Ray Bonneville "Mississippi"

“The water is way too high,” is a lyric from Ray Bonneville’s new album, Bad Man’s Blood, which comes out today. And it is an unfortunately prescient sentiment, as the waters recede from Hurricane Irene on the east coast. We hope that you and yours made it through the storm with minimal stress and damage, and that things will get back to normal soon. The Red Cross is accepting donations, if you can aid the folks who are in need.  Just a hot meal or some clothing can be so helpful.

Ray Bonneville, roaming blues poet and musician, brings us today’s song, which is about the Mississippi flooding, but weather events are happening way too often in way too many places these days. This collection of new songs continues to bring that down and dirty quality that Ray is known for, capturing life’s hardships in bas-relief.  Music Fog had an especially memorable moment in the ranch house at Cherokee Creek Music Festival in May, when Ray Bonneville was joined by Rad Lorkovic on accordion, and John Fullbright on keys. Heartbreaking beauty ensued. See Ray in concert somewhere soon. Here is the Music Fog version of “Mississippi.”

- Jessie Scott

Randy Rogers "Missing You Is More Than I Can Do"

Life is ever strange.  On Friday night I was at The Saxon Pub, sitting at the bar listening to the smooth songs and sweet voice of Mando Saenz, who was accompanied on vocals and bass by Bonnie Whitmore, a tour de force in her own right.  Earlier that day, I was out enjoying happy hour with another band, Beck and Cauthen. At midnight at the Saxon, I was trying to track down a contact for Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain. After multiple texting attempts, I made no progress in finding someone who knows her amongst friends likely to have some insight. So much for six degrees of separation! If you have a contact for her reps, by all means pass it along to us.

Did I tell you that when I was flying to Boulder a couple of weeks ago, Randy Rogers was on my Southwest flight?  He was in the first boarding group, and I was in the second, so we exchanged a quick kiss on the cheek as he got on the plane.  I see lots of folks I know in airports, like ships passing in the night, as they say- Reckless Kelly, Jason Boland, and Sunny Sweeney recently. Fellow travelers all, and I love that.  We had a visitation from Randy during our MusicFest at Steamboat sessions back in January.  Since 2004, Randy and the band have continued to kick it hard, and sashay on their own path. SO excited to see the success that they have created.  But the beginning of all that is the song itself, and here is one from Randy by himself, “Missing You Is More Than I Can Do,” which can be found in its original released version on the Burning The Day album.

-- Jessie Scott

Myk Gordon "Brand New Love"

The very best days are those that take flight with no expectations. You know, the ones where you can follow your face wherever it takes you, and chase down whatever opportunity that presents itself. When you can have an impromptu lunch or drinks, or when you can spend two hours in deep conversation with a friend. I love this stuff, it seconds the motion, and makes you believe there are no coincidences. And that’s when love comes, when you are just going about your business not looking for it at all, which I have to say, is pretty liberating. Meet someone new and the mind does wander, the fantasies take wing. The mystery always lurks at the periphery. “Is he the one, is she?” And experiencing that life changing magic moment makes you soar.

I guess Myk Gordon knows all this landscape especially well, as he is a singer/songwriter, and a psychotherapist as well. He is from Vancouver, British Columbia, and came to play solo for the Music Fog cameras last year, although he had brought his band down to Nashville. We bring you an as yet unreleased song from Myk (pronounced "Mike") Gordon, filmed during the 2010 Americana Music Festival. By the way, wristbands are on sale for this year’s festivities, happening in October. The wristbands are good for all evening performances during the entire Americana Fest, and are only $50.

So on this day, may you find happiness. May it fill your heart and make it light. Here is Myk Gordon with “Brand New Love.”

- Jessie Scott