Over the Rhine "The Laugh of Recognition"

They are a storied duo, Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, and have been around for 20 years at the core of Over the Rhine. OtR began in 1990, starting band life as most do; with four pieces as a rock outfit. "I was continuing my education, considering my masters degree, when this tall, lanky fella approached me about singing lead for some rock band in Cincinnati," recalls the classically trained Bergquist. "I didn’t just jump at the chance. I lunged."

The name came from the gritty neighborhood Over-the-Rhine, which the band first called home base. They found local success, and started to attract a wider audience with the release of two indie, and beautifully packaged, records. Then they signed to IRS, which re-released their second record Patience with its original artwork. I can tell you that the packaging caught my attention first when I was a radio programmer, and a listen proved that their art wasn't just skin deep. Their catalog is impressive, abundant, and artful.

We all just missed their train trip into the Southwest with Lucy Wainwright Roche, Mickey Grimm, Swan Dive, Michael Wilson and Lynn Neal, as it wrapped up on November 10th, but there are shows ahead that will drench you in sonics and wonder.

And REJOICE! There is a new CD on the way, The Long Surrender, set for release on February 8th, 2011. No need to fret, though, as Music Fog was given the opportunity to record the band in preparation for the new album to come out. Here's an exclusive from Over the Rhine, filmed during our sessions at Americana Fest in Nashville this past September. From the forthcoming CD, enjoy "The Laugh of Recognition." Yum!

- Jessie Scott

Patricia Vonne "Joe's Gone Ridin"

I was in DC last week for the Hope for Henry Rocks benefit with Todd Snider. It was bittersweet passing by my old haunt XM Radio at the corner of New York and Florida Avenues. I even saw some of the old workmates at the show; Bob Edwards, Hugh Panero, Gary Hahn. I got to interview Todd on stage for the meet and greet before he started playing, and he brought up visiting XM so early on that hard hats were required in the building, because construction was still taking place. We XM-ers had the opportunity to change the culture, and it was an incredible thing to be part of.

Patricia VonneMy channel, X Country, was dedicated to Americana. Lot's of folks were represented on the playlist, from non-mainstream Nashville cats like Todd Snider, to lots of artists from the Austin scene like Joe Ely, from whom we presented a Music Fog video several days ago. We played today's song on the radio too. Patricia Vonne is the name of the artist and she is striking, beautiful, compelling. I tell you this because she's not actually seen on today's video, but I imagine you get the idea from the featured picture. But the video is an animation, done by Mike Shapiro and Joe Ely is in it, well his picture is anyway! It's from Patricia's second (of four) albums, Guitars & Castanets. And a footnote, she IS appearing along side Robert De Niro in the film Machete, out now.

- Jessie Scott

Randy Weeks & Stonehoney "Transistor Radio"

Transistor radios are such an iconic reminder of times gone by. An earlier era when radio was important. It no longer holds the same magic in these corporatized days. But once upon a time, the radio connected you to your society, to your peers, to your community. It was where you went to become a part of the tribe; when John Lennon, or Elvis died. When music was a common language that was shared by all your classmates. When The Beatles broke, we knew about it because of radio, and when The Beatles broke up, we heard that too.

Transistor radios were the last of the "Made in America" era. They were the beginning of multinational parts being incorporated into an object. The beginning of global commerce. Back in the day, these radios imparted sheer magic, though. They were tucked under our pillows, secreted away after bedtime. The content was too exciting, the music, the DJ talking. I ate it all up, and couldn't wait for the next night as I fought sleep.

We are dancing on the dying embers of mass communication. We are no longer wired together, but wired separately on our iPods. We are starting a new "Tower of Babel" era. Not broadcasting any longer, but narrowcasting, to a party of one. One to one to one. That is why it is so hard for new acts to break through. The apparatus is broken, the platform is gone, and the new one hasn't developed yet. Let us revisit an earlier time with Randy Weeks and special guests Stonehoney.

- Jessie Scott