Susan Cowsill "Real Life"

Are you ready for the holidays? That may seem like a common question, but in a way, it is an anachronism. I have been thinking about what it was like back in the days when we made everything ourselves. Yeah, we can be crazy busy with shopping and wrapping and cooking and cleaning, and house guests and visits. But baking from scratch, creating all the holiday delights that cannot be purchased and must be made lovingly, that takes time. I was thinking about how many labor saving devices we have now, that some things have become pale facsimiles of what were our handed down traditions, in the interest of the ease of a tube or a cellophane, a shrink wrap, or can of this or that. (Not that there's anything wrong with Cheez Whiz!)

One of my favorite Christmas memories was during my time in Pittsburgh, where I started my career in radio. I was over at my friend Suzanne's mom's house, and she had been cooking tirelessly forever. There were homemade pizelles with the most delicate anise flavor, all kinds of other baked goods with confectioner's sugar and sprinkles. But the dish I will never forget was her for-real, from scratch pork and chicken liver pate redolent with cinnamon, cloves, sage, mace, bay leaves and a healthy shot or two of brandy and cream. Cooked at low heat for two hours...filling the house with an enticing, incomparable lingering aroma. Georgette was French Canadian, and an amazingly wonderful chef. And a cantankerous bundle of joy, with a cockeyed no BS perspective on life. She was deft at cutting through the crap; delightfully, honestly, so ahead of her time. We drank and ate and laughed, sitting in the best place, the kitchen, exploring the wonders of sensory overload, and celebrating love and friendship. Companionable, in the moment, perfect. Suz and I are still friends today, decades later. Georgette sadly has passed. This time of year we savor the sights and sounds and aromas, and especially the memories.

Susan Cowsill released her second solo album, Lighthouse, in May. It tells of terrible loss, that of her brother Barry Cowsill in the flooding after Hurricane Katrina, and of the damage to her adopted hometown of New Orleans. She lost almost everything she owned, and she poured the emotion into these songs. She writes from a place that is at once incredibly personal, yet universally relatable. And though there was tragedy, there is time for joy in this album too.

We filmed Susan and her band in Nashville this September at the Americana Fest. The song is "Real Life" in all its swings of fortune and glorious contradictions. Love it, hate it, live it.

- Jessie Scott

Raul Malo "One More Angel"

Flirting is fun! It is also a healthy indulgence (ahem, that is if you are single,) whether it leads to 'something' or not. It is especially wonderful to be on the receiving end of it. Had a dinner out with the girls at this wonderful Trattoria a couple of nights ago. We were well into the wine and the good times; the savoring of the food, the conversation, and each other's company. Halfway through the meal, this large group of people, eight or ten of them, came in to take the table behind us. One of their ranks danced past us, almost flamenco style, with a twinkle in his eye, making sure we saw him. It was magic, and fun, and we all need to witness that kind of energy up close from time to time. There was just something about him, a joie de vivre so compelling, it told of the mystery, the conjecture of what might be. Attraction, can be so surprising. Sweet. Alive. In the moment.

Raul Malo is a major league chick magnet, he of the flashing eyes, solar smile, and tidal pull. I can't tell you how many women friends I have had this conversation with, who have sighed dreamily when his name is mentioned. He just has something special going on, not to take away any of his other talents - troubadour being an obvious one. The Music Fog crew is a split of equal numbers of men and women, all of us are honored to have Raul come to play for our cameras, though I haven't actually polled Beans, Chris or Aaron as to whether or not they have a man crush on him. I can, however, speak for Denise, Sheila and I, and we are all very much smitten. Now THAT'S a word you don't hear every day.

We filmed Raul at the Americana Music Festival this past September in Nashville, and he sang this incredibly poignant song. "One More Angel" is from his 2009 CD Lucky One. There are a handful of tour dates scheduled for you to bask in his glow, including Delbert McClinton's Sandy Beaches Cruise. Make the most of it all. Live and love, everyday.

- Jessie Scott

Somebody's Darling "Too Cold"

Baby it's cold outside. As we approach midwinter next week, the Winter Solstice, take heart that these shortest of days are about to march toward the longer. Though we won't perceive it until February or March! What with the Arctic cold snaps extending across most of the country, in Texas they just seem to last for a couple of days before we rebound. The farmers in Florida have not been so lucky, with an extended period of freezing weather and fields too large to be able to fully protect the fragile crops. Look for prices to rise on tomatoes and strawberries in your local supermarket, it is supply and demand at work. And let's not forget the growers who are, after all, left to the vagaries of too much; whether rain, cold, or sun..."please let these crops grow tall," says the prayer of a lyric from The Band's "King Harvest (Has Surely Come)."

We have a tune that is sure to warm you up some from Dallas-based Somebody’s Darling. We are talking cross cultural influences here, as the band lives where southern meets western, and city meets country. The foursome; Amber Farris, David Ponder, Nate Wedan and Michael Talley; has been at it since August of ‘07, and they roll it sultry, sweet and soulful. Their self-titled debut CD was produced by Dan Baird of The Georgia Satellites, and they were nominated for two 2010 Dallas Observer Music Awards, “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Country Act.” Expect them to heat things up further on New Year's Eve at the fabulous Granada Theater in Dallas with Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights.

"Too Cold" is an exclusive to Music Fog track from Somebody's Darling. It's the first time it was ever recorded, let alone filmed. May it allow you to buzz awhile! And on a personal note, speaking of "too cold," I live in a drafty cottage. It is quite cozy, and very small, but what the hell did I do with my UGGs from last season? My feet are cold!!!

- Jessie Scott