The SteelDrivers "Good Corn Liquor"

The life of an A-list Nashville musician can be quite satisfying for the diversity of opportunities it provides. And members of the SteelDrivers exemplify that with an astounding list of collaborative efforts: Richard Bailey, on banjo, has recorded with Al Green, George Jones, Kenny Rogers, Michael Martin Murphey, Johnny Cash, Tammy Wynette, and Ronnie Milsap. Mike Fleming is a 'recovering banjo player' who is on bass here, and whose credits include Holly Dunn, Joy Lynn White, and David Olney. Mike Henderson is on masterful mando, and has been heard on the recordings of Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler, Albert King, Hank Williams, Jr., Jonny Lang, Peter Rowan, Guy Clark, John Hiatt, Sting, Delbert McClinton, Bob Seger, Bo Diddley, Faith Hill, Lucinda Williams, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Gary Nichols plays guitar, and has been performing since the age of six, emerging out of the musical hotbed and legacy that is Muscle Shoals. Tammy Rogers is on the sweet fiddle, and her credits include Neil Diamond, Wynonna, Rodney Crowell, Radney Foster, Bill Anderson, Iris Dement, Randy Scruggs, Patty Loveless, Buddy & Julie Miller, and Jim Lauderdale. That is a broad swath through the musical landscape, indeed!

Being a studio musician can also afford you the path to your own salvation. The SteelDrivers walk it brilliantly. Dang, we tried to hook up at the Americana Music Festival while we were in Nashville, but unfortunately, we missed them back in September. Not to worry, because they filmed some video in the studio last June. The SteelDrivers' "Good Corn Liquor" comes from their latest Reckless album, the follow up to 2008's self-titled debut from this veteran Nashville based quintet. "It'll get you there quicker, with a fruit jar full of that good corn liquor!"

- Jessie Scott

Paul Thorn Live Webcast Tonight

Tonight is the night! Music Fog is on site to produce the first ever Paul Thorn live pay per view concert from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. We Foggers are a veritable beehive of activity, working diligently through all the issues, checking lights, camera angles, sound and staging, with the occasional dip into the hot tub for chill time at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa. Especially spa, ahhhh! As I sit in the soothing water, Webb Wilder's Last of the Full Grown Men Credo comes to mind, "Work hard, rock hard, eat hard, sleep hard, grow big, wear glasses if you need ’em.” Webb, originally from Hattiesburg, was just inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall Of Fame last week, on January 18th. He joins Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Leontyne Price, Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty, the Staples Singers, Mose Allison, Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley! (And someday soon may Paul Thorn join that illustrious list.) SO proud of Webb, and of the MMHOF for the recognition. Webb was my compatriot on X Country from the early days of our XM launch.

Of course, we played a bunch of Paul Thorn on X Country. He was raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, as was the abovementioned Elvis. I could listen to his deep, soulful accent until the end of days. I could watch him fry Spam® for sandwiches forever. And when he performs, well that is another thing entirely. I am thinking he has a voice like Red Velvet cake. It is rich and evocative. The band cooks. Paul's songs range from confessional to jubilant, from delicate to raucous. I have loved him from the first time I heard him, and from the first time we met, for lunch at Wendell Smith's 'meat and three' near Charlotte Pike in Nashville.

So here is the drill for tonight's show live from Muscle Shoals: We'll see you starting at 8 pm CST (click here to convert to your time zone) for a solo Paul Thorn set, to be followed by a Paul Thorn Band set. Log on to join in at paulthorn.com/ppv. As we get closer to the show, many of your fellow fans will be signing in, so you may want to get things rolling early as not to miss any of the concert! This whole night's entertainment is just $6.99, which you know is cheaper than an album, and cheaper than admission to a club...not to mention drinks are cheaper at your house! What with the price of gas these days, to be able to watch in the comfort of your home might just be a double savings! If you can't join us live tonight, you can still see the show until March 1, 2011 at the same link for the same small price of $6.99. And you can watch it as many time as you want for the whole month. So here we go, break a leg to us all!

- Jessie Scott

Midnight River Choir "My Friend"

They call New Braunfels, Texas home. They also call it the 'heart' of the Lone Star State; a vortex of cool that might just be the center of the universe. Considering its size, New Braunfels is an especially happening place. It is the home of one of America's great radio stations in KNBT. There are several wonderful venues, including Whitewater Amphitheater, Gruene Hall, The Phoenix, River Road Ice House, Tavern In The Gruene, just to name some. There is also a community of talented artists living there that call one another brother (and sister). Another thing that NB is known for are float trips, and Midnight River Choir became a band from a 27 person, 6 raft excursion on the Guadalupe River. This a meandering affair, where you can trail your beer in the water to keep it cool. Fun, frolic, nirvana. Oh, and did I mention that this fateful event took place at night, under a full moon? And so the Midnight River Choir was born.

Just up I-35 a few miles, in San Marcos, the Cheatham Street Warehouse is yet another cool venue. It is Kent Finlay's place, and he has been a mentor to countless neophyte musicians since he opened the doors of this legendary honky tonk in 1974. Cheatham Street has been the Tuesday night home of the Midnight River Choir since November of 2008. The four principal members play a myriad of instruments. They are apt to change positions on stage multiple times a night. For our Music Fog session, lead singer Eric Middleton was on rhythm acoustic guitar; Justin Nelson played lead acoustic guitar; Mitchell Pyeatt was on drums, and Jeromie Yager played bass. And they all sang backup vocals. MRC released their first CD in November of 2009, Freedom Wine. They are working on album number two. They might have even been working on it when they came to our studio at the Steamboat Grand during MusicFest. They laid down a track that they had just worked up a couple of days prior, and it even got named in our presence, a song written by Mitchell, called "My Friend." So, here is the first ever recording of that tune, on Midnight River Choir's Music Fog debut!

- Jessie Scott