Peter Wolf - Midnight Souvenirs

I was just on Peter Wolf's MySpace page, and he lists himself as "Rock/Americana/Classic Rock." Nice. Welcome in! Now, do I have to remind you who this is? The VOICE of the J. Geils Band, he of (Angel is a) "Centerfold," "First I Look At The Purse," and "Love Stinks!" We played his 2002 solo CD Sleepless on X Country; I loved the groove and vibe, plus the guests he brought in like Mick Jagger, Steve Earle, and Keith Richards.

Peter's new solo album Midnight Souvenirs is upon us, getting ready to hit the street on April 6. This time he brings more guests; Neko Case, Merle Haggard, and Shelby Lynne. In fact, the first single from the album is "Tragedy," a duet with Shelby. The song was co written with Peter's longtime collaborator and GRAMMY winner Angelo Petraglia (Kings of Leon). "We were just tossing lines back and forth," Wolf says, "and thinking how perfect this song would be for me and one of our vocal favorites, Shelby Lynne." He recalls that "I've always been a fan of Shelby's, but I never met her." It was just three weeks later that they met in LA and fast became friends. Take a listen to "Tragedy" on his MySpace page, or get your own copy by clicking here. Ain't it a beautiful thing?

Peter began his life in the arts as a painter, growing up in the Bronx. You can find his original paintings throughout the album artwork on Midnight Souvenirs, including the front cover.

The making of the CD has been rendered to video. Here it is in two parts.

-Jessie

James McMurtry "Levelland"

My life is a series of hills and valleys. Seemingly impossible hills to climb at that, as Music Fog forges its way onto the landscape, and then valleys of enforced solitude to repair and catch one's breath before the next hill arises. Not that I would want it any other way. Back in the mid 90s, when the term Americana began to be used to describe this blend of roots music, there was a voice cutting its way out of the wilderness with a machete. A social critic of acute eye and attention to meter. It is a joy to welcome James McMurtry back in front of the Music Fog cameras. This time, James is bringing the classic, "Levelland."

By the time this song came out in 1995 on the album Where'd You Hide The Body, I was already in love with this Americana Emeritus songwriter. My "James" addiction began with the songs "Too Long In The Wasteland" and "Safe Side." The sardonic writing pulled me in, along with the clarity of vision and simplicity of delivery. Robert Earl Keen covered "Levelland" on his 1997 CD Picnic; there is no higher endorsement as to the quality of James' songwriting.

Levelland is a Texas panhandle town. As of the 2000 census, there were 12,866 residents. (Don't forget to get YOUR census survey back in!) Prominently featured in the WIKI for Levelland are reports of UFOs. Somehow, that doesn't surprise me. Wonder if they'll count them in this year's census?!

-Jessie

Stonehoney "White Knuckle Wind"

We have been chasing each other around the country, the Stonehoney boys and the Music Fog crew. It almost happened on the bus in Memphis, as they might have come on board to support the Keep The Light Alive project, to which they contributed. But it didn't happen then. Dang, we got SO behind in Memphis anyway! I was so happy that we could make it work for Austin, now home base for the band. And what with a new CD imminent, well it was indeed the perfect time. They created quite the buzz at the Folk Alliance in Memphis in 2008. The band relocated to Austin from LA in the winter of 2009, where the scene is growing organically and they are a dead on fit. We can't wait, as Stonehoney is about to deliver their first official solo recording, and are making plans to tour this summer. Catch them now in all their glory!

-Jessie