Uncle Lucius "Got Over Myself/Fire On The Rooftop"

I think back on the first time we laid eyes on Uncle Lucius. Music Fog was in the back room at Threadgill’s in 2009 in March during SXSW. It was our first outing there, and we had been working hard all day with a full dance card. The connection was made because we were part of the Threadgill’s family, and so was the band. We wound up doing a set with them in the evening. We were so jazzed by what they were doing that we sent them the entire set. I know they were able to use it to get gigs and to plant the seeds that would grow into what they are today.

Uncle Lucius is a testament to using the finest ingredients to bake the cake. They have worked hard these last four years, and I have to say that they are even better with every turn of the season. The new Uncle Lucius album, And You Are Me, comes out today. They kicked off a new tour in support of it at home in Austin this past Saturday at Antone’s Night Club. Here is where they are gonna be. It makes me really happy to see Uncle Lucius knocking on the door of success. They are great guys, besides the talent, and it is especially satisfying when good guys win. Today we bring you back to the Threadgill’s stage a year ago in March of 2011. "Got Over Myself/Fire on the Rooftop" cannot be found on the new album, though “Fire” is from the 2009 release Pick Your Head Up. We offer this up for those of you who have not seen this amazing band in action. Remember, your Uncle loves you!

-Jessie Scott

The Believers "Wait Around"

I’ve been walking around the French Quarter in New Orleans this weekend. It has been great observing people at their work. Hospitality is such a great calling card in this town. You know folks are earnest about accommodating you for a meal or, a bit of music, or whatever else you need. It is easy on the skin here. You get the sense that people know that they must earn their daily bread, but that it doesn’t get in the way of play. Moderation in all things. I think you probably need to be mindful of that when you live in a place where the party virtually never ends. But you can feel the balance, and the intention. People here are doing it; rebuilding a city, reknitting the social fabric. And it is good. If you haven’t been back since Katrina, you owe it to yourself to return. Here’s hoping Hurricane Isaac comes ashore as a non-event this week.

We filmed founding members Craig Aspen & Cynthia Frazzini of The Believers, during our Americana Fest Fall Music Fog Marathon last October in Nashville. BTW, Americana Fest is a month earlier this year, so I will be heading to Nashville in September. Unfortunately, Music Fog won't be there filming our sessions this time, though, because we didn’t make our Kickstarter goal.

The Believers formed in Seattle during the Alt. Country - No Depression era and have been recording and performing ever since. We actually filmed them for the first time two years earlier, when Tara Nevins brought them up on the Music Fog bus in 2009. Here is one from last year, a brand new song called “Wait Around.”

-Jessie Scott

Troubadour Kings "Get Lucky"

It was a day in Mississippi, of lost dogs and feral cats and chance encounters. First there was the roadhouse restaurant off Natchez Trace Parkway in Utica, MS, a place named The Crossroads, with a hopping juke box, and a quick dance to Jerry Lee Lewis “Whole Lot Of Shaking Going On.” Then we were off to the bookstore in Vicksburg, for an interesting conversation about authors and the giants that walk amongst us. On the way back to New Orleans we stopped in Bogue Chitto. I just wish the gas station had a t-shirt with that name, I sure would have bought it. We met a wandering dog with a smiling face, and then were given a quick history about him; how he had been hit by a car, that he lived across the street; that they called him Kujo…but the girl at the gas station said she had renamed him, Lucky.

The thing about Mississippi is how friendly everyone is. You can actually have revealing conversations with people. They provide blink moments, as does the music of The Troubadour Kings; Jimmy James and Johnny Ray; tell their stories of love lost, love found, and redemption of the soul. We had their music with us on this road trip, but it would have been great to have them as travel companions. BTW, they guys have other names, just in case they look familiar, you pegged it correctly. They are James House and John Brannen, both of whom have enjoyed success as songwriters and performers, before they teamed up to make the incredible album, Heartache Town. In honor of the dog survivor, Kujo, we bring you a TK’s tune, which was featured in HBO’s series True Blood, “Get Lucky.” Indeed.

- Jessie Scott