Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones "Johnny Ace Is Dead"

Driving the Hill Country in Texas at night with my iPod as my guide...well that, and my cruise control to moderate my trip. A full moon, deer scattering, tunes kicking one after another, and then the unmistakable sound of Dave Alvin’s guitar rivets me, stabbing in the glow of the dashboard lights. “Out Of Control,” is a story song, and one of my favorites of Dave’s. That’s hard to say, because with Dave so much of what he does hits home for me. Dave Alvin's music spans the sweet, the important, and the dangerous. He captures the rawness of life and punctuates it with his riffs, which act as exclamation points on the emotion. I could make you a “must listen to” list of Dave Alvin tunes...just ask.

It was a fair day in March, the sun was shining, we were at Threadgill’s and Dave Alvin & The Guilty Ones blew in like a hurricane. Boy are they intense, and boy were we lucky to have them. They played us some tunes. The room was packed, and today we bring you the Music Fog recording of a true crime drama, “Johnny Ace Is Dead,” which is a song off the new CD Eleven Eleven.  I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t urge you to go see this band. If you have never had the pleasure, tomorrow night Dave brings the Guilty Ones to the Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA. And here is the rest of the tour. Get ready for some kickassitude; here’s Dave Alvin, Christy McWilson, Lisa Pankratz, Chris Miller, and Brad Fordham.

 -Jessie Scott

 

Patterson Barrett "The Where and When"

Boulder, Colorado.  This has been an interesting trip back for me, actually, this was the event during which I got head hunted to join the staff of XM, to create the channel, X Country.  Dave Logan, then the Programming Operations VP of XM Radio, shook my hand and said, "We want to talk to you." The next week, Dave came to see me in Nashville, and invited me to DC to see the XM studio complex.  I took the ride on the XM train. It sure was sweet while it lasted.

It has been eleven years since I have attended the AAA conference, but it has been a wonderful homecoming, hanging out with people who are also motivated by music, and seeing so many friends from years gone by. It charges your batteries, for sure. And the music has been spectacular. Highlights on Thursday include Rebecca Pidgeon, James Maddock, BoDeans, Lissie, Needtobreathe, and Brandi Carlisle.

Patterson Barrett came to play at Threadgill’s School Night Sessions a week ago Sunday night, with Shawn Davis, Nick Randolph, and Clint Short from Stonehoney, who by the way, have taken a break to pursue other opportunities. Patterson is one of the Austin MVP musicians, who can be spotted as a frequent sideman in different outfits on stages all over town. We caught him solo when we filmed at the house on the hill at Cherokee Creek Music Festival in May. Today, we bring you Patterson solo with “The Where And When.”

- Jessie Scott

Elliott BROOD "Oh, Alberta"

I am out at the FMQB Triple A Conference in Boulder.  This is an industry event for artists, radio station decision makers, promoters and record labels; all of which makes for a very simpatico, music loving tribe.  On Wednesday night, I was hanging at the Fox Theatre watching Brett Dennon, and Matt Nathanson; this after a day which included Jimmy Cliff singing a gospel song simply and beautifully accompanied himself on guitar. WOW. Right after that Edwin McCain played a set in the tent, and after dinner, we were entertained by Blackie & The Rodeo Kings. You know, I thought of them as Canadian, but tonight talking to Colin Linden, I found out he grew up where I did, in Westchester County, NY, before he made his way to Canada in his teens.

Blackie & The Rodeo Kings have an amazing new record out which was over two years in the making. Kings & Queens features duets with some of the best and brightest; Rosanne Cash, EmmyLou Harris, and Lucinda Williams among them. It is an incredible offering that I highly recommend.

I was thinking that we should look to the north today to pick up another tune from Elliott BROOD. They have a new album, Days Into Years coming out at the end of September, and are offering a 7“ single of "Northern Companion," that’s just a heads-up if you are a collector.  We MF-ers are entrenched in the collection of music ourselves, and are happy to bring you an Elliott BROOD tune from last year’s Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s. Love these guys, can’t wait for the new record!  Your next chance to see them is at the Wapiti Fernie Music Festival, in British Columbia on August 20th. That sounds like fun! Here is the Music Fog take on “Oh, Alberta.”

- Jessie Scott