Bob Schneider "Let the Light In"

Today is travel day! The Foggers are heading back to Texas to attend the Cherokee Creek Music Festival. Usually when we hit one of these events, we go with a full dance card.  In this case, we are going, but don’t really know who we will be capturing in front of our cameras.  I hesitate to even tell you who will be performing, as the event is sold out, AND because we don’t have a clue as to who we might sit down with us for a session.

And so it seemed a good idea to post a brand new video from Bob Schneider, who is part of the Friday night lineup. He is his own cottage industry.  He's been a hot ticket in Austin for quite some time, and his albums seem to always reside in the top 15 at Waterloo Records.  He gigs multiple nights a week in Austin, with different kinds of music in different clubs, but all executed brilliantly.  I don’t know if you remember the band The Ugly Americans, but Bob was part of it before he went solo in 1999.  He has been incredibly prolific over the years, and has just released a new CD last month, A Perfect Day.  Here is one of the songs, from KINK-FM in Portland, OR, one of a handful of radio stations with a continuing commitment to art.  “Let The Light In” was taped there about 6 months ago.

-- Jessie Scott

Chris Thile & Michael Daves "Sleep With One Eye Open"

What long strange trip it's been for Chris Thile (pronounced THEE-lee.)  When we first made his acquaintance, he was with the teenage sensations, Nickel Creek.  Along the way there have been stints with the best and the brightest string players in the world, and then the formation of The Punch Brothers, who just played at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage. Their most recent album is called Antifogmatic. We like that!

But today we celebrate the release of the new CD from Chris Thile and Michael Daves, "Sleep With One Eye Open,"  a collection of 16 traditional tunes by bluegrass legends like The Monroe Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt & Scruggs.  They have tour dates which are not to miss, as they keep the old songs fresh and new, with style and substance.  Here they are doing the Lester Flatt composition, the title track from the album that streets today.

-- Jessie Scott

Jon Dee Graham "October"

My sister-in-law Lisa is here for a visit, and is experiencing the air in Texas for the very first time.  So we are not sure whether she is succumbing to allergies, or if it is actually a cold caught on the airplane.   Nevertheless, I have been hoarding a bottle of Sharon Ely’s Holy Posole for just such an occasion. The stuff is perfect to serve to someone who is a bit under the weather, as it opens up the sinus passages and provides soothing comfort. Our buddy Mike Shapiro did an animated trailer about it.  You don’t have to be sick to eat it, it is absolutely awesome, and should be available in selected stores soon.  And there will be more products under the banner of "Sharon Ely’s All Natural Products."  It's fun to see a friend become a brand!

Jon Dee Graham is already a brand. He’s been inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame three times, in 2000 as a solo artist, in 2008 as a member of the Skunks, and in 2009 as a member of the True Believers. In 2006, the readers of the Austin Chronicle named him Austin Musician of the Year. And in 2008, he was the subject of a documentary, Swept Away.  Right after that came out, he survived a one car crash that left him in permanent pain.  Jon Dee was back at work a month later at the world famous Continental Club in Austin, where he does a weekly live residency, "Jon Dee and Friend" - last night the friend was our mutual buddy, Mike June.  He put out his seventh album, It’s Not As Bad As It Looks,  last year, and today we bring you the Music Fog Marathon taping of “October," originally released on his 1999 album, Summerland.

-- Jessie Scott