. I choose to live with love, acceptance, inclusion. Life is too short to fritter your energy away on hatred. Don't be too self important, we all die the same. Treat others as you want to be treated yourself. Don't be malicious, you wind up hurting yourself more than the target of your anger. Help others. Turn the other cheek when necessary. And find time for joy in your life, for simple pleasures. For balance and harmony.

Even though I was raised completely different, I worship at the same altar as Paul, he the son of a Pentecostal preacher. He has been grappling with the concepts of good and evil all his life. Paul is such a dichotomy. Rural, yet worldly; reverent and irreverent at the same time. And the same can be said for his persona and its radiated power; homespun, yet making the most of all the new social networking technology. I get taken away to another space and time reading stuff every time I go to his proactive website. And his posts on Facebook are a hoot. We bring you a thought captured in an incredibly well worded song for your Monday. A solo version of "You Might Be Wrong," which is one of the tunes on the new CD Pimps And Preachers. We captured it on the Music Fog bus in May at the Cherokee Creek Music Festival. And it was captivating, indeed! You know what, I think Paul should have his own late night TV show! Let's start a campaign.

-Jessie Scott