The Blue Shadows "Deliver Me"

How did we all miss this the first time around? Not that it surprises me that much, there is always stuff which deserves to be heard but never finds light of day, for one reason or another. The Blue Shadows debut album came out in 1993, but was never released in the United States. The group formed in Vancouver in the early 1990's with singer/guitarist Billy Cowsill, yes, of The Cowsills, he began his career as leader of that legendary pop group, Canadian roots rocker Jeffrey Hatcher, who went on to front Jeffrey Hatcher & the Big Beat, drummer J.B. Johnson, and bassist Elmar Spanier. Sadly, Cowsill passed in 2006, and one of his last wishes was for a reissue of On the Floor of Heaven so it could find a wider audience. That day is coming, as the CD will be released on June 15th in the U.S. Here is a taste of what we were missing. Check out this vintage video clip done circa 1994 for the song, "Deliver Me."

- Jessie Scott

The Wronglers "Brown's Dream/Boatsman"

Funny stuff. When The Wronglers were looking for a name, the San Francisco based bluegrassy outfit did a twisted take on the Wrangler Jeans brand, another San Francisco based company. They have put forth that theirs is 'simple music made by complicated people.' After they performed on the Music Fog stage at Threadgill's, I jumped up to thank them, and Warren Hellman turned to me in a 'stage aside' and asked me how much he could pay me for us not to post the video. He was kidding. I almost expected him to play the show with his back to the audience.

I herald The Wronglers for following their hearts to play the music they love, which grew out of several of them taking lessons from the same teacher, who recommended that it would be beneficial if they learned to play together. I heard at some point during SXSW 2010 that someone introduced Warren as the banjo player from The Wronglers. (No banjo jokes, please!) He beamed. By the way, this past March was actually the first time they have been in Austin to play SXSW. They followed with an appearance at Old Settler's a month ago. They, however, are no strangers to events, playing home base at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park since 2006. Yes, it is funded by Warren Hellman, and the free concert is his gift to the citizens of San Francisco. I have been drooling over the lineup for years. Maybe this year I will make it there. The lineup has not yet been announced, but we will let you know when it is. The lineup for The Wronglers? That's easy! Warren Hellman (banjo, vocals), Nate Levine (guitar, vocals), Heidi Clare (fiddle), Krista Martin (fiddle), Bill Martin (mando), and Colleen Browne (bass, vocals). Sweet stuff indeed!

- Jessie Scott

Patty Larkin "Tango"

We were beside ourselves when we got Patty Larkin to say yes to a Music Fog session. We were over the moon when she showed up and hung with us. Patty Larkin is celebrating her 25th year in the biz with her latest album, yep, 25, a collection of 25 love songs with 25 friends collaborating. That list is a who's who of singer/songwriter cred: Bruce Cockburn, Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, John Gorka, Greg Brown...the list goes on. Wow, the company she keeps.

Patty comments on 25 from her website: "I recently joked that there is no longer a Music Business, just Music. “25” is a testament to that idea. Maybe it really is true that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Herein lies a career’s worth of love songs. Here are artists I’ve admired and been inspired by, some of whom I’ve known for more than a quarter of a century, who are continuing to create songs of worth and meaning, regardless of the state of the "music industry." Renegades and troubadors, humorists and historians, these are singers who have stopped me in my tracks and made me aware of beauty and passion and joy. I am grateful to each one of them for the grace they have bestowed upon this collection of songs. Each and every one of them is a flower in bloom for me, and together they have restored my spirit and given me hope. 25 years. It can be added, divided, multiplied and subtracted so easily. This music is a thank you to all who have accompanied me on my musical journey since the first record. Something new with which to remember all of the days."

Lucy Kaplansky contributes to the song "Tango" on the album 25, but here is Patty doing it solo on the Music Fog bus while it was parked in Memphis.

- Jessie Scott