Tommy Shaw - The Great Divide

I am drinking Tommy Shaw’s brew, as I have been treated to a bag of Styx coffee, a special blend of fresh and robust beans, packaged by The Coffee Fool. I had the opportunity to sit down with Tommy a couple of Saturday’s ago in one of the well-appointed green rooms at the acoustically perfect, sophisticated pleasure palace that is the brand new ACL Live venue. It was my first time there, but It has only been open since late February. The room is beautiful, the staff is well trained, polite and helpful. And it was a total trip to hang with Tommy, as Styx has had an incredible run through the decades. The set list for the show was hanging on the dressing room wall, and I can attest that I have played every one of those songs on the radio.

Actually, the reason I was there was to talk about Tommy Shaw’s new CD, which comes out on March 22nd. It is called The Great Divide, and it is BLUEGRASS! No, don’t be shocked, Tommy is from Montgomery, Alabama, and this music seeped into his blood early and often as he was growing up. Then to record, he surrounded himself with the best and the brightest: Stuart Duncan, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Byron House, Dwight Yoakam, Alison Krauss, and Brad Davis, who also co-produced the CD along with Will Evankovich and Tommy. It is fun, rich, bubbling with bonhomie and tuneful offerings. And it was just announced that Tommy will be playing the Grand Ole Opry on March 26, which is a wonderful launch for a boy who grew up listening to that venerable show. Click on the player below to listen to some of the songs from the album.

And check out a video Tommy made taking about the making of the album and playing a couple of dates on the same day in Nashville, at The Station Inn and The Bluebird.

- Jessie Scott

David Olney & Sergio Webb "If I Were You"

Ain’t no telling what you will find when you start looking at the internets. I wanted to hear the lyrics to today’s song, so I could write about it. Oh, it is “If I Were You” from David Olney and Sergio Webb. First I tried those hoser lyric sites, you know, the ones that immediately want to sell you the ring tone, and tease you into believing that they have the lyrics, but then they don’t? And then I found some TV appearance, with the obligatory straight, non-hip, overdressed anchorwoman asking all the wrong questions with all the wrong attitude. When is TV going to realize that a pretty face is not enough? When is television going to be dragged kicking and screaming into this century? They are losing audience for a reason. But I shouldn’t complain, as they gave airtime to David Olney and Sergio Webb, and that counts for something in my book!

You will find David Olney plying his abundant craft on the web; unedited, direct and unexpected on his “Hear & Now” series on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm EST. David comments on what’s going on in the world, and performs. Sometimes it is even a brand new song that was just written that day. You can post comments and questions while he is webcasting, if you become a member of Ustream.

We filmed David and Sergio at last year’s Folk Alliance in Memphis up on the Music Fog bus. Sergio Webb provides a beautiful lace to David Olney’s tapestry. You won’t find a more beautiful song. “If I Were You,” wistful, yearning, resigned.

- Jessie Scott

Stonehoney "Movin' On"

Abbey, from Luckenbach, and I were hanging out last night in Gruene at the bar (no surprise, right?), talking music with Zach and Shane from Lone Star Music. These were hours spent comparing stories, extolling virtues, and sharing strategizing. You might know that the Lone Star folks are getting ready for their annual Music Awards, coming up the weekend after SXSW on March 27th. Though it is hard to think past SXSW and its smorgasbord of music, too much is never enough, so bring it on! The Lone Star Music Awards will take place at the brand new, and we hear totally fabulous Texas Music Theater in San Marcos, TX. Appearing are Javi Garcia, Lincoln Durham, The Trishas, Max Stalling, and Hayes Carll.

We were sitting across from the legendary venue Gruene Hall. That space has had a huge impact on the Texas music scene through the years. Tonight Stonehoney is playing a free show there! I can’t believe it has been months since I have caught up with the Stonehoney crew. After all, we supposedly live in the same town! But between my trips and theirs, it has been a while since I've seen them. I know they ripped it up at Folk Alliance, as it was their fourth time in Memphis for that event just a couple of weeks ago. We had a wild time with them this past summer at WoodyFest, and today we bring you an unreleased song from our session with them during that festival in Okemah, Oklahoma.

- Jessie Scott