Mary Gauthier "Mercy Now"

It was on everyone's lips while we were in Nashville, "Where is Music Fog going next?" Truth be told, we have no idea! Right now, we feel like the Boa Constrictor that has yet to digest its latest meal. We happily caught up with so many artists, some appearing for us for the very first time. I have been chasing Mary since we founded Music Fog almost 2 years ago, hoping we would finally catch up with her in Nashville. I reached out to her on Facebook to make this session happen at Americana Fest last week. And on Day One, she and Tania Elizabeth brought class and eloquence to our set. If you are in or around Nashville this week, they are playing the Belcourt Theatre tomorrow evening, Thursday, September 16th. For more tour dates, check her website here. Then, at the end of the year, she is hosting a Songwriting Intensive Workshop Week with Cris Williamson in Costa Rica. Wish I was a songwriter! Aside from that, I can't believe I just mentioned the end of the year, which is a total yikes!

For six album's worth, Mary Gauthier (pronounced go-SHAY) has written from an interior place with a poet's economy. She paints with syllables, the sparseness of the music, and the quietude. Tania provides color and punctuation on backup vocals and violin. This is heartbreakingly beautiful music; Mary has made a career out of introspection, self examination, and portraiture. I see those mentioned fully fleshed. "Cheaters, liars, outlaws, and fallen angels," is a lyric that comes from the song "Camelot Motel," one of the many we played while X Country reigned. We relate. We miss it, along with the many others of her tunes that were in rotation. She didn't play them all for us, as we just didn't have time, but we sure loved what she brought us. "Mercy Now" is the title song from her 4th album. Always moving toward a state of grace. We bring it to you now from the Sweet Suite at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown last week. If you like it, know that it's just the tip of the iceberg.

- Jessie Scott

Frontier Ruckus "Junk-Drawer Sorrow"

Monday. Crack of noon wake up, unwillingly. Throat hurts, back hurts, nothing in the house to eat. Mounds of mail, mounds of laundry. Ridiculous amount of email to wade through as I sort out the suitcases. Coffee. Ahhhh. Warmth of my laptop as I lie on the couch to write. Smiling at the fragments of visual memories from last week that appear in my mind's eye from last week's Americana Music Festival in Nashville. Jed Hilly, AMA Executive Director and Danna Strong, AMA Operations Director did an amazing job. I can't imagine how they are feeling today, but I am hoping they are taking a few well deserved days off! The Music Fog BBC (name of the truck, Big Blue Crew) made it back home at 4am yesterday with pit stops for Krystal sliders and Krispy Kreme. I talked to Beans, who had just awaken, too, and he was digging out, and feeling all of the above. Aaron had a few appointments on Monday, so his golden slumber came last night. Sheila is on the run again, as she's moving to Austin today! Denise probably fared the best out of us all, upon her return, as her home has feng shui sensibilities. Oh, man, it may be time for a nap! But first, I was able to ascertain that a Frontier Ruckus video was available to post. So here we go...

Photo Credit: Julie Roberts

Frontier Ruckus is on Ramseur Records, home of the Avett Brothers. The label was started by wunderkind Dolph Ramseur. He has great ears and great business sensibility. Matthew Milia (songs, voice, guitar, harmonica, pedal steel), David W. Jones (banjo, dobro, voice), Zachary Nichols (trumpet, euphonium, alto horn, singing-saw, melodica, harmonium), and Ryan 'Smalls' Etzcorn (drums, percussion), call their music "lyrically intensive folk rock." Music Fog originally made their acquaintance a little over a year ago, when they played at Cyclops in Baltimore, and Andy Rubin, one of our favorite people on the planet, and one of Music Fog's trusted sources, called us and said, "You have to record this band!" Their latest album Deadmalls and Nightfalls hit the street in July. We were so happy to invite them back to our set at the Sheraton Nashville Downtown as they were showcasing at the Americana Fest! They brought their sweet, rich and sorrowful sound and wowed us once again. This tune hasn't been released yet, and as a matter of fact, this is the first time they've performed the song together! It's such an honor for them to share this debut with us, on both fronts! So, now we pass it on to you, where you can wallow in your "Junk-Drawer Sorrow."

- Jessie Scott

Amelia Curran "Hands on a Grain of Sand"

I'm on the plane heading back to Austin from Nashville.  Highlights of my wild week?  Met the mayor, Karl Dean.  Met Don Was after an amazing set at Cannery Row with the newly shorn Todd Snider. Met the folks from The Utne Reader.  Was on a panel with representatives from Pandora, Clear Channel, EchoNest, and Sound Exchange.  Got to host the webcast of one of the most amazing awards shows ever, which was followed by Robert Plant's Band Of Joy.  Saturday night was our first night out.  We ran into Stonehoney at Robert's Western World, one of those legendary honky tonk's on lower Broad in Nashville, and then headed over to the Cannery/Mercy Lounge for an upstairs- downstairs double punch of shows: The Fairfield Four, Hans Rotenberry, Mike Farris, Susan Cowsill, Tony Joe White, and then Todd RIPPING IT UP!

We are tired, but happy. To help us get back our houses, and then get them in order, we're bringing you an Amelia Curran performance we shot in Memphis earlier this year.  We'll return to our Nashville cavalcade of Americana Music Association Festival artists very soon.  Amelia Curran is embarking on a European adventure later this month.  So enjoy "Hands On A Grain Of Sand," recorded in Memphis on the Music Fog bus during Folk Alliance......while I sleep it off!

- Jessie Scott