Music Video

Brian Wright "Mrs. Rosenthal"

On Wednesday I arrived in Nashville midday, and proceeded to make the rounds. And EVERYWHERE I went, I ran into friends. For a time as I was driving, I started getting melancholy for the days when I lived in this town. Seeing ghosts on the corners, in the neighborhoods, on the streets. But then, walking into the haunts, there were actually humans that I knew, and it was wonderful being welcomed back. My evening ended at the Station Inn in Nashville, which usually plays home to stringed instruments. This Wednesday, it was the rousing gospel of The McCrary Sisters.  And lots of folks in the house: Brigitte DeMeyer, Marshall Chapman, Lisa Grey, Eric Brace.

And all day, I have been wondering what I would write about Brian Wright, as we had planned to put up another video from his SXSW set from March at Threadgill’s. Low and behold, Brian Wright was at the gig too. I asked him to tell me a bit about the song “Mrs. Rosenthal.” He said, ”I wrote the song about a woman who showed me how things worked in life.” I said, “Kinda like Mrs. Robinson?” and he said, “The names were changed to protect the guilty, but Rosenthal Road was where I grew up.” And that is all we need to know. Brian’s album, House On Fire, came out earlier this year, and has landed on several ‘best of the year’ lists. Kudos to Brian. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Mrs. Rosenthal.”

- Jessie Scott

Mrs. Rosenthal - Bluebird

The Trishas "Clockwork"

I stopped by the Victory Grill on Tuesday evening for a blues jam, in a spot that has been, as they say, “nourishing the soul since 1945.” It was part of the Chitlin’ Circuit during the day, a place where African Americans could play. It was a home away from home in the 50s to the likes of Ike & Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, Bobby Bland, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, W. C. Clark. It is a juke joint listed in the National Register of Historic Places.  It is vibey and cool inside. The blues jam had lots of ebb and flow, black and white and soul and shuffle. If you are visiting Austin, you might stop by; it is on the East Side across I-35.

What is it about east side of many towns? They seem to be the rundown side, maybe it’s because that’s the way the wind blows.  The Trishas have headed east from Austin, and there is a tantalizing quiz of sorts on their Facebook page.  I can’t put the clues together, maybe you can. Could it be a new album or a tour? Well I guess we will know soon enough. In the meantime, let’s revisit MusicFest at Steamboat Springs 2011, as the Trishas came to our studio, and played the song “Clockwork” for us.

- Jessie Scott

Raul Malo "I'll Be Home For Christmas"

I haven’t started shopping for Christmas yet, my bad.  It's hard to feel like the holiday is upon us, when the weather in Texas suggests autumn at best.  Guess I should get busy.  On a personal note, one doesn’t think about getting a flu shot when the temperatures are in the 70s; it still feels pre-winter, but next year, I will know better! Today’s posting serves several purposes, the first being that it is a taste of Christmas from the masterful and mellifluous Raul Malo. Are you hip to his 2007 Christmas Album,  Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites. It is a must have! Fresh Films, an outfit out of Nashville taped one of the songs from that album “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and they dedicate their version to our servicemen and women. We wish them Godspeed and pray for their safety and their rapid return to their families stateside.

The hot news is that The Mavericks will be reuniting for a tour, and who knows, maybe even an album. When the Mavericks formed in 1989, it could be said that they were way ahead of their time. The 90s found fame, fortune and awards galore. The split came in 2003, and was amicable. Raul emerged as a solo player and Robert Reynolds and Paul Deakin continued to record as well. The reunion tour will start at Stagecoach in April in Indio, California, and then they will hit North America and Europe.  It makes me giddy to think of their power and energy. You just have to have a good time when you see them live, the music is so buoyant. For the most part that is, there is always room for the ballad, like we bring you today. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” simply stops time. Here is wishing that you will be reuniting with dear friends and family members from far away this year for the holidays, too.

- Jessie Scott

I'll Be Home for Christmas - Marshmallow World & Other Holiday Favorites