Gregg Allman "Just Another Rider"

Do you love the soulful Southern born, gospel infused rock from the 70s? I am so happy that flavor is back on the landscape! New bands have embraced it: Uncle Lucius, Truth & Salvage Co, Deadman, and many others; but it sure is great to have an original artist that is credited with the start of the Southern Rock movement still plying his craft. Gregg Allman has a new CD out today, and that is cause for celebration. Low Country Blues is named for the area he calls home. Gregg has had a storied career, both as a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, and with this, his seventh solo release, the first in 14 years.

Gregg Allman wails the blues, his is a unique and unmistakable voice. Low Country Blues was produced by T Bone Burnett, whose name seems to be everywhere on albums these days, with the latest releases from Ryan Bingham, the Crazy Heart soundtrack, John Mellencamp, and Elvis Costello, just to name a few! The album features tunes from classic bluesmen Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Bobby Blue Bland, Sleepy John Estes, and Magic Sam, and features an ace band: Jay Bellerose on drums, Dennis Crouch on upright bass, Doyle Bramhall II on guitar and Mac Rebennack (AKA Dr. John) on piano. This is the stuff that influenced Gregg's sound from his earliest days. It was recorded before his liver transplant in June, and it gave him something to look forward to. There is one original song in the collection, that being the soulful “Just Another Rider,” co-written by Gregg and Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule. And Gregg will hit the road in support of the new album. Expect a festival rich tour schedule, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the 10th annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. We bring you "Just Another Rider" filmed at a rehearsal session in Savannah. And for more insight on the album, check out this piece on YouTube.

- Jessie Scott

Gary P. Nunn "London Homesick Blues"

My last night In Nashville was Friday night, and I got to attend a great party at the office of Red Beet Records, with gracious hosts Eric Brace and Mary Ann Werner. They have a studio/stage set up in the corner of their workspace, and there were SO many wonderful players, trading licks into the night. Many of them live in East Nashville (and many of them have appeared in front of the Music Fog cameras), and we rocked the night away. I savor these moments, as this is what it is all about. The fraternity, the sharing of time and music and love. I can't even list all the players, as I am sure I would leave someone out! It was a simply remarkable night where the players kept changing, but the music was consistently sublime! I had a friend who used to sign off on her letters (back when people wrote letters) "Drink Deep, Never Thirst." Words to take to heart, a method of living, a mindset that allows you to embrace the moment. A couple of days ago, when I got to town, Eric played me the new Tom T. Hall tribute album that he and Peter Cooper produced. It is coming out soon, and you won't believe how reverent, and how awesome it is.

These were two trips back to back for me, having been at MusicFest in Steamboat Springs before I made my way to Nashville. Yaws! Now at Steamboat, you know we filmed so many artists there, and that we are trying to bring this content to you as fast as we can. And you know we love segueing daily between legends and brand new artists, old friends and new. There is a continuum to it all, it is great to see the tradition being passed down, the torch still burning bright of this real American music. Music Fog gets to be a fly on the wall! One of the for sure highlights of our shoot in Colorado, was the visit of Gary P. Nunn and his band. It was the first time that they made their way to MusicFest, and our first session with them, too. Righteous wordsmith, national treasure, Texas favorite son. Here he is in all his glory, as we go Home with the Armadillo.

- Jessie Scott

New Country Rehab "Cameo"

I'm just back from a quick trip to Nashville, and getting ready to hit the road for Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as Music Fog travels to produce a live pay-per-view webcast with Paul Thorn on Saturday, January 29th. Can't wait! Groundbreaking stuff, don't you know. So Sunday is catch up day for me. TV, crossword puzzles, brunch, kicking back. At my computer, I have been chasing down the foxhole of videos sent my way. It is an endlessly interesting endeavor, spanning music as varied as from the hipster to ambient to heavy metal. But alas, I am a sucker for fiddle, it just touches my heart. We love the earthy country flavored sounds here. Especially when they are so faithfully rendered. Got a new band for you today, they are called New Country Rehab, and they are yet another out of the roots music cavalcade in Canada. Their self-titled album just dropped earlier this week, on 1/11/11.

The song we bring you is "Cameo." It is based on the true story of a woman’s escape from the Nazis on skis through the mountains. Another layer was added to it, the invented story of the granddaughter of that woman fleeing a situation of love gone wrong with the same cameo in her pack. The band performs dates north of the border, before dropping down to appear at Folk Alliance 2011 in Memphis mid February.

- Jessie Scott