Radney Foster "Half of My Mistakes"

A long, long, time ago, Radney Foster walked by the XM Performance Studio during a promotional visit with me at X Country. I told him the kinds of things we were doing in that room, like our interview performance series Artist Confidential, and the series Then Again…Live, which gave artists the opportunity to perform an entire album back to back, in essence, recreating it for a new day. Radney surmised that we should do that with his album, Del Rio, Texas 1959. It was released in 1992, and was Radney’s brilliant solo debut during an especially accessible era in Country Music history. Then came the boy bands and the girls with belly buttons showing. Steve Earle calls the time before ‘the Great Credibility Scare.’

Radney drops a new CD today, recorded at Cedar Creek Studio here in Austin, TX. It is an acoustic take on his Del Rio album called Del Rio, Texas Revisited. The first thing is this album is a gold mine of great tunes. The second thing is it sounds fresh, timeless even, with its acoustic treatment. In early March, Radney assembled Dixie Chick Martie McGuire (fiddle), Jon Randall Stewart (guitar), Glenn Fukunaga (doghouse bass), Michael Ramos (keyboard) and Steve Fishell, who produced the original album, and plays guitar on this new recording. Find out all about it in Radney’s website, where you can also listen to the tunes.

While we are shining a light on Radney Foster, here is a solo video Music Fog captured back at the 2011 MusicFest at Steamboat Springs. Here is "Half of My Mistakes," though make note, it is not one of the songs found on the new album.

-Jessie Scott

Lydia Loveless "Back On The Bottle"

We used to be called the weaker sex, but coming off the Olympics, I am heartened by how much has changed for females as the decades have rolled on. Tough stuff to compete in, too the motocross, heptathlon, track and field, beach volleyball, basketball, etc. Even having women as commentators is a revelation. Little known fact. I auditioned for ABC to do local sports in New York in autumn of 1979. People at the time were incredulous. I was asked if I even knew what a Hat Trick was in hockey. I did. And having played field hockey, as well as all the other sports in high school, my athletic education was pretty well rounded. In any case, I am hoping that these Olympics have inspired yet another generation to get out from behind the sedentary computer and live it all in Technicolor reality. Get fit America!

Yes, women call be bad asses, no matter what the endeavor. Lydia Loveless is a prime example. Her debut album, Indestructible Machine was released to resounding accolades last year. We had the band come by our showcase during SXSW at Threadgill’s for the Spring Music Fog Marathon. Just a quick note, our Kickstarter campaign only has eleven more days for us to raise the funds that will allow us to travel to Nashville for the Americana Music Association Festival, where we would like to stage our Fall Music Fog Marathon. If we don’t make the goal, we don’t get any of the money, and we won’t be able to attend. If you could post, tweet, Google +, Pinterest, or email your Americana loving friends, we sure would appreciate both the pledges as well as spreading the word. Lydia Loveless and her band are going to be in Nashville for the event, here is the rest of the lineup. Wristbands are available for purchase. Lydia channels Patsy Cline on this song, “Back On The Bottle,” except, I don’t think Patsy swore. So, yes, this is your “language alert.” Don’t watch with the kids around, or while at the office unless you wear your ear buds.

-Jessie Scott

The Jerzey Street Band "Pale Blue River"

Today is a "count our blessings" kind of Sunday. Since the Olympics have been on, we've had a stirring, motivating break from the humdrum of usual TV.  The celebration of excellence, unity of nations, and goodwill toward men and women, is something special and meaningful. Some may say, it’s just sport, it doesn’t really make a difference, but I beg to differ. There is power in following your dream, following the path of one’s heart. If we all did it more often, that the world would be a better place.

Sometimes I feel a little funny about the word "Americana." The music is a melting pot of European, African American, and Native American traditions, played by artists around the world, so it's hard to just call it Americana. Maybe Euro-cana is a passible label. In any case, we welcome the first release of The Jerzey Street Band from Manchester, with their album, Breaking Radio Silence,  next month. These Brit rockers are in there plugging with pedal steel guitar, dobro and harmonica. Today’s video is an exclusive premier on Music Fog! Thank you guys! “Pale Blue River” is from their debut album. A free download of the song is available here.  Can’t wait to see them live! 

- Jessie Scott