The Black Lillies "Two Hearts Down"

Not to be dour as our thoughts quickly turn to Thanksgiving next week, but there is nothing quite like a good ol’ murder ballad to quicken the blood flow. Today we bring you the celebrated Knoxville, Tennessee band, The Black Lillies. They were formed just two years ago, by ex-Robinella & the CC String Band leader, Cruz Contreras. The Black Lillies take their name from a song on their first record, Whiskey Angel. Their influences are age old; traditional country with a potent Appalachian infusion of heart, soul, and subject matter. And these are timeless tales, ones that have touched everybody, every family, if you dig back far enough.

The latest album is 100 Miles of Wreckage, and that is where you will find the song "Two Hearts Down." Trisha Gene Brady, Jamie Cook, Tom Pryor, and Robert Richards trooped into our space, along with Cruz Contreras, and electrified us during the Music Fog Fall shindig at Marathon Recorders. Those chops, those harmonies, that pathos. This is the real deal.

You might know we recorded 32 artists in Nashville while the Americana Fest was going on. For the last month we have been brining you the first offering from all these artists, with more to follow from each of them. Hope you have been digging it!

- Jessie Scott

New Country Rehab "Angel of Death"

A word about how out of whack I think things are right now. I watched Wheel of Fortune in awe as the studio has been transformed into a wonderland of materialism and unattainable dreams, at least for most people. The show that followed it specialized in gyrating, overwrought singing, all overt sex, everything all the time. I watch women go to parties in the least fabric possible, with the highest heels. The Presidential debates seem like an excuse to sell books and procure television commentator contracts. Why is the world yelling louder all the time? Sometimes whispering works.

New Country Rehab is the band’s name. I would like to have rehab (or maybe just respite) from all of the above, and all the mainstream new country music, too, as over glitzy as it is. I like my music raw, real and moving. New Country Rehab fits the bill. We filmed them in October during the Americana Music Festival. They attended all the way from Canada, where they are tearing it up. They were just nominated for the CFMA “Pushing the Boundaries” award. That’s the Canadian Folk Music Awards for the uninitiated. John Showman, James Robertson, Roman Tome’ and Ben Whiteley, craft the band’s unique sound. Their self-titled album was released in Canada back in January. We’d been hearing about them for a while, and we were so glad to get to know them a bit at our temporary studio in Nashville, Marathon Recorders. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Angel Of Death,” the original song of which you can find on their debut album.

- Jessie Scott

Eliza Gilkyson "Green Fields"

Hill Country Barbecue in New York, for whom I do special projects, is hosting a Bastrop Wildfire Benefit Concert tomorrow evening, November 16th. Shooter Jennings, Chip Taylor & John Platania, Laura Cantrell, Grayson Hugh, The Defibulators, and Dallas Wayne, who lost his house in the fires, will all perform. I have been involved with two other wildfire benefits, both in Austin this last month, but the need is great. Driving down I-35 yesterday, the browned out fields and foliage are depressing, as Texas still has had no rain. Thank goodness it is not blistering hot anymore, though. If you are in New York tomorrow here is the link, it will be a great night of music for a very worthy cause. I am glad we are shining a light on it in the Big Apple.

Once there were green fields, indeed. Today’s tune is a classic, performed by a classic, Eliza Gilkyson, on a classic radio show, eTown. The show is a long running public radio and AAA Radio favorite, and I encourage you to go to a taping if you ever have the chance. Nick and Helen Forster do a wonderful job of curating, and performing, almost in the style of radio of old. I found some video they just posted; you will see Nick and his guitar at the start, and then enjoy the honey drenched voice of Austin treasure, Eliza Gilkyson, with Helen providing back up vocal support.

- Jessie Scott