Eilen Jewell "Bang Bang Bang"

Oh man, I have not wanted to talk too much about this twilight time that I have been living in. I have been through almost a week now of haze, of drifting in and out, of sleep overtaking me, and then of weird, implausible dreams. But so it is after surgery. I am in very good hands though, between the medical folks, and then that of Hag and Dee, who are angels watching over me. I have not been on my feet much, heck, I have hardly even been out of bed. Today is the day that the bandages are coming off, and the healing continues. And I have a super cool new red scooter to tool around on! I will keep you posted on my progress, but thanks for all the well wishes you have sent my way.

We wrapped up the Music Fog Marathon a week ago last Saturday, and here is our first video from those sessions. We grabbed a handful of performances that Beans started working on immediately, while waiting for Aaron to return to DC with the rest of the masters. Not to mention that this is worthy of being the first video we bring to Music Fog on the strength of the other two performances we filmed of Eilen Jewell at Threadgill’s two years ago. With over 100,000 views, she has the number two most watched video in Music Fog’s archives, “Sea of Tears,” and a MF top 20 with “Rain Roll In.”

Her name is pronounced E-lin; that is with a hard E, that is then softened by her bob haircut and pearls. Coming off of the success of Sea Of Tears, she found herself suffering a severe case of writer’s block, and retreated to a cabin in the mountains of Idaho. Back in the land that she is originally from, she was able to lay the groundwork for the forthcoming album Queen of the Minor Key, due at the end of June. Joining Eilen are her longtime band; Jason Beek (drums, harmony vocals), Jerry Miller (electric, acoustic and steel guitars), and Johnny Sciascia (upright bass) who have performed 150-plus shows a year, these past five years. The song we bring you today is from the forthcoming album, and is an ironically worded homage to Cupid called, “Bang, Bang, Bang.”

- Jessie Scott

Los Lonely Boys "Fly Away"

God bless Willie Nelson. It was his impeccable taste and his commitment to share the love that first brought Los Lonely Boys to my attention. I believe it was 2003, during Willie’s 4th of July Picnic that was held over two days at Two Rivers Canyon west of Austin, in Spicewood. I came back knowing in my bones that these guys were going to blow up. And so they did.

Yesterday, their brand new CD Rockpango came out. It is pure brotherly vocals with great hooks and impeccable playing, as you would expect. We are featuring the tune "Fly Away," which you can sing along to after just one listen. Instantly memorable stuff. And I love that for the official video, LLB chose to shoot at the legendary Continental Club on South Congress in Austin. What with family and friends so recently in town, I got to re-experience the amazing city of Austin through their eyes. It is a visual, earthy, funky joy. It makes finding locations easy, as there are so many places that bring the cool, and bring the character. And today, we bring you the cool, and the character of Los Lonely Boys.

- Jessie Scott

Band of Heathens "Medicine Man"

It was four years ago that I first laid eyes on the Band Of Heathens, as they trooped into our makeshift studio during the last year X Country was broadcasting live from MusicFest at Steamboat. It was noon, everyone was hurting from the night before, but magic was laid down in the conversation nook of the condo. That was the beginning of a wonderful working relationship with this incredible group of musicians. 

The Band of Heathens are releasing their brand new CD today. Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son is their best yet, in my humble opinion. It is steamy, sultry, and immerses you in the swamp fever of New Orleans. It wails and rocks and rolls. It shimmies and shakes and shows off the Heathens prodigious chops. Don’t say there isn’t good music coming out, ‘cause there sure is, you just have to look a little harder to find it. Or keep coming back here, for we do try to bring the tasty to your attention.

When we filmed a private session with the Band Of Heathens at this year’s MusicFest at Steamboat we promised that we would wait to put this tune up on release day. Do you have any idea how hard that was? It was driving us crazy to share it with you! So here it finally is, the Music Fog recording of “Medicine Man” from the brand new CD, out today!

- Jessie Scott