The Trishas "Why"

I want to take a look back at The Trishas, who were founded at the same time as Music Fog was. It was a shiny new year, in 2009, and we were all in the snow at Steamboat, happy to be toasting to a new beginning. There was a flurry of excitement when the girls stepped out to perform that first time. Since then, they have graced stages everywhere and have been the opening act for some heavy hitters. During Ray Wylie Hubbard’s Grit N’ Groove in April, they sang back up for Joe Walsh. The Trishas are headlining tonight in Dallas, and they play with Joe Ely at Floore’s Country Store on Friday. They take to the road, heading West a bit, and then east to destinations in the South.

One thing is for sure, they wow audiences wherever they go. Paul Thorn watched them from the soundboard at Antone’s several months back, and said, “I’m going to be opening for them one day.” The Trishas bring power and grace in their harmonies. It is a wonder to watch how they weave their four distinct personalities and voices into such a cohesive force. It is so effortless that they seem to float. They make you float while watching, which might be the best part. This is cathartic, emotional, transcendent. We Music Foggers feel honored to continue to be their unofficial videographers. We captured this performance at MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, in the Grand Hotel in January. It is another unreleased tune called “Why.”

-Jessie Scott

The Deep Dark Woods "Two Time Loser"

We live in the age of wonder, with our magic tablets, and our communication flying through the air. A couple of nights ago I watched Brandon Jenkins and his band perform via Skype™ from a club in San Antonio as I was ensconsed in the comfort of my gingham couch. At the same time, I was monitoring a gig in New York via text, and checking in with friends playing all over the country on Facebook. Action Central, from the comfort of one’s living room. Oh yes, it is pretty awe-inspiring to be so connected. I am struck again by the rootsiness of the music that I love, juxtaposed with this hi tech communication. Buddy Miller told me several years back that he was a beta tester for Pro Tools, which is the state of the art studio recording program. I found that kind of funny, that his earthy music was captured by 1 and 0s.

I am happy to have this window into the scene. Some news blip crossed my consciousness about The Deep Dark Woods, a band I love dearly. They are newly signed to Sugar Hill Records, and their debut CD on that label, The Place I Left Behind, will be out in the US this October. It was released in Canada at the beginning of the month. I have loved them since their 2007 CD Hang Me Oh Hang Me. There is something so haunting and spare, yet intricate and emotional about their music. I am delighted that goods things are happening for them. Catch them on the road. Here is the Music Fog recording of "Two Time Loser," with special guest Kendel Carson, filmed during the Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s during SXSW© music week 2010.

-Jessie Scott

Will Kimbrough "Piece Of Work"

Have you noticed the days are starting to get shorter? This bodes well for a cooling off sometime in the not too distant future. Preseason football is back, that is a harbinger too, though the weather this year has been weird, weird, weird. The kids are coming back to school; there is feverish unpacking of UHauls everywhere. All good normal stuff. Oh, summer isn’t over yet by any means, and festival season is continuing on with Austin City Limits Music Festival and Hardy Strictly Bluegrass Festival just around the corner. Then the Americana Fest is happening again, a month later than normal, it will take place in October this year.

Last year, Music Fog was holed up at the Nashville Sheraton Downtown in a conference room during Americana Fest. Will Kimbrough came to see us on Saturday of that week. He brought Lisa Oliver-Gray, Tim Mark and Fred Eltringham - they proceeded into the groove that they do so well. Will is slated for Americana Fest again this year, that is after he jets out to San Francisco for Hardy Strictly. He just played at the Newport Folk Festival a couple of weeks ago, too. Life is good. Here is a tasty morsel from his ever growing catalog, “Piece Of Work.”

-Jessie Scott