Parker Millsap "Singing To Me"

I was driving around Nashville yesterday, and the ever expanding construction is overtaking this once sleepy town and turning it into a bona fide CITY! There are cranes perched aloft and skyscrapers being built where there were empty lots. It is a bit disconcerting to drive through a neighborhood you have known for decades that bears no resemblance to how it was just a couple of months ago. So it goes with progress. The good news is that building explosion is being accompanied by an influx of Americana artists from all over the place.

Photo Credit: David McClister

Today’s video is from Oklahoman, Parker Millsap. Parker has relocated to Nashville, and has made quite the mark at his still tender age of 26. It has been an incredible five plus year run for him. He is presently writing for a new album, and is gracious, humble and uber talented. We were lucky to catch up with him solo back in February of 2019. Today’s tune is “Singing To Me.” It was included in Parker’s genre bending Other Arrangements album, but you know what we say, it is all about the song. Enjoy!

-- Jessie Scott

Will Hoge "This Grand Charade"

Time flies when you are rocking and rolling. That is for certain, but every once in a while we get to acknowledge a milestone, and today I have a rather large one. My first radio job was at WDVE in Pittsburgh, PA and this weekend we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its launch as a rock station in 1969. That is quite a feat, to have remained the same format for 50 years. Oh, and I am coming up on my 50th year in the biz, but I have changed formats so many times that it is dizzying! WDVE ROCKS, yeah, it still does!

Sometimes the time that passes only amplifies that things ain’t right, as it is in today’s tune from Will Hoge. The first time I heard it live was at Christmas two years ago, with Will’s wife in the audience. He made sure to tell her he loves her, and this song wasn’t about their marriage. “This Grand Charade” is an utterly authentic, emotional capture from a man that can deliver a tale with complexity and concern. It was originally released on the Anchors album in 2017. Today, we bring you the Music Fog recording from our private sessions in Nashville at the start of this year.

- Jessie Scott

Chuck Mead "I'm Not the Man for the Job"

So, did'ja watch the cool eight part series, Country Music: A Film By Ken Burns? It is a masterwork about the genre, going back about 100 years. In Part 7 they explored the history of Gram Parsons, who loved country music but was a child of the 60’s as well, so he thought to marry the two. Cosmic American Music was the moniker he used. It was nothing short of the precursor for what would later be called Americana Music. Gram Parsons was one of Americana's progenitors. BTW, I got to narrate the Radio Companion to the series, check that out here.

So there is a really cool rolling party that’s been going on since the summer called The Cosmic Honky Tonk Revue, of course with a nod to Gram. It is all about our buddies Chuck Mead, Jim Lauderdale, and Jason Ringenberg teaming up. They play The Caverns in Pelham, TN on December 7th. How cool is that - Cosmic and Subterranean at the same time! We visit with Chuck today, from the session we did at the start of the year. His new album Close To Home with His Grassy Knoll Boys came out in June. From it, here is a solo electric version of “I’m Not The Man For The Job” filmed by the Music Foggers during a private recording session in Nashville.

- Jessie Scott