Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers "Marie"

"The revolution will not be televised." So says the famous 'statement' song from Gil Scott-Heron, way back when in 1970. That sentiment is out the window, as we are watching the Egyptian protests and demonstrations devolve. Last weekend, it was on the hotel's monitor as we were setting up for our Paul Thorn concert, but the marching was peaceable then. Now the situation in Cairo has turned violent. It is an effort to democratize, to get out from under a dictator, to move toward a more perfect union. We wish the Egyptian people deliverance and Godspeed, no matter what God they worship. I saw a quote on TV a couple of days ago from a man on the street, "Without democracy, what is life worth?" And what is it worth without peace? But you just hate to see it reduce to conflict and chaos. And I don't know about you, but when I watch this rage on TV, I always wonder if it could happen here one day.

Photo Credit: K. GrippRoger Clyne and the Peacemakers' music is saturated with the pathos of struggle. There is something about the infusion of that layer of Mexican flavor that speaks to conflict. It is a quickening, a flash of eye and teeth and temper. Afterwards, when the peace and the sweetness come, it means that much more for the intensity of the troubles. Ah Life! We were so happy to have Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers visit our studio in the Steamboat Grand during MusicFest. A long time ago, we recorded them at the State Theatre in Falls Church, but it was just a direct patch from the soundboard. We wanted the opportunity to have Aaron do his magic music mix the next time around. And so it was, when they played MusicFest in Steamboat Springs. We bring you a brand new tune, forthcoming on the spring release from the band. Accompanying Roger are PH Naffah, Jim Dalton, and Nick Scropos. Here is "Marie."

- Jessie Scott

Will Kimbrough "I Don't Like It"

It has been a process. The Music Fog crew left from two different cities to converge on Muscle Shoals, Alabama for the Paul Thorn Band in concert at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa this past Saturday night. We LOVE those guys, and, as always, it was a pleasure working with them. While cruising around the hotel, the common areas had about the best music on their PA system than I have ever heard in a commercial establishment. And all the stuff they played was recorded there. We got to meet Jerry Phillips, son of legendary Sun Records guiding light, and the father of rock and roll, Sam Phillips. I am so taken with the mysteries of the South, how American music grew out of here in its most unique way. It transcends this rural landscape; this unselfconscious, unassuming land. What, you don't know about Muscle Shoals legacy? In the early 1960s, Rick Hall brought FAME Recording Studios there. Artists like Aretha Franklin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Osmonds, Mac Davis, and Duane Allman came to lay it down. It was just a couple of hours south of Nashville. Not too hard to get to, yet far enough away to plant you in a different world, one with its own definitive cadence, mixing rock and country, rhythm and blues, black and white, sacred and profane.

Photo Credit: Stacie HuckebaAmericana MVP Will Kimbrough grew up on the other side of the state, on the Alabama coast, within earshot of New Orleans radio. He ingested a broad palate of sounds; rock, country, jazz, gospel, blues, folk, and punk rock. If today's era was like the musical landscape during FAME's reign, Will Kimbrough would be a household name. Let's face it, the man can do everything with grace, style, substance, and soul. He sings, he plays, he writes, he is an amazing performer. His songs have been recorded by a list of luminaries including Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat, Jack Ingram and Todd Snider. He has been onstage with another illustrious list, including Rodney Crowell, Mavis Staples, Rosanne Cash, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Gomez, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver...you get the idea. Honestly, the credits go on and on, and Will brings it whenever we see him. Though we still have tunes to bring you from his full band Americana Fest set with us, we had him come visit us solo during MusicFest at Steamboat in January. "Operator, give me Jesus, give me Elvis," I think Sam Phillips would have loved this. "I Don't Like It," originally on the Daddy album At the Women's Club. Oh yeah, and PLAY IT LOUD!

- Jessie Scott

Gurf Morlix "Cold Cold World"

It is so hard to wait, especially when you know something really big is right around the corner. Not that this wasn't a whole lifetime in the making, but when the finish line gets close it has to be excruciating! Gurf Morlix released his new album yesterday, Blaze Foley's 113th Wet Dream. It pays homage to Blaze, with whom he played over 20 years ago before Gurf became a ubiquitous Americana MVP. They met in 1976 when Gurf played a show in Austin, having left the chill of his native Buffalo, NY after high school. That night, Blaze invited Gurf to his first gig, which spawned a friendship for the next few years, as the two iconoclasts became runnin' buddies.

Blaze Foley was a brilliant songwriter but tragically flawed character. He was murdered in 1989 at the age of 39. Gurf's album is being released in conjunction with the debut of the documentary, Blaze Foley: Duct Tape Messiah a movie about Blaze's life, itself 12 years in the making. A few years back Gurf contributed liner notes for a European Blaze Foley tribute CD, and we quote them here:

“Blaze Foley – soulful, passionate singer songwriter. Champion of the downtrodden. Friend of the working Girl. Truth seeker. Atmospheric disturbance. Tender caring person with a big ol' bag of deep-rooted troubles stuffed down into one of his pockets. Blaze could cut right through the bullshit, or he could be the cause of it. The funniest person I ever met, and also the most tragic.”

Gurf will be touring in conjunction with film screenings, which will be followed by a set of Gurf playing Blaze's songs. Here he is from the Threadgill's stage, during our Music Fog showcase from SXSW 2010, with the song that closes out the new album, "Cold Cold World."

- Jessie Scott