Wagons "Willie Nelson"

I don’t know where I go when I go away. I meant to take time to tell you all about Farm Aid, which took place in Kansas City this past Saturday. It was a great line-up with a doubled sense of urgency this year with how awful the economy has become. It makes it all the harder for people to hold on to those family farms. The artists appearing were stellar again this year, and the good news is that if you are of a mind to donate - that goes on all year. There are always interesting things to be found on the Farm Aid website too.

Of course, the musician board of directors continue to spearhead the efforts for Farm Aid; John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and the irrepressible President of the Farm Aid board, Willie Nelson. Today’s song is an homage to him, called “Willie Nelson,” that was originally done by Melbourne, Australia band The Wayfaring Strangers, though it was co-written with Henry Wagons. The video we bring you is a somewhat stripped down version of it that we recorded back in March during the Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill's in Austin. Wagons album, Rumble, Shake & Tumble, hits the street today. Henry Wagons' performance, set against the high energy band he fronts, was described by Justin Townes Earle, as “like Dr. Seuss meets Conway Twitty, a great performer, a good man . . . (he) struts like a Tennessee Walking Horse on PCP.” The guys are coming back to the US in a couple of weeks, you gotta see this band!

-Jessie Scott

Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones "Johnny Ace Is Dead"

Driving the Hill Country in Texas at night with my iPod as my guide...well that, and my cruise control to moderate my trip. A full moon, deer scattering, tunes kicking one after another, and then the unmistakable sound of Dave Alvin’s guitar rivets me, stabbing in the glow of the dashboard lights. “Out Of Control,” is a story song, and one of my favorites of Dave’s. That’s hard to say, because with Dave so much of what he does hits home for me. Dave Alvin's music spans the sweet, the important, and the dangerous. He captures the rawness of life and punctuates it with his riffs, which act as exclamation points on the emotion. I could make you a “must listen to” list of Dave Alvin tunes...just ask.

It was a fair day in March, the sun was shining, we were at Threadgill’s and Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones blew in like a hurricane. Boy are they intense, and boy were we lucky to have them. They played us some tunes. The room was packed, and today we bring you the Music Fog recording of a true crime drama, “Johnny Ace Is Dead,” which is a song off the new CD Eleven Eleven.  I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t urge you to go see this band. If you have never had the pleasure, tomorrow night Dave brings the Guilty Ones to the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. And here is the rest of the tour. Get ready for some kickassitude; here’s Dave Alvin, Christy McWilson, Lisa Pankratz, Chris Miller, and Brad Fordham.

 -Jessie Scott

 

Patterson Barrett "The Where and When"

Boulder, Colorado.  This has been an interesting trip back for me, actually, this was the event during which I got head hunted to join the staff of XM, to create the channel, X Country.  Dave Logan, then the Programming Operations VP of XM Radio, shook my hand and said, "We want to talk to you." The next week, Dave came to see me in Nashville, and invited me to DC to see the XM studio complex.  I took the ride on the XM train. It sure was sweet while it lasted.

It has been eleven years since I have attended the AAA conference, but it has been a wonderful homecoming, hanging out with people who are also motivated by music, and seeing so many friends from years gone by. It charges your batteries, for sure. And the music has been spectacular. Highlights on Thursday include Rebecca Pidgeon, James Maddock, BoDeans, Lissie, Needtobreathe, and Brandi Carlisle.

Patterson Barrett came to play at Threadgill’s School Night Sessions a week ago Sunday night, with Shawn Davis, Nick Randolph, and Clint Short from Stonehoney, who by the way, have taken a break to pursue other opportunities. Patterson is one of the Austin MVP musicians, who can be spotted as a frequent sideman in different outfits on stages all over town. We caught him solo when we filmed at the house on the hill at Cherokee Creek Music Festival in May. Today, we bring you Patterson solo with “The Where And When.”

- Jessie Scott