Ange Boxall "Fool For Now"

You may think this is crazy talk. I am not sure I quite believe it, but I have spent most of my adult life in radio stations, and I evidently have been absorbing the negative ions that abound there. I was complaining recently that my touch screen phone was ignoring my touch, when someone told me it was because I had spent so much time near radio waves. I have no earthly idea whether any of that is true, but doing some research I guess that is not a bad thing. It appears that negative ions are good for one’s health. And of course being under a waterfall is one of the most energizing experiences ever, and that is smack dab in the cradle of the negative ionization epicenter. But then so is the shower in your house (ahhh!!) Here is WebMD’s take on it. I really don’t know whether radio stations emit these molecules, but it would explain why I have been so happy to sit in a room for 40 years, basically talking into a microphone with no one in sight on the receiving end of that monologue. Sitting in a room talking to yourself…hmm that sounds a little odd. It IS a little odd for that matter.

I am always baffled by the songs that tie the concepts of love and foolishness together. This makes as much sense to me as negative ionization does. If it doesn’t feel good why do it? If you are heading for the rocks, why prolong the agony? My inability to process all this stuff may just be the reason why I am not dating, and honestly, I don’t mind that at all either. Don’t get me wrong, it is great to listen to songs about being love struck. I remember, vaguely, all that love stuff. Tasmanian songstress Ange Boxall played a song for us during our Americana Fest on October in Nashville called “Fool For Now.” I guess you put up with it for a little while, if the sex is good…right? Anyway, here is Ange with Tom Mason on guitar and Bones Hillman on bass, with a song found on her 2011 album, Writing Letters. Here is the Music Fog version, filmed at Marathon Recorders.

-Jessie Scott

 

Fool For Now (feat. The Wrights) - Writing Letters

Carolina Chocolate Drops & Shawn Mullins

The album Mercyland: Hymns For The Rest of Us comes out today. Don’t know if you have heard about it yet, but producer and writer Phil Madeira set out with an interesting goal; to find the common ground and positive qualities of faith. Phil put together a diverse and amazing group of musical friends, including The Civil Wars, Shawn Mullins, Buddy Miller, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, The North Mississippi Allstars, Dan Tyminski, and Emmylou Harris who contribute ten original and two  traditional songs to the compilation album. The selections come from varying philosophies and beliefs; in humanity, the joy of music itself, or the affirmation of a higher power, be that God or spirituality or transcendent love.

Today Music Fog gives you a special (hush, we are not EVER going to call it a two-fer!!!) But indeed, we are giving you two videos to peruse from the album Mercyland. First is a spirited song from the Carolina Chocolate Drops called “Lights In The Valley.”

Second is a simmering, politically charged tune from Shawn Mullins, “Give God The Blues.”

-Jessie Scott

The Sweetback Sisters "I'm Gonna Cry"

It's the start of another week, and it was a really busy weekend 'round these Austin parts, starting with the dedication of the new Willie Nelson statue on 4/20, and then a glorious tribute concert to Johnny Cash at the ACL Moody Theater on Friday night. Old Settler's Music Festival went on all weekend, and then yesterday was the Reckless Kelly Celebrity Baseball Jam. Founding Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen sat in with me for an interview on KNBT.FM on Saturday, as the legendary band was playing the legendary venue of Gruene Hall on Saturday evening. John and his sons have a new album called The McEuen Sessions, which is mighty fine stuff as well!

Hope you had a fun weekend. We have news from our trusty analytics department that Music Fog hit 9,000,000 views on 4/20 on our YouTube channel, so we got to celebrate 4/20 also. Today we bring you a rousing tune from The Sweetback Sisters, who brought down the house when they performed for us during our Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s in March. They are serious joy purveyors, even when they are singing about crying! OMG, they are playing my old college town on Wednesday, Athens, Ohio! Catch them when they come round! We have an as yet unrecorded, and therefore unreleased, tune for you today from the Sweetback’s, “I’m Gonna Cry.”

-Jessie Scott