The Bottle Rockets "Kit Kat Clock"

On Wednesday night, I found myself at legendary venue, the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, TX where owner and guiding light Kent Finlay presides over Songwriter's Night. He runs a tight ship, reminding the audience before the music gets started for the evening, that this is not the place to socialize as it is a listening night. It reminded me of auditions for Broadway or TV shows in New York. There was a hush amongst the audience members, many of them awaiting their turn to walk on stage and play their two songs. It has to be nerve wracking to bring one’s music to the public for the first time, for many the stage fright never leaves as they marshall on through long careers. I think some of the best continue to question their performance, and do not take it for granted, not ever. Songwriting is such a divine gift. When done well, it sets the mind to reeling. It can be pure communication.

One of the best songwriters, for my money, is Brian Henneman of The Bottle Rockets. The eye for detail, the way the lyrics scan; not to mention this is totally relatable stuff. You see yourself in their songs, as you have experienced moment like this, too. The Bottle Rockets are a seamless outfit; a great band, both hard rocking and truth telling. We had the honor of filming them during Americana Fest in October at Marathon Recorders in Nashville for our Fall Music Fog Marathon. They were touring behind their new stripped down release Not So Loud, doing acoustic versions of previously released songs. If you want to catch The Bottle Rockets live, they are on a run up the east coast now. Today’s tune is a classic – here are Brian Henneman, Mark Ortmann, John Horton, and Keith Voegele with the Music Fog recording of “Kit Kat Clock.”

-Jessie Scott

Chatham County Line "Country Boy City Boy"

Oh no…it hit 109 degrees on Tuesday in Austin. That’s the kind of heat that makes it hard to escape. Heck, it makes it hard to justify living here in the sunbelt. If you were walking on the sidewalk the pavement radiated like it was 120. It was worse still if you were having a chat in a parking lot. All us folks that were here last summer are a little gun shy about it. Every time it hits 100, we fear triple digits will follow for days and days and days. Ahhh, but there is something to be said for green grass and shade trees. Throw in a watering hole; either for swimming or drinking…or both, and we’ll be right there.

Chatham County Line illuminates the classic dilemma, country or city, with their song “Country Boy City Boy.” They have a new live CD/DVD coming out called Sight & Sound. It was originally schedule to be released this week, but now it will make its debut on July 10th. Festivities are under way for the release by the band, who get together around one microphone, old school style, at the turn of the century. They have six albums to their credit. Today's song was originally from IV, which came out in 2008. We had the great good fortune to catch CCL at SXSW in 2010, and here is the Music Fog recording of “Country Boy City Boy,” from the Threadgill’s WHQ appearance during SXSW 2010.

-Jessie Scott

Mindy Smith "Closer"

On the School Night Sessions at Threadgill’s this past Monday night there was a very cool double bill, in essence a baton pass of tradition. The first band, Aidan, an Austin based traditional Irish outfit, plays as a three piece: guitar, flute and fiddle. There were jigs and reels and mournful songs of lost love and separation. The second set was from Wood & Wire, an articulate bluegrass band with unearthly harmonies that calls Austin home, though they will be heading to record an album in Nashville soon. Their lineup was banjo, mando, guitar and upright bass. The evening provided a unmistakable sonic connection through the generations. It was simply an amazing evening with an avid audience hanging on every note. Music that makes your heart soar. YES!

There is more cool music to dig into, with the release of Mindy Smith’s fifth, self-titled album, which hit the street yesterday. You might remember her haunting rendition of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” in 2004 or the plaintiff track “Come to Jesus,” from her One Moment More album the same year. Mindy wrote or co-wrote all eleven songs on her new album. She will be touring like crazy this summer, showcasing her jewel-toned voice, torching and twanging and digging down deep. See for yourself, as the first song has been posted from the new CD, “Closer.”

-Jessie Scott