Xavier Rudd "Time to Smile"

We first met up with Aussie Xavier Rudd on our production bus at Bonnaroo several years ago. He is an incredible singer-songwriter, a multi-instrumental phenom, and at times, an engaging one man band! On his forthcoming project, he is accompanied by funky rhythm section Izintaba. His fourth CD, Koonyum Sun is a mix of reggae, funk, blues and folk, and comes out on April 20th. From his website:

Rudd believes his music is a gift from his ancestors and part of his journey is to share it and use it to connect with others. With Koonyum Sun, he’s poised to re-link with old and new listeners alike, and couldn’t be more eager. He says: “If they can feel that connection through my music, then I feel like I’ve truly given it my all."

March is here and the time is right for dancing in the streets. This is infectious stuff! We just had to share, "Time To Smile."

-Jessie

Suzi Ragsdale "I Found Jesus"

Some folks are "to the manor born." Enter Suzi Ragsdale. Her website is interesting: Music, Yoga and Cooking. She made her debut with the kiddie chorus on her father, Ray Stevens, recording of "Everything Is Beautiful." She has appeared on a glittering list of other people's albums. And she has been collaborating with one of my heroes, Darrell Scott, since 1991. Her label is called Stark Raven Records, I like that!!!!! And her latest project is called Best Regards.

Now, we had had all kinds of instruments on the bus during Folk Alliance. Upright basses, mandos, dobros, fiddles, weird percussion; we take it all in stride and anticipation. Then Suzi Ragsdale brought the first keyboard. And we realized we didn't have the proper cables for this particular unit. It became a mad scramble through gig bags to get the right converters, and voila, it took three different cables, but we got it done. Mind you three cables from three different people. And satisfied with ourselves, we rested, grins on our faces. Suzi said she wanted to get a prop out for the song she was about to play, and she scruffed around in her gig bag, and pulled out a Jesus figurine. And the tale ensued, and then this song.

-Jessie

Tommy Womack "Alpha Male & the Canine Mystery Blood"

Who is Tommy Womack? He's a "songwriter, author, creator of taut sensual tension," as well as frequent Music Fog contributor. He's media savvy and camera-ready, as we saw when he spooked Ben in Nashville last fall.

In Memphis, he kicked it up a notch, with "Alpha Male and the Canine Mystery Blood," a tour-de-force that's part personal saga and part historical epic. Jessie Scott says that "Alpha Male..." became an XM listener favorite on X Country when it was released in 2007, and it's clear why. Packed with lines and phrases that beg to be carved on desks, notebooks, and bathroom stalls across the country, it's sort a of world-weary, post-modern, "American Pie." Tommy says that he wrote the song in a bar, in 20 minutes, on a roll of paper from a cash register, and that it's got "1127 words, not counting adjectives."

Music doesn't get much more indie than this, so it's also the perfect song to kick off our trip to SXSW 2010. All hail the gospel according to Tommy. Be sure to spread the word and share it with your friends. For even more of the good word, check out his site and YouTube channel.

-- Chris