The dB's "That Time Is Gone"

I love a good reunion, don’t you? When we heard that the original members of the dB’s, Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey, Will Rigby and Gene Holder were getting back together for their first album in 30 years, we were over the moon. And at long last, Falling Off The Sky, comes out today. Actually, it is the first new dB’s album in twenty five years, but the first in three decades with the original lineup, the guys responsible for the early '80s classics Stands for deciBels and Repercussion. The dB’s formed in the summer of 1978. The path they walked paved the way for what would become the indie explosion that is upon us today.

Photo Credit: Stephanie ChernikowskiAfter disbanding, they pursued their own muses quite brilliantly; Chris Stamey produced albums for Alejandro Escovedo, Le Tigre and Whiskeytown. Peter Holsapple recorded solo albums, did three CDs as a member of the the Continental Drifters, and worked as sideman with R.E.M. and Hootie and the Blowfish. In 2005 there was a series of reunion shows, and then the dB’s decided to make a new album. Falling Off The Sky was produced by the band members at their own pace without a deadline. Production help came from Mitch Easter and Scott Litt. All the dB’s except Gene Holder visited us during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s, and laid down one of the hot tunes from the new album, “That Time Is Gone.”

- Jessie Scott

Mike Stinson "Late for My Funeral"

There is a magic to the craft of songwriting, how the words come, how the music gets married to it. And there is the mystery to how the rest of it all works; getting it heard, getting it published, making the most out of it. Dave Goodwin is throwing the first annual Big Sky Songwriters Festival in Big Sky, Montana August 15th through the 19th. He is assembling some premier folks for workshops, panels and performances, including Kostas, Bruce Burch, James House, Suzi Ragsdale, Walt Wilkins, Kevin Welch, Dustin Welch, John Bohlinger, and Jon Pousette-Dart. Industry leaders will be on hand as well for sessions on publishing, and other music biz topics. There is an early bird rate in place and there are surprisingly affordable accommodations.

Speaking of amazing songwriters, it is about damn time that we got to record Mike Stinson. He is a Virginian by birth, after 18 years in LA, he relocated to Houston, Texas around three years ago. It was a move that was to spur his creativity, evident as he is recording his fourth album in Austin with legendary roots producer R.S. Field. Throughout, he has been writing simple, and simply beautiful, songs. You might know Dwight Yoakam’s version of Mike’s tune “Late Great Golden State.” The new album is coming soon, in the meantime, allow us to tide you over with one of the songs that will be on it. We filmed Mike during the Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin this past March. Here is a solo rendition of “Late For My Funeral.”

- Jessie Scott

Bryan Dunn "Sweetheart Of The Music Hall"

Saturday, ahhhh! It feels so fine this time of year, I am loving these long days, they are made for playing in the extra hours of light. When the night comes, there is that delicious warm air to envelop you. And the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with not having to wear an overcoat. Especially on the streets of New York, it is glorious the less you have on - or have to carry.

Bryan Dunn has credentials that include Austin, TX and NYC. There seems to be a lot of that going on these days. His new album, Sweetheart Of The Music Hall came out in early April. The album title is as much of a nod to the Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo as it is acknowledgement to the musician's collective at New York's Rockwood Music Hall.  "For a long time, it seemed like Austin had a community of musicians but New York had a scene," says Bryan. But, when Rockwood opened and the late nights started, that changed. Suddenly you were playing for, and with, people because it was fun, not because you had an agenda. There were nationally known acts mingling with locals, but it didn't matter. People went there to listen, not to be seen."

We have an exclusive video premiere for you today, the title track, "Sweetheart Of The Music Hall," is loosely (and totally fictionally) based on musician Misty Boyce, who plays piano on the song. Bryan comments, "We had this beautiful album cover and thought it would be cool to give it a backstory. We'd discussed this whole elaborate detective/femme fatale noir style thing but the budget was a little small so we thought 'oh, let's just kill everybody in the band." More murder and mayhem? Delightful...Cheers!

-Jessie Scott