Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - Here We Rest

Now that we have made the acquaintance of the town of Muscle Shoals, where we traveled for the Paul Thorn concert filming we did in late January, it is interesting how often things keep pointing back in that direction. The latest is Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, recording at the legendary FAME Studios there, and at the NuttHouse in Sheffield, AL. Their new album Here We Rest, which comes out today, is named after the state of Alabama’s original motto. Jason, a native of Greenhill, AL returned to the state, following almost two years on the road.

Back in 2001, Jason joined the Drive-By Truckers and toured with them for the release of Southern Rock Opera. He went solo in 2007, and subsequently released a solo CD, and then the first with the 400 Unit. By the way, The "400 Unit" was the former colloquial name of the psychiatric ward of Florence, Alabama's Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital. They keep on moving, as they are playing a ton of places. Tomorrow you will find them in Greenville, South Carolina, with Hayes Carll. No rest after all, I guess!

- Jessie Scott

The Civil Wars "Tip of My Tongue"

I cruise the internets for videos all the time. And sometimes you see one that makes your heart stop. Such was the case with the song "Barton Hollow" from The Civil Wars' album of the same name, so we posted it in January. At the time, we were knee deep in booking the Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill's WHQ for March, so I invited them to join us. Californian Joy Williams and her Alabaman partner, John Paul White said yes, and graced us with their presence. It is funny, when the world descends on SXSW® in Austin, you see all kinds of types, and you wonder what their story is. I saw each of them separately in the crowd at Threadgill's before they came to perform on our stage. With both of them, I had a blink moment, a 'Who is that?' which was followed by the 'Aha!' when they walked up for their set in front of the Music Fog cameras.

The Civil Wars have presence and style and chops. They have a distinctive chemistry that spontaneously combusts when they make music. It is intimate and elegant. It expands your understanding of what it is possible to do as 'just a duet.' You must see them as they are touring, though tonight's show, and tomorrow's, at Schuba's in Chicago is sold out, as has been the case for many nights on this tour. Catch them here for now!

- Jessie Scott

Ha Ha Tonka "Usual Suspects"

We run in our circles. They are concentric and they radiate out from our homes, but somehow they seem to cover the same turf. Whether it is the work - babysitter nexus, or its the restaurant and club rounds, we tend to go to the same places. Do the same things with the same people. So when John Riedie called me to meet him at Emo’s this summer, I said yes, and I don’t go to Emo’s all that often. But I went both because it was John, who I have known for fifteen years, and because of the band. John was funny, he just told me I should get my butt down there. I asked him who was playing. I had to pry it out of him. When he finally said, "Ha Ha Tonka," I let out a hoot! I loved their 2007 album Buckle In The Bible Belt...it was a jumping and hollering joy.

Ha Ha Tonka's new CD, Death Of A Decade, just came out this Tuesday, and takes the music in a wonderful, albeit different, direction. In case you were wondering, they took their name after Ha Ha Tonka State Park in their native Missouri. They are steeped in the musical history of the Ozarks, effortlessly transporting the fundamentals learned there into the ‘anything goes’ jubilance of the modern day.

We were blown away by their appearance at the Music Fog Marathon in Austin a few weeks ago. Here is the “Usual Suspects,” filmed at Threadgill’s World Headquarters.

- Jessie Scott