Dirty River Boys "My Son"

My dad imparted some homespun philosophy that I take with me to this day. When I did something stupid, he would always say he wished he could just put his brain into mine, to easily transfer the knowledge that he had so I wouldn’t have to learn the lesson the hard way. The other thing that he would often repeat was that if something was going to bother you ten years from now, then be upset, otherwise, you should just blow it off. I have passed these concepts on to my son, with an added one from the Bob Dylan song “Absolutely Sweet Marie,” "...to live outside the law you must be honest.” Don’t take it for granted, whatever your blessings in life; it does not not give you the right to think you are above anyone else. What do they say, that youth is wasted on the young? I think that today’s youth will need all their energy and wits about them to wend their way through the challenges being presented to them.

So today’s song is called “My Son,” and it comes from The Dirty River Boys from El Paso, TX. They have been kicking up their heels in a big way, and making fans wherever they go. We saw it happen in January at The MusicFest in Steamboat Springs. I have checked them out at the Dogwood on 6th Street in Austin a couple of times in the last few months and the crowds are growing and their story is spreading. They just got to open for Cory Morrow at the official debut of the Texas Music Theater in San Marcos a couple of weeks ago. Check out this video, the energy and wits are evident on an unreleased tune called “My Son,” that we captured in the Music Fog studio in Colorado.

- Jessie Scott

Maggie Björklund "Wasteland"

I am in a moody space, the morning after, the haze of tired but happy. Today I was searching for something to wash over me, to provide a soundtrack to the Zen time and space I would like to cultivate all day. The Foggers are offloading what we captured in Austin during the Music Fog Marathon, and we hope to start rolling videos your way by the end of the week, or soon thereafter! No sleep for the wicked, ya know?

So today, as it is Tuesday, we bring you Maggie Björklund. She is Danish, a singer and superb pedal steel guitarist. Her debut solo album comes out today; Coming Home is ethereal, merging Maggie’s warm folksy with musicians Joey Burns and John Convertino from Calexico, and Mark Lanegan, Rachel Flotard, and Jon Auer.

This comes from her press release, ”Though born and raised in Denmark, Maggie has nailed the wide open American West with her knockout pedal steel skills and resilient vocals. Coming Home is an album that straddles delirium and ecstasy, when the vultures circling overhead look like doves. Psychedelic desert pop music. It’s the sound of a bead of condensation rolling down a beer glass at a grimy cantina. It’s the sound of the glare off the windshield when you turn the ‘67 Caddy west. It’s the sound after the gunfight.” We couldn’t have said it better. Here is Maggie Björklund with “Wasteland” recorded at Crackle & Pop! recording studio in Seattle.

- Jessie Scott

Chip Taylor "James Wesley Days"

Whew.  We are out.  We are fried, but happy, after four epic days of music at Threadgill's WHQ in South Austin. We'd like to thank our sponsor, Neustar, for making the Marathon possible, and special thanks to the entire Threadgill's family for making us feel so at home.

We love being part of the Austin music scene. With 44 acts in the last four days, we can't tell you how appreciative we are of the artists who shared their abundant talent with us. We are honored to be able to archive it all. And for those who were on line to watch our first ever stream live, we welcome you wherever you are around the world. Most of the performances will be left on Ustream as full sets for a week, and then we will begin our usual process of posting more polished versions of individual songs.

Speaking of that, the Fog Fellows, Chris, Beans, and Aaron are on their way back to DC. So for the next few days, we will be bringing you tunes from other events, in a effort to allow them to regain their equilibrium. Denise, Sheila and I just have to drive cross town, open the mail that has been piling up for the last week, and we will be back to normal in Austin, this most amazing music Mecca. 

Today is is Chip Taylor’s birthday. He was born in 1944 as James Wesley Voight. He grew up in Yonkers, New York, in the shadow of New York City. He is a renaissance man, and it could be said he is a late bloomer, but he was an early bloomer, too. Here is a very early incarnation, back when he went by the name Wes Voight. When I think of the impact a song like “Wild Thing” has had on the generations since the 60s, it is a pretty remarkable achievement in itself, but he has written more songs that are embedded in our brains. And I love that Chip champions other artists like John Platania, Kendel Carson, and Carrie Rodriguez, as he remains incredibly busy flying from Europe and back to the States, and touring all over the place. So Happy Birthday to you Chip, aka “James Wesley.” Here is a song we recorded back in September at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville.

- Jessie Scott