K Phillips & The Concho Pearls "Kat's Song (What I Can't Have)"

The crossroads are tricky. There is always the path not travelled, the opportunity not taken. The eternal question hangs in your head, “What if?” Here is an admission; I wished I had worked with K Phillips. I first met K a few years back while I was living in Austin. He was about to deliver the album American Girls, and I had heard about him, and that album, long before I laid eyes on him. The first time I saw K perform was at Sam’s Burger Joint in San Antonio. One performance was all it took to know that K was indeed working on something uniquely his own.

It turns out I wasn't the only one paying attention, so was Kyla Fairchild at No Depression, who gave K a kick ass review. And so was Adam Duritz of Counting Crows. Which goes to show that you never know how or where your music will resonate, you just have to get it out there. A few months back, in October, the Counting Crows posted this delicious version of "Kat's Song" from The Outlaw Roadshow: Counting Crows live at Bowery Electric, NYC. K takes a guest verse, towards the end, on this song that he wrote.

Photo Credit: SteveShootsToday we bring you the Music Fog filming of the same song, from Threadgill’s in Austin, back in 2012 during our SXSW© music marathon. Here is "Kat's Song (What I Can't Have)."

K is working on a new album, and is heading up north with his band, the Concho Pearls, to play Midtown Live in NYC on April 22nd. I just can't wait!

- Jessie Scott

The Ebony Hillbillies "I'd Rather Be"

Recently on the Music Fog pages, we have been talking about the melting pot that is American Music. Today we shine a light on another historical era, and I suspect many people don’t realize that this particular seminal contribution was brought to our shores from Africa. Yes of course there’s The Blues, and Jazz, but I am talking roots here. It was the Black String Bands that gave birth to Country and Bluegrass.

I’m sure you know that the banjo was exported from Africa, and along with it came a tradition of front porch picking that seeded what has become Americana Music. It was Fiddle, Banjo, and more stringed instruments were added. It is the blending of Black and White, of Native American and African and European sonic traditions. It is what ultimately caused the Big Bang that the world has come to identify as pure American music.

Today we bring you a 'for real' string band from NYC, and one of the last Black String Bands in America. I first saw the Ebony Hillbillies play a couple of years ago at Christmastime in the NYC subway. I was consumed with unbridled joy as their music hit my ears. I have been wanting to film them since then. There aren't many bands around still delivering this easy and authentic of a musical experience.

The Ebony Hillbillies are led by Henrique Prince (fiddle, vocals) and Norris Bennett (banjo, mountain dulcimer, guitar, vocals) and feature Gloria Thomas Gassaway on vocals and bones, William “Salty Bill” Salter on acoustic bass with A.R. and Newman Taylor Baker on washboard and percussion. They have a new live album about to arrive called Slappin’ A Rabbit - Live! Bassist Tony Garnier sat in with them for the Music Fog cameras. Pure joy. Here is an instrumental version of “I’d Rather Be.”

- Jessie Scott

Kristin Andreassen "The Boat Song (Gondolier)"

The deep freeze continues, and if you are chilled to the bone too, I am sure that you’ll join me in this sentiment- I can’t wait for the spring to come! Wish we could do a dance to make it happen faster! What with March just around the corner, it can’t be much longer now, right?

It has felt like a siege. I am looking forward to heading to Texas for SXSW. There is something about being in Austin in March for a tantalizing taste of spring. I am dreaming of music and friends and magic moments - that’s especially so this year. Hey, you know Folk Alliance just wrapped in Kansas City. It was easy to channel the good feeling deal that conference has from all the postings this weekend on FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter. Music Fog would have loved to be on site to capture the festivities. Nonetheless, it was fun to see photos and video snippets of so many friend’s showcases. Who knows, we can sure dream about being there next year.

One of the many artists who made the trip to Kansas City for FA is Kristin Andreassen, who put out her second solo album, Gondolier, a week ago. You might know her from her stints in the early 2000s in the fun folk bands Uncle Earl and Sometymes Why. And of course there was her award winning tune in the 2007 John Lennon Songwriting Contest for “Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes.” Watch for that song down the road on the pages of Music Fog, too.

Today we bring you the title track to the lyrical, imaginative, and delightful Gondolier album. The Foggers got to film it in January at Midtown Live in NYC, when we welcomed Kristin to the Music Fog mini-marathon.

- Jessie Scott