Paul Thorn "Pimps and Preachers"

Paul Thorn is working it all. The charm, the sweet Southern drawl, the homespun philosophy about life. The goofy smile and the twinkle in his eyes when he is about to say something that his upbringing wouldn't have allowed in other times. I love the downright intensity of his purpose and path. It's interesting that for as old fashioned as Paul is, the fact is he is cutting-edge embracing the new music business landscape, trying to push through the minefield into becoming a household name. There is now a Paul Thorn iPhone App. He has ringtones. His blog is a hoot, and Paul has been working the fans network on Facebook, where his updates are a slice of his life and are highly recommended reading. If it were only 20 years ago, he would be known in more houses than just mine and yours, but it is so much harder today.

Also highly recommended is Paul's new album, Pimps and Preachers, due out on June 22nd. His songwriting work is articulate, having always had distinct threads running through as he casts an eye on what he sees around him. He loves to write portraits of that landscape, and he catalogs interior feelings with as much insight. On this new album, there is a heightened sense of what the Paul Thorn Band brings also; a hot, tight unit, speaking with one voice. Then there is the coffee table book, with Paul's folk-art drawings, and a demo CD of solo acoustic versions of every song on the album! In fact one can procure it all, as there is a pre-release special available through his website, for a limited time.

Here's one of our versions of the title track, recorded in Memphis while aboard the Music Fog bus.

- Jessie Scott

Jimmy Davis "Sanctuary"

Photo Credit: Steve RobertsAllow me to introduce you to someone who I have been loving since the late 90's, when he was with a band called the RiverBluff Clan. Someone who is so steeped in all the flavors of the Memphis music tradition, that he is the five time recipient of "Premier Male Vocalist" by the Memphis Chapter of NARAS. His has been a genre bending romp through bluegrass, country and country-tinged rock. Jimmy Davis put out his first solo effort in 2004, and he stays busy, touring incessantly, and contributing to other artist's CD's, too; including background vocals on the Grammy-nominated record from the North Mississippi Allstars, Electric Blue Watermelon, as well as their new one, Hernando. His work with that family dates back to helping out on their pop's (Jim Dickinson) 2006 release, Jungle Jim and the VooDoo Tiger plus Killers From Space. In addition, he sang on William Lee Ellis' record God’s Tattoo, and provided all the backing vocals for Keith Sykes’ record, Let It Roll. The Reba Russell Band album Broke Down But Not Out features Jimmy's vocals and guitar playing as well as his song, "Sister Friend." He contributed vocals, guitar, as well as a cover of "Waiting in the Wings" to Jed and Kelley's CD Songs To Take Home. The really cool thing about all of this is that it could serve as a great point of reference into these artists' music, all of whom are worthy too.

I am so happy that Jimmy comes to Texas frequently, 'cause I get to see him more. I am delighted that he plays with Walt Wilkins and The Mystiqueros a bunch...that just seems right, and makes for a great night of music. He is on tour this summer doing festivals and gigs. Hope you get to see him! He has powerful pipes, that is for sure. He blew us away as the sun went down in Memphis during Folk Alliance in February. From the Music Fog bus here is "Sanctuary."

- Jessie Scott

Troy Campbell "Killing Time In Texas"

Troy Campbell is a gentleman and a scholar. He's an imaginative artist in a myriad of ways. No, it's not enough to be a singer/songwriter. Nor a filmmaker and an animator. Nor an ambassador, having set up an artist in residence program with singer/songwriters from Denmark to share music. Nor an incredible event coordinator, booking artists and riding shotgun on the annual Roky Erickson Ice Cream Social at Threadgill's during SXSW. Makes me tired just thinking about all he does!

We tried to get together for a Music Fog session on the bus during Folk Alliance but couldn't, so Troy graciously allowed us to reschedule the following month, during SX in Austin. Troy wrote this song, "Killing Time In Texas," with Gurf Morlix and it was featured on the CD Long In The Sun, which was also produced by Gurf Morlix. Awesome song. Here is Troy with Poul Krebs helping out.

- Jessie Scott