The Wronglers "Hurricane Creek"

The weekend. Ahhhh! Saturday. The word alone makes me happy. Pro football on Sunday, and all is right with the world. Even though the summer season has yet to turn in Texas, I am watching the weather maps for the impending changes, with the inexorable march of fronts dipping ever southerly, starting to cool things off elsewhere in the country. Yes, the slant of the sun already feels different, a harbinger of cooling in the south one of these weeks, or months. And lest we forget, it's hurricane season; Hermine, Karl, Igor, Julia. They come from the pea shooter of the Atlantic and the warm water of the Caribbean. Those of us that are in the path hold our collective breath, actually until December 1st, when "the season" is over for the year, and we can exhale. I lived on the beach in Florida, and felt the mark of the "X" on our backs. It was a major reason for moving out of the clime, though I love that lifestyle. Hearing the ocean, tasting salty air, or as they say, "having sand between your toes." Irresistible.

But on to today's video. Though it's been calling my name for years, I have not yet attended the also irresistible Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival! This year is the 10th anniversary of the magical three-day event in Speedway Meadow, at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. This is an absolutely free, non-ticketed event, a gift to the citizens of San Francisco and beyond. Its musical lineup is a shrine built to salute Americana music. Just reading who all will be performing makes me giddy. It is where I am hoping to be October 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! We invited the gracious benefactor of HS, Warren Hellman, and his band The Wronglers, to visit us on the stage of the back room at Threadgill's during SXSW 2010. The song here is an instrumental called, "Hurricane Creek." Batten down the hatches. Stay out of those gullies. Be prepared not to drive into standing water. Seek shelter when you must. Plan ahead. See you at Hardly Strictly!

- Jessie Scott

Ray Wylie Hubbard "Screw You, We're from Texas"

How many times have you heard an artist on stage, stating misgivings for having written a song? Announcing that discomfort, especially if the song has traction with the audience; knowing that there was expectation for them to perform it. This is especially true if there is irony involved in the song. (It's like sarcasm in email---it's hard to know what the sender is REALLY saying!) "Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood." That is indeed what happened with the song "Screw You, We're from Texas," from Ray Wylie Hubbard. At its heart, it is a celebration of Texas music legends, and the music that grows organically out of this soil. The thumbing one's nose, swaggering part makes for a discomfort for Ray now, and when I asked him to play it for us, he really didn’t want to. But when he wrote and released it, on the CD Growl, I watched the phones light up at XM's X Country in support of it, and the sentiment of it, from all over the country. It is after all, an anthem with a rocking groove. Me, I think RWH should have nothing to feel bad about. Texas has yielded and nurtured an amazing crop of musicians of every stripe through the years.

Austin musicians, in particular, share a strong bond of brother and sisterhood, sometimes even above the broader Texas music pride. HAAM is the Austin Health Collective that takes care of its own, offering health solutions to those artists that don't have insurance, and let's face it, most of them just don't. This Tuesday, September 21st, is HAAM Benefit Day. It is a city wide effort to raise money, with businesses all around town donating 5% of the day's proceeds to HAAM to support musicians' health. Musicians, most of whom are HAAM members, are performing throughout the day at retail stores, outside stages, City Hall and more. And we do mean ALL DAY, as it will start at 6am and run well past midnight. If you are visiting Austin, or live here, you are invited to shop, eat out, listen to great live music, and know you are supporting a most necessary cause! Ray Wylie Hubbard is one of over 130 artists participating, and his set is at 1 pm this Tuesday, at the Sixth St & Lamar Whole Foods Market in Austin. Hell yeah, We're From TEXAS.

- Jessie Scott

The Defibulators "Get What's Coming"

They are from New York, where a string band grows in Brooklyn. And it's not just one ya know, it is a veritable movement that is sprouting like grass through the concrete. None other than the venerable New Yorker Magazine has actually dubbed the movement "Citi-Billy!" The Defibulators are major proponents. I am only sorry that we didn't grill them on the spelling of the band's name. Is it a jolt to the heart delivered when you feel you want to obscure the truth? All I know is we got them out of bed ass-early, at 9 am, and they trooped in chipper of spirit, with nimble fingers and in fine voice. They have been referenced as The Carter Family meets The Ramones. There were a whole mess of them is all I know, visiting the Sweet Suite at the Sheraton: Erin Bru (vocals), Bug Jennings (vocals, banjo, and rhythm guitar), Roadblock (electric guitar), Smitty the Giant Fiddler (fiddle), Spencer Zahn (upright bass), Metalbelly (washboard, percussion, harmonica), and Mike Riddleberger (drums). Nice names, and yes, Music Fog had to employ the Schmitty Cam once again!

The Defibulators debut CD is called Corn Money, and the band has been touring in support, all over the U.S. and in Europe. Their serious road dog ways continue with a fervor, and you can catch up with them as there are lots of dates scheduled. Their vehicle delivers needed care, and they are mighty spiffy dressers when giving aid! And just when you think you have seen it all, they have been enshrined in a coloring book that you can view here. What can I say? We like it all, and the Music Fog crew spontaneously erupted into a standing "O," first thing in the morning of Day Two at the Americana Music Festival last week in Nashville. Call the doctor, we need more!

- Jessie Scott