Let the Games Begin

Woot! Austin is blossoming with music and possibility. It is a great meeting of the tribe, you know, the tribe that loves music. We are every kind of person, from everywhere in the world, united by this love. And it is all set against the backdrop of the greening of early spring in Texas. Hipsters are abound at the airport, and are spilling out in the street from every club and restaurant in Austin, Texas. The music portion of SXSW® is underway at last. Not that we are part of it at Music Fog, nope, we are unofficial. The Music Fog Marathon starts at 11:10 CDT this morning at Threadgill's (301 W. Riverside) with a full day’s line up, the first of four days, and 44 artists all told. If you're planning on attending in person, there is no cover and no badges are required. Huge thanks to our sponsors Neustar and Threadgill’s WHQ for making this happen.

Here is today’s lineup:

• 11:10 AM  Alessi's Ark
• 11:40 AM  Heidi Spencer
• 12:20 PM  Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils
• 1:20 PM   Uncle Lucius
• 2:10 PM   Brian Wright
• 2:40 PM   Guy Forsyth
• 3:20 PM   Foster & Lloyd
• 4:20 PM   The Civil Wars
• 5:20 PM   Ray Wylie Hubbard
• 6:20 PM   The Trishas
• 7:20 PM   Citizens Band Radio

Now don’t you go bemoaning your fate if you can’t be with us, because we’re going to be broadcasting most of the Music Fog Marathon LIVE here on our website, via Ustream! You'll be able to watch full live sets this week, and our usual higher quality 'one song at a time' delivery in the coming days here on Music Fog. Also, keep a lookout for our now traditional mascot for this rite of passage into the spring of the new year. Last year’s Pedro has been replaced by this year’s Esteban. He is a handsome specimen. So come on down, or kick back and watch wherever you are. Day One of the Music Fog Marathon is underway!

- Jessie Scott

Caitlin Rose "Own Side"

We are busy setting up today for the Music Fog Marathon, presented by Neustar, which starts tomorrow at Threadgill's WHQ. This shindig is open to the public and it is unofficial, which means you don't need a wristband, a badge, or any other "papers" to attend. We do ask that you eat, drink, and tip your wait staff! And if you haven't tucked into a Chicken Fried Steak, or a Chicken Fried Chicken, you owe it to yourself to stop by Threadgill's for that alone while you are in Austin. Just so you know, Music Fog will be set up in the back room of the south location, at 301 West Riverside. There will be music outside, too, but we will be in air conditioned comfort, with the iconic red velvet curtains behind the stage that we have called home for the last 3 years in mid-March. Today, we are busy blocking out the windows (we abhor light---we are vampires, really!). We are setting up cameras and audio, and hanging lights and checking angles. The calm before the storm is upon us. Not that I would call this calm. For all the preparation, there is always something we haven't thought about, an unprecedented challenge, or something new to learn. I think that makes it extra cool, but it drives Beans crazy.

But back to reality. Even though we are nose to the grindstone, that doesn't stop us from looking around us, as Tuesday is album release day. Among the CDs coming out today is the full length debut from Caitlin Rose called Own Side Now. She will kick off her US tour in Austin this week , though we don't have her coming to see us, unfortunately. We do have Ron Sexsmith, though, for whom she will be opening on eleven dates. Then Caitlin is off to Australia for some shows with The Felice Brothers. Busy, busy, busy. That's pretty heady stuff, but not surprising, as Caitlin's album was released in Europe last August, garnering rave reviews, and she has spent most of her time touring there since its release. We found this quite lovely video for you, "Own Side." It is sort of the title track.

- Jessie Scott

Frontier Ruckus "Silverfishes"

Monday. The Music Fog crew is making its way to Austin, Texas for the spectacular Music Fog Marathon, presented by Neustar. We're set to start at Threadgill’s WHQ in South Austin on Wednesday. Woo-hoo, we are so stoked to be bringing you a 44 artist line up over four days. We promise some of them will be brand new to you. After all, that is part of the joy of what we get to do, discovery and exploration. In this day of tightened radio playlists and an astounding amount of bands that all are vying for attention, how do you find the new stuff that you might like. Music Fog bravely enters the scene to help be a lodestar to guide the way through this confusing landscape. Not that we can do it all, I am beginning to think that no one can keep up with it all. We all have to have our filters, to wend our way through the veritable musical jungle.

Photo Credit: Maren HoopferOne of our favorite ‘discoveries' came through the wisdom and ears of our buddy Andy Rubin of Cyclops Books in Baltimore. One night he invited us Foggers up to record Frontier Ruckus, who were newly signed to the Avett Brothers original label, Ramseur Records. What can we say, we fell in love with the just out of college band. Visiting their website seconds the motion. They call their front page EARSHOT! I love that! They have such a facility for wordsmithing, that one can feel their music even without actually hearing it from the linguistic brush they construct with. We got to hook up with them again, this time at the Americana Fest in Nashville this past September. We are so happy that they were invited to play the festival, and that other people from around the country attending the event could marvel at them. As they are on tour, so can you if they are near your town. Here is “Silverfishes,” from the CD Deadmalls And Nightfalls.

- Jessie Scott