Phantom Blues Band "Boogah Man"

Ack! There is a new syndrome that I just heard about a couple of days ago - phantom buzzing, feeling cellphone vibrations that aren’t there. I know you have felt your pocket, only to realize that your phone isn’t even there, or it is, but it’s not ringing! Now in my unofficial and quite random survey over the last few days, every single person I have talked to said they have experienced this feeling. And everyone was surprised that it was an actual “thing.” You can read all about it here.

All this put me in mind of the Phantom Blues Band, who I saw some five years back in the XM Performance Theater with Taj Mahal. It became an amazing exchange, as the band was playing one of my favorite R&B tunes, The Olympics’ “Big Boy Pete.” I commented to Taj in the green room that I had never heard anyone cover that song, and he started singing it to me and I started doing the “Yeah –Yeah” back, as part of the call and response. It was a moment, for sure. I couldn’t find a PBB video for that tune, but I did find something from them that is quite tasty. This is the first music video from 2012’s Inside Out, the most recent album from the Phantom Blues Band; Tony Braunagel, Mike Finnegan, Larry Fulcher, Darrell Leonard, Johnny Lee Schell, and Joe Sublett with “Boogah Man.”

-Jessie Scott

The Gourds "Haunted"

There is something so wonderful about folks you can nest with. Today is an homage to love. May you find it and keep it. May it nourish you. Being in love is a spell, the transference of auras, the unseen bond that keeps you magnetized to one another. I had a dream the other night of a loved one who has departed. The dream included a message that wound up coming true later that day. A tad spooky, I know. I am of the belief that we are only privy to as much as our senses will allow us to be aware of, and there is so much more to it all.

Sometimes music can open the door to sensing just beyond your awareness. And sometimes they confuse you in the process. Today’s song is from the pen of Max Johnston of The Gourds. The Gourds are an Austin treasure of multi-instrumental and lyrical goodness. And to watch Kevin Russell do his flying and swooning movements simply brings a flutter to the heart. We had them come by our Music Fog Marathon at Marathon Studios last year during the Americana Conference. Here is Max at the helm for “Haunted,” the original of which you can find on the Old Mad Joy album.

-Jessie Scott

Elliot, Rose, da Costa "Disneyland"

The Americana Festival takes place next week, and I am busy making plans to get out of town. I am sad the rest of the Foggers won’t be attending to capture the magic, but I did want to tell you about a couple of things I will be doing. Ann Powers from NPR and I will be in the booth for the Folk Alley webcast of the Americana Honors and Awards Show on Wednesday evening, September 12. I am so excited to be doing it again, segueing out of my XM years, when we broadcast it live on XCountry, I have not missed one yet. Check it out on folkalley.com or npr.org.

Another cool thing I will be doing is hosting a panel called Charting New Waters, with Paul Thorn, John Fullbright, Lera Lynn, Robert Ellis, Charlie Faye, and Anthony da Costa. They will all be talking about the path they took to get where they are. I am happy that Music Fog has captured video with each participant. You have to have a badge to attend that one . BTW, wristbands are still available for the nighttime music in the clubs of Nashville.

Elliott, Rose, and da Costa came before the Music Fog cameras in March during SXSW at Threadgill’s WHQ. It was a guitar pull session with each doing one of their songs. John Elliott is in the spotlight today with the song, “Disneyland.” He has a slew of music available on his website, and just last month released a new bootleg album Live At The Applegate River Lodge. Here are the rest. He is an articulate writer, and believes in the old fashioned value of impacting one fan at a time. His tour schedule takes him from Austin this week, to the Northwest next, skirting the Americana Fest this year.  Maybe we’ll see him there next year, but to whet your appetite, here is a taste.

- Jessie Scott