Radney Foster "Until It's Gone"

It was wonderful catching back up with Radney Foster on the occasion of his very first visit to MusicFest in Steamboat Springs! Ours is yet another friendship made during my time living in Nashville in the late 90s, a time I treasure. Now don't you be sneering at that. Nashville is home to a wealth of artists that are not part of the 'mainstream machine.' People who can't help but create; who write and perform from heart and soul. Radney is yet another Americana MVP. He is a renowned writer, instrumentalist, producer and performer. His discography is a thing of wonder. And that is just the stuff with his name on the cover.

Of course, the Foster & Lloyd titles are on that list as well, and the big news is that there will soon be another one! It is the first album that Radney and Bill have recorded together in twenty years. After our recording session, Radney returned to our room to play us tunes from the new F&L CD, out this spring. And WOW is all I can say. But I say wow a whole lot when it comes to Radney's work. His varied credits include producing CDs for Randy Rogers, Brandon Rhyder, Roger Creager, Jack Ingram, Rosehill, and of course, himself.

Radney's most recent album is the stunning Revival, released in 2009. From it we bring you the song "Until It's Gone." It really does give you insight into Radney's need to, love of, and immersion in, the music. And it might just be a great theme song for what goes on at MusicFest at Steamboat every year!

- Jessie Scott

Zack Walther Band "Get Up"

They came in with the aid of a bellman, and two carts. I had been trying to set up our session with the Zack Walther Band in advance, but connectivity was spotty up in the mountains, and for a second, I wondered if they were going to be bringing us full concert production. No, not to worry, they just had to bring all their stuff along, but weren't going to use it all. It got crowded in our room at the Steamboat Grand, but in a good way. Our "studio" threatened to become a frat party several times through the week. Zack Walther and the band have developed this artistic progression with a residency from legendary Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, TX, where George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, and Robert Earl Keen all came before. The Zack Walther Band's debut CD Ambition, came out in 2009. It was produced by Mark Addison, who has credits that include Ian Moore, Guy Forsyth, Band of Heathens, Bob Schneider, Will Sexton and others, and so they are in good company once again.

All that stuff was made especially meaningful when they started to play. It was 'close your eyes and go for a ride' time. All us Music Foggers felt it. We all listened back to the recording after it was done; one at a time, the band, us, all putting the headphones on and basking in Aaron's mix and the band's steady roll. It was quite magical, as strangers became friends. Then we kept running into the guys from the band everywhere we went, from that evening on. Such is the power of the community that John Dickson creates at MusicFest in Steamboat Springs. Giggles! Here is one of the Zack Walther Band songs from that session, "Get Up." I believe I will!

- Jessie Scott

Paul Thorn "Almost What You Need"

We couldn't be more excited! Next week, we are heading down to the Marriott Shoals Hotel in Muscle Shoals, Alabama for a first for us, as we are doing the production for Paul Thorn as he presents his first ever pay-per-view webcast on January 29th at 8 pm CST! It will be comprised of two sets, the first one is Paul solo, and then after intermission, Paul comes back with his kick ass band: Bill Hinds, Jeffrey Perkins, Michael Graham, and Ralph Friedrichson, the new bass player.

We know, we know, Saturday night is date night and you might be busy, so the thing that is really cool about this event is that it will be available to you until March 1st, to watch as many times as you want! A ticket to view on your computer is only $6.99, and you will receive an email containing full instructions and a link to the live video stream. You will also receive an email reminder on January 29th, the day of the concert. And if you don't or can't watch it live, you can still see it later! Click here to read more about it, and view the "test" video, which means your system is compatible (98% of all computers are). 

"Almost What You Need" is from the 2004 album Are You With Me. It is from our most recent tete-a-tete with Paul, during the Americana Music Festival in Nashville this past September. Just Paul and his electric guitar. Sweet magic.

- Jessie Scott