Johnny Hickman "Another Road"

Cracker founding guitarist Johnny Hickman put his sophomore solo album, Tilting, out on Tuesday, and I promise you, watching the video for “Another  Road” will indeed make you tilt. Of course, Johnny will be back in the Cracker saddle for a new album to be recorded with David Lowery et al. next year. There will be some solo dates for Johnny this summer, though they will be sandwiched in between the dates for the Barenaked Ladies' "Last Summer on Earth" tour, featuring Cracker, Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & The Monsters. Now that sounds like fun!

Before we get on with it, I just wanted to take a moment to shine a light on the Colorado and Utah forest fires. Over 10,000 people have been driven from their homes, so help if  you can. The Red Cross is accepting donations. Here is "Another Road," a songwriting collaboration between Johnny Hickman and his longtime friend Chris LeRoy. It was filmed in Northern Colorado by Tomas Herrera. The video features Johnny with Jason Larson, who co-produced the new album. It is summertime, and the great American pastime of driving on the open road awaits! Ready? Here goes…

-Jessie Scott

Darrell Scott "American Tune"

OK, I cheated a bit…I saw a great fireworks display on Saturday night. I suspect I am not alone, with so much going on this week. They filled me with wonder, as they always do, and redoubled my gratitude that I am American. Freedom it is something to cherish, to hold tight, to fight for. I think about even the mundane things that give so much pleasure, getting an idea in one’s head, and being able to follow one’s heart there. My neighbors have taken to planting their Zen and rock garden at night (way too hot during the day!) There is no curfew, they are free too. I cherish my little house, and the move that brought me here to Austin. No papers, no reporting to someone for permission to do so. A million times a day we are able to demonstrate our liberty. We are SO lucky to have been born here.

Our video today is from Folk Alley who do a great job of programming acoustic roots, Americana and folk music for an aggregation of non-commercial radio stations around the country, plus streaming on the web 24/7. They also do videos, and we bring you the immensely talented Darrell Scott from 2009 doing the song “American Tune.“ Amazing that Paul Simon, who wrote and released it on his self-titled solo album in 1972, captured these thoughts back then, as they are no doubt truer today. Remember, when you listen, that our freedom allows us to question, to be unsure of our thoughts, of our mind. We are allowed the process of discovery. We had the honor of capturing Darrell Scott a couple of years ago at Americana Fest, so if this is an introduction to him, there is way more where that came from.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July, and remember, cherish your independence. I want you to promise me you will vote this year, if you are eligible. It DOES make a difference.

-Jessie Scott

Glen Campbell "A Better Place"

Life is a bittersweet thing. Today we shine a light on Glen Campbell, a man whose prodigious talents yielded a storied run. He did it all. A revered musician, his trajectory mirrored Country Music’s acceptance as a mainstream entity. There was the TV show, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, there were occasional acting gigs including in True Grit with John Wayne. Over his 50 year career he sold 45 million albums, and this was back in the day when you didn’t have to sell out to be commercially viable. His latest studio album Ghost On The Canvas, will be his last as he let it be known a year ago that he has Alzheimer’s. He is presently on the final leg of his "Goodbye Tour" which began last year upon the release of the new CD which included contributions from Paul Westerberg, Jakob Dylan, Chris Isaak, Rick Nielsen, and Billy Corgan.

If you want to own some of Glen Campbell’s best known, a new compilation comes out today called Ten Great Songs, which would act as a fine introduction to building your catalog. The video we feature today is the second one released from the Ghost On The Canvas album. (The first was the title track.) It features a special guest appearance from Joshua Homme, plus lots of photos of Glen with other giants that populated his life and our collective history. Touching stuff, indeed. It is alright to shed a tear or two. Here is “A Better Place.”

-Jessie Scott