Colin Gilmore "The You That I Knew"

Oh my, oh gee….. I have started to sift slowly through the stuff I had in storage for two and a half years. Now understand, in order to even move out of my house in Maryland, I worked with an organizer to whittle it down to what would fit in an 8’ x 16’ POD. I thought I did good. But being without all this stuff for this long, it shocks me what I kept! Not to mention it shocks me how much fits in a POD! Can anyone say “Yard Sale?” Seriously, I want to get rid of three quarters of it. I am yearning for the simple, uncluttered life again! Organizing involved a five pile process: keep, think about it, shred, giveaway, and trash. That is my tip, and one that I am, unfortunately going to have to tackle again. One other thing, pick a room, or a corner of the room and start there. Work your way around. That is my public service announcement for today.

Photo By Devin BoldtOf course so much of my bulk is from the relentless march of CDs that come into my life. I dunno, for an audio format that is being phased out, you sure couldn’t tell from my house! I find it almost impossible to get rid of them,  even after I digitize. There is always some tidbit; who sang backup, who produced, who co-wrote; that I just HAVE to know. And don’t even get me started about vinyl. Yeah, of course I have some of that too!

Colin Gilmore is dapper, sophisticated, and writes a mean pop song. He deserves to be enshrined in vinyl, actually. I don't know if he did a run of it for his last album, 2010’s Goodnight Moon, but as he is recording his new one right now maybe he will consider vinyl. Colin is playing Folk Alliance on Saturday, then he heads to California for a couple of other dates. As we get ready for this year’s Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s next month in Austin, we throw back to last year’s event for “The You That I Knew,” originally released on his EP 4 Of No Kind. Colin Gilmore on the Fog.

-Jessie Scott

Elephant Revival "Nostalgia #28"

The Folk Alliance International starts today in Memphis, Tennessee. We hear that for next year’s event it will head north to Toronto, Canada. The Foggers have such fond memories of being parked in front of the Memphis Marriott in the Music Fog Bus. The first year we were there, everyone had a different conjecture as to what luminary was camped out on it. Some even though Mr. Dylan was aboard. This time around, we are hard at work on our March Music Fog Marathon during SXSW® music week, and so we just can’t get away. FAI is such a simpatico affair, that provides a platform for a tight knit community of those that make music, and those that support it with opportunities. As a special treat, the keynote address will be delivered by industry insider and caustic critic Bob Lefsetz, who writes the Lefsetz Letter. He has an opinion about everything entertainment oriented, and his passion makes for a great read. So I wish I could be there for that, as well as the wonderful lineup. So many friends have been reaching out to me...who knows, maybe I’ll just jump in the car and drive. I am feeling an irresistible pull...but the drive from Austin is ten hours. Getting the tribe together, I think that is written into our DNA from our hunter-gatherer days. Music Fog so enjoyed being on site for the couple of years we were in attendance filming.

Here is the list of official performers at this year's Folk Alliance. There are 200 official showcases, and one of the bands is Elephant Revival. We got to catch up with them in all their earthy, rootsy glory during Americana Fest in Nashville this past October. Here are there forthcoming tour dates. Hot, hot, hot! ER incorporates an engaging mélange of influences. The neo-acoustic quintet are purveyors of ‘Transcendental Folk.’ We are simply entranced by them, beautiful sounds, beautiful voices, a beautiful song. Here is the exclusive Music Fog recording of “Nostalgia #28.” Drink deep.

- Jessie Scott

Ray Wylie Hubbard "Count My Blessings"

The weather is nice with sunshine reigning supreme here in Texas. It looks like the trees are even budding early. I am savoring these temperatures, because I know what comes next, the swelter of triple digits. But I digress. It’s always about today. Savor this moment, yesterday’s gone, and tomorrow will bring what it may. It takes a long time to feel good in one’s skin, to get the outside stimuli to stop bombarding you, to hear the voice deep inside and follow that. It is about getting centered. It is a process, and well worth the journey. I think when you get to that place, it can be very fruitful and creative.

Ray Wylie Hubbard has been in that space for a while. Lately, there have been so many cool things happening with him, like touring with Joe Walsh, and collaborating with Ringo Starr who contributes to Ray’s next album, The Grifter’s Hymnal. George Reiff, Rick Richards, Lucas Hubbard, and Ian McLagan also make contributions. You can catch up with the ever-entertaining Mr. Hubbard here. Of course, we haven’t seen a track listing yet for the new album, but this as yet unreleased tune might just be on it. Ray and Rick Richards were filmed during last year’s Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ, for this, our second recording of "Count My Blessings." Compare with the first one here.

- Jessie Scott