Sean McConnell "Somewhere Beautiful"

Repeat after me...Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell. Credit where credit is due. Last year at the start of SXSW, hooking up with Mattson Rainer from KNBT, he was playing McConnell's EP on the radio, and he was blown away by the guy. Then I was driving a couple of days later with Eddy Levy from East End Ink, and he popped the same EP into his player, and said, "Have you heard this guy Sean McConnell yet?"

Mattson had him play the Americana Jam in May. And I reached out to Mr. Rainer to get in touch with Sean at MusicFest so he could come to our condo. He played, he stayed, he hung, and ate, and we got to know him. It was a treat.

This is a powerful vocal. There is artistry and emotion, and it lights the dark. Say it with me again...Sean McConnell, Sean McConnell. Don't forget that name.

-Jessie

Bonnie Bishop "Virginia"

Bonnie Bishop and I have had this little spat going on for just about six months now. It first started at a shoot in Virginia when she was performing and I started a camera shot of her feet at the beginning of a song. Bonnie said, "Hey sicko! What's with the feet?" I told her it was for "our other web site," and continued to shoot. Bonnie laughed and moved on in good spirits.

Now, six months later I spot Bonnie while shooting at a soundcheck for Chris Knight. She was sitting in a chair eating a sandwich---minding her own business. It was quite by accident that the camera lens landed on her while eating, and I pretty much got the same response, "What is it with you?" she asked. Jessie stepped in and asked if Bonnie would like to come to the Music Fog condo and perform the following day.

Bonnie obliged and brought her "A" game, then stepped it up about six more notches after I had announced that the Sons of Bill video was probably the best shot video of the day. She would have none of that. And oh, what a soulful performance in the condo. I felt like the luckiest man alive. I had a front row seat to what I think was THE performance at Steamboat.

We have had many requests for this song at Music Fog. It was cowritten with her friend Tim Krekel who passed away in 2009. Bonnie said that Tim was the person responsible for helping her find her "bluesy voice." She and her keyboard player Michael Webb have dedicated this performance in memory of Tim.

-Beans

Dustin Welch "Whisky Priest"

Dustin is an enigma! It is hard to believe THAT voice could even come out of his thin frame, not to mention with the soul, and intensity that he delivers. He is 'to the manor born,' being the son of the amazing Kevin Welch, and the brother of the incredible Savannah Welch (The Trishas). Dustin has bad boy charm banging up against bohemian eloquence. He is a force to be reckoned with.

I was at Momo's in Austin a few weeks back on a Monday night, and witnessed a set with a string quartet. A celestial occurrence that I highly recommend if you get the opportunity to see him. But one can't predict the configuration of a Dustin show. He could be by himself, or in a duo, acoustic, electric, whatever. And It's all good! He came to the Music Fog condo solo, and did what could be best described as a punk banjo version of "Whisky Priest," which is the title track to his album release of 2009. And another thing...catch him when you can, his star is on the rise!

-Jessie