New Country Rehab "Angel of Death"

A word about how out of whack I think things are right now. I watched Wheel of Fortune in awe as the studio has been transformed into a wonderland of materialism and unattainable dreams, at least for most people. The show that followed it specialized in gyrating, overwrought singing, all overt sex, everything all the time. I watch women go to parties in the least fabric possible, with the highest heels. The Presidential debates seem like an excuse to sell books and procure television commentator contracts. Why is the world yelling louder all the time? Sometimes whispering works.

New Country Rehab is the band’s name. I would like to have rehab (or maybe just respite) from all of the above, and all the mainstream new country music, too, as over glitzy as it is. I like my music raw, real and moving. New Country Rehab fits the bill. We filmed them in October during the Americana Music Festival. They attended all the way from Canada, where they are tearing it up. They were just nominated for the CFMA “Pushing the Boundaries” award. That’s the Canadian Folk Music Awards for the uninitiated. John Showman, James Robertson, Roman Tome’ and Ben Whiteley, craft the band’s unique sound. Their self-titled album was released in Canada back in January. We’d been hearing about them for a while, and we were so glad to get to know them a bit at our temporary studio in Nashville, Marathon Recorders. Here is the Music Fog recording of “Angel Of Death,” the original song of which you can find on their debut album.

- Jessie Scott

Eliza Gilkyson "Green Fields"

Hill Country Barbecue in New York, for whom I do special projects, is hosting a Bastrop Wildfire Benefit Concert tomorrow evening, November 16th. Shooter Jennings, Chip Taylor & John Platania, Laura Cantrell, Grayson Hugh, The Defibulators, and Dallas Wayne, who lost his house in the fires, will all perform. I have been involved with two other wildfire benefits, both in Austin this last month, but the need is great. Driving down I-35 yesterday, the browned out fields and foliage are depressing, as Texas still has had no rain. Thank goodness it is not blistering hot anymore, though. If you are in New York tomorrow here is the link, it will be a great night of music for a very worthy cause. I am glad we are shining a light on it in the Big Apple.

Once there were green fields, indeed. Today’s tune is a classic, performed by a classic, Eliza Gilkyson, on a classic radio show, eTown. The show is a long running public radio and AAA Radio favorite, and I encourage you to go to a taping if you ever have the chance. Nick and Helen Forster do a wonderful job of curating, and performing, almost in the style of radio of old. I found some video they just posted; you will see Nick and his guitar at the start, and then enjoy the honey drenched voice of Austin treasure, Eliza Gilkyson, with Helen providing back up vocal support.

- Jessie Scott

Connie Smith "Blue Heartaches"

How about a peek behind the curtain of booking for one of our events? When I was putting the schedule together for the Music Fog Fall Marathon, I scoured the roster of performers that had been invited to play the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, which was the reason we were headed there. I made a list from that, especially wanting to bring artists in front of our cameras that we hadn’t had the pleasure of filming before. One of those artists was the legendary Connie Smith. Pure country, pure class, with perfect diction, perfect phrasing, and 53 albums to her credit in her well-respected career. Wow!

As we got closer to the gig, I reached back out to see what the configuration would be for each artist. In Connie’s case, it was conveyed that she’d be performing as a duo, and would just be bringing a guitarist. Now I knew this would be a world class accompanist no matter what, but I hoped against hope that it would be her husband, Marty Stuart. It was confirmed on the day before the performance that indeed, Marty was coming along with Connie. Woot! Marty produced her latest CD, Long Line of Heartaches. It is her first recording since 1996 and only her second since 1978. They produced it at the historic Nashville RCA Studio B, which is a comfortable place for sure. When Connie first came to Nashville in the 60s, her first nine years of albums for the RCA Victor label were recorded nearly in their entirety in the same celebrated location.

We brought Connie to our studio for her Music Fog session, at Marathon Recorders in Nashville's Marathon Village. What can I say? It was an honor to have Connie Smith and Marty Stuart record with us.

- Jessie Scott