Mary McBride "Home"

Having a home is harder these days than ever, for any number of reasons. We got together with Mary McBride last year at The Mansion On O in Washington, DC. She played us some songs, and this one was to be on her fourth album, The Way Home, which was released in June, 2010. That night at the Mansion, Mary told me she was going to do a very interesting tour, she was going to all kinds of homes. She launched "The Home Tour" in the summer of 2010. Mary and the band traveled to "places people call home" - including supported housing communities, long-term health care centers, homeless shelters, homes for people living with HIV/AIDS and homes for people living with mental and physical disabilities. They played for the elderly in Washington, DC; for Navajo families living in supported housing in New Mexico; for children in the Treme' district in New Orleans; for a farm worker community in rural Washington State; for veterans recovering from injuries and living indefinitely at a VA hospital in Long Beach, CA. That’s just part of the list. The band partnered with non-profit organizations which hosted the community-based concerts. You can find out all about it here.

We wish you home for the holidays, home within yourself, “Home.” Mary McBride.

-Jessie Scott

Carrie Rodriguez "Lake Harriet"

Christmas in love. Sigh...honestly, is there anything more wonderful than sharing the holiday with a new partner? The intimacy is worth the price of admission alone. The exchanging of gifts is almost superfluous, but is especially delicious with a sip of the bubbly. And no matter whether graced by material wealth, love provides its own ‘in it together, for richer or poorer’ kind of bond. If you are newly in love this Christmas, may your holiday be especially bright.

Today’s video is the perfect soundtrack tune to celebrate romance. Carrie Rodriguez gifted us with a brand new song when she visited Marathon Recorders in Nashville in October during Americana Fest. It is simple and pure and joyous. Carrie is plenty busy, as she does dates with Luke Jacobs, and then a few with the masterful Bill Frisell in Texas, the second week in January. Then look out for The Acoustic Cafe Tour, featuring Erin McKeown, Carrie Rodriguez and Kelly Joe Phelps after that.

Carrie brought Hans Holzen (acoustic guitar), Kyle Kegerreis (bass), Ryan Lovan (drums), and Luke Jacobs (electric guitar) to the Music Fog Fall Marathon. Here is “Lake Harriet,” and a wish from us, for love to surround you too.

-Jessie Scott

Will Kimbrough "Nobody From Nowhere"

Foobar on Gallatin Road in Nashville is a classic dive bar. Cigarette smoke hung in the air. Hipsters, hippies and cowpunks occupied the stools. I was happily ensconsed on one myself surveying the scene in East Nashville as I waited for for Tim Carroll, Josh Hedley, and then the mercurial Greg Garing to play. He has returned to Nashville, bringing his particular genius to the stage. How did I get here? I take my lead from hints delivered by others, scavenger hunt style when I am in a town like this one. I only plan the bare minimum of meetings and events, then trust the universe to guide me through. Also, in the audience were Elizabeth Cook and Justin Townes Earle. There was the electricity of a spectacle, with people hanging on every note, knowing they were witnessing a one of a kind night.

That is how it is in East Nashville, which is enjoying quite the renaissance. It feels right being on this side of town. That is where Will Kimbrough resides, as well. A year ago, during Americana Fest in Nashville 2010, Will came to visit us on the last day of our shoot. He was joined by Fred Eltringham, Tim Mark, and Lisa Oliver Grey, who btw, she has a brand new album out!  Will offers a Holiday Greeting here as he notes that he will always remember 2011 as the year he started playing as one of Emmylou’s Red Dirt Boys. Mighty fine. Today we've got a song that Will recorded with Tommy Womack under the moniker of DADDY, on their album For A Second Time. Here's “Nobody from Nowhere,” from our Americana Fest 2010 Music Fog Marathon. PS, If the song is familiar, that’s because you might have heard Jimmy Buffett’s version!

- Jessie Scott