Chris Thile & Michael Daves "Sleep With One Eye Open"

What long strange trip it's been for Chris Thile (pronounced THEE-lee.)  When we first made his acquaintance, he was with the teenage sensations, Nickel Creek.  Along the way there have been stints with the best and the brightest string players in the world, and then the formation of The Punch Brothers, who just played at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage. Their most recent album is called Antifogmatic. We like that!

But today we celebrate the release of the new CD from Chris Thile and Michael Daves, "Sleep With One Eye Open,"  a collection of 16 traditional tunes by bluegrass legends like The Monroe Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt & Scruggs.  They have tour dates which are not to miss, as they keep the old songs fresh and new, with style and substance.  Here they are doing the Lester Flatt composition, the title track from the album that streets today.

-- Jessie Scott

Jon Dee Graham "October"

My sister-in-law Lisa is here for a visit, and is experiencing the air in Texas for the very first time.  So we are not sure whether she is succumbing to allergies, or if it is actually a cold caught on the airplane.   Nevertheless, I have been hoarding a bottle of Sharon Ely’s Holy Posole for just such an occasion. The stuff is perfect to serve to someone who is a bit under the weather, as it opens up the sinus passages and provides soothing comfort. Our buddy Mike Shapiro did an animated trailer about it.  You don’t have to be sick to eat it, it is absolutely awesome, and should be available in selected stores soon.  And there will be more products under the banner of "Sharon Ely’s All Natural Products."  It's fun to see a friend become a brand!

Jon Dee Graham is already a brand. He’s been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame three times, in 2000 as a solo artist, in 2008 as a member of the Skunks, and in 2009 as a member of the True Believers. In 2006, the readers of the Austin Chronicle named him Austin Musician of the Year. And in 2008, he was the subject of a documentary, Swept Away.  Right after that came out, he survived a one car crash that left him in permanent pain.  Jon Dee was back at work a month later at the world famous Continental Club in Austin, where he does a weekly live residency, "Jon Dee and Friend" - last night the friend was our mutual buddy, Mike June.  He put out his seventh album, It’s Not As Bad As It Looks,  last year, and today we bring you the Music Fog Marathon taping of “October," originally released on his 1999 album, Summerland.

-- Jessie Scott

Randy Newman "Mama Told Me Not To Come"

It’s Mother’s Day. If you have been tuned out to the drubbing of the media machine, fair warning, you might still be able to get flowers delivered. Though as my Grandmother used to cynically point out, flowers die. There is still time to make a phone call, which for my money, is better than any gift. If you are lucky enough to be in the same location, a meal out, or even cooking for Mom or doing something around the house for her is always a welcome option.

For me, I would love to be at the last day of the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival for Mother’s Day. I would be wafting from stage to stage for Tommy Malone, Anders Osborne, Playing For Change, Chubby Carrier, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Cowboy Mouth, Papa Grows Funk, Henry Butler, Feufollet, Rebirth Brass Band, Bluerunners, Sonny Landreth, Punch Brothers, Sonny Rollins, Neville Brothers, Radiators, Robert Randolph and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. But word is that they will be streaming. Maybe I will just be wafting from room to room listening! But next year, New Orleans for sure. The line up today is such an embarrassment of riches that honestly I couldn’t pick. So let’s go with something completely different, a theme song, perhaps. This version does have a New Orleans influenced piano, though. It is from the pen of Randy Newman, “Mama Told Me Not To Come.”

-Jessie Scott