Jess Klein "Wilson Street Serenade"

It is a shimmering Saturday morning in June. The calendar is edging toward the longest day of the year, and I am relishing the extra hours of daylight. It seems like there is time for everything this time of year, and although we are regularly hitting 100 degrees in Texas, it doesn’t feel bad being outside in short sprints. I have a bit of news, too...I will be on the radio tomorrow afternoon, and you can listen! If you are local, 92.1 FM KNBT in New Braunfels, Texas, the preeminent Americana Radio Station is letting me deejay. I can’t tell you how much I have missed being on the radio! I have been doing it all of my adult life, with the exception of these last couple of years. If you are not close to New Braunfels, log on to listen on the web Sunday starting at 1 pm Central Daylight time.

Today we have a beautiful bauble of a song from Jess Klein that we recorded in May at the Cherokee Creek Music Festival outside of Llano, Texas. We were in drought conditions already but this heat hadn’t settled in yet. People came to our ranch studio bearing gifts of song. This one made me cry, it’s about all the things we yearn for in life; better days, lost loves, what slipped through our fingers. I think that is part of why I love this music so much. There is such commonality. And there is beauty, in this case, that of the ethereal Jess Klein, her amethyst voice. She is just back from touring Europe, and is working on the tunes to be recorded this fall for the new release. Here is a preview, “Wilson Street Serenade” will be on her forthcoming album.. It’s OK to cry in the sunlight.

-Jessie Scott

David Jacobs-Strain "Rainbow Junkies"

Yoga DogSnap Crackle and Pop. I took my first yoga class after two decades, and am hearing the creaking. I am launching an offensive against the settling in of stiffness after surgery a few months back. And the class was glorious, with all the stretching and breathing. I bet I will be sore tomorrow, but I feel like I have accomplished something. As always, they played music in the class, which enhances the experience. The quiver of the peaceful woodwind reminds you to breathe deep.

So does the intro to today’s tune, “Rainbow Junkies” from David Jacobs-Strain. It’s from his 2008 release, Liar’s Day, which was produced by Kenny Passarelli, who is also playing bass on the record. They are joined on the album by Joe Vitale, who played Bonnaroo with Buffalo Springfield, on drums. By the way, Joe and Kenny were Joe Walsh’s rhythm section in the 70s. I guess if your interest is piqued, that means is you probably should pick up the album. We have David doing the song solo, from our Music Fog sessions during Americana Fest in Nashville in September.

-Jessie Scott

Deadman "If I Lay Down In The River"

Life is pretty strange. When I was out west earlier this year with John Bohlinger, one of the folks that was sharing the stage with him was Claudia Williams from the legendary western outfit Montana Rose. Tuesday night I went to see her daughter Tessy Lou Williams with her band at the Saxon Pub for Happy Hour. She sings, how do we say, like clear mountain water, and it has an old school feel, but it is modern at the same time. Mighty sweet stuff. Ran into a couple of the guys from Deadman in the back room, and they were regaling me with tales of listening to the new stuff they are working on for the forthcoming album. Austin, It’s a contact sport.

We taped Deadman at Threadgill’s in March during the Music Fog Marathon. There were very happy that we didn’t squawk when all six of them piled into our tiny stage. They are Steven Collins on lead vocals and guitar, Kevin McCollough on guitar and backing vocals, Jacob Hildebrand on lead guitar, Matthew Mollica on keyboards and accordion, Kyle Schneider on drums, Lonnie Trevino Jr. on bass. There is quite the buzz here in Austin on them; their shows are celestial events. To wit, we offer this song, "If I Lay Down In The River."

-Jessie Scott

Update on 2011-11-05 03:08 by Music Fog

The Music Fog version of this song is now available to download at either of the stores below: