K Phillips & The Concho Pearls "Rambler"

The School Night Sessions, a continuing series which I get to host at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin, Texas, have been rocking this week. Last night, San Marcos’ Texas Renegade came by for a cool acoustic set with Jeff Whitehead opening for them. The night before, Lincoln Durham brought the stomp blues and wowed the crowd, as he opened for traditional Irish outfit Aidan. And Sunday night, Mike June & The Wilson Street Refugees kicked it out. They are Jersey boys, and they delivered a fine set of roots rock, with Jess Klein on hand for backup vocals. The opening set that night was K Phillips solo. He is such an interesting performer, any configuration you get to see him in is good.

K Phillips & The Concho Pearls' brand new album American Girls was just released, to glowing reviews from the folks at No Depression I might add. Take it from me, if you like your music soulful, with some dark, rich and mysterious overtones thrown in for good measure, this album is worthy of exploration. K brought the band when he came to play for the Music Fog Spring Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin this past March, including Stephanie Macias on bass, Daniel Thomas Phipps on guitar, J King on lead guitar, and Drew D'Entremont: playing drums. So let’s rock a while with the Music Fog recording of “Rambler.” (Note: explicit lyrics)

- Jessie Scott

Steep Canyon Rangers "Long Shot"

The mountains are greening up in the spring sunshine, shedding winter’s remnants to greet the verdant season. The Appalachian Mountains were home this long weekend to the 25th annual MerleFest which takes place in Wilkesboro, NC. I have fond memories of visiting this venerable Americana music festival nestled among the hills. It serves to shine a light on the fine music and crafts that have been produced by this often misunderstood area of the country, as it is more often known for its poverty than its rich contributions in art and innovation. Of course you know one of the great joys in my life is to go WIKI diving, and here is a start, and another.

Here is a band that hails from Brevard, NC that keeps the modern bluegrass candle burning bright. The Steep Canyon Rangers have been kicking some serious ass of late. In March 2011, the band collaborated with Steve Martin on the album ”Rare Bird Alert” which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart. Sir Paul McCartney even lent his voice to the song “Best Love.” SCR have been headlining festivals like MerleFest and Bonnaroo alongside Steve Martin, but the Rangers continue to perform alone as a quintet, too, on the stages of Telluride, RockyGrass, and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. The Steep Canyon Rangers were on this year’s stellar roster for MerleFest. Hey, let’s all make plans to attend next year! For those of us who didn’t make it this year, at least we have a video from the new album Nobody Knows You. Here is “Long Shot.”

- Jessie Scott

Reckless Kelly "I Stayed Up All Night Again"

There is a fine art to staying up all night long. Whether it is pulling third shift, partying til dawn, going fishing in the morning, or working late on a book or a project, the quiet hours belong to you. There is a delicious solitude about it, and a special bond amongst those who share it. Sometimes up all night is about suffering, mourning losses.

It is a bit surprising to find the song “I Stayed Up All Night Again,” on the new Reckless Kelly Good Luck & True Love album, for it is revealing, sensitive, sad. And the story is all too true, as we consider how the life of a troubadour doesn’t often lend itself to relationship stability. The interesting thing about art, though, is that one can take the angst of the moment and channel it into the creative. And come up with this amazingly sorrowful tune. Reckless Kelly’s repertoire runs the table on emotions from jubilant to blue, with pit stops at the shades in between. I recommend a RK concert for a night out in the not too distant future. It will prove a cathartic experience. And the guys are road dogs, so check this schedule out and see if they will be close to where you are. Willy Braun, Cody Braun and Jay Nazz came by the Music Fog Marathon last month at Threadgill’s WHQ in Austin, and played “I Stayed Up All Night Again “for us.

PS: The Reckless Kelly Celebrity Softball Jam a week ago at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, TX was a great day once again, and a huge success raising money and goodwill for its charities.

-Jessie Scott