Noel McKay "The Old Pawnee Waltz"

Last week we would have convened in Nashville for AmericanaFest! Sure did miss the folks and the fanfare, and especially the music. Thriving Roots took its place, as a virtual Music Conference online, but I sure do hope that we get to come out of the house and be together someday. In the meantime, we have streaming to deliver live music, and thank goodness for that! And since we aren’t traveling the way we used to, there is the romance of the music of far away places that we can virtually travel to. Brennen Leigh’s new album Prairie Love Letter is just out, and it transports us to the turf Brennen grew up on in the upper Midwest. Just beautiful, seeing and feeling those wide open spaces through her music.

Brennen joins partner Noel McKay for this Music Fog video of “The Old Pawnee Waltz,” which transports us to yet another grand vista, in Pawnee, Texas. Noel is also accompanied by Melissa Carper on upright bass and backing vocals. Of course, Noel and Brennen made their way from Austin to Nashville a couple of years ago, and have found a home of like minded artists who honor the grand country music traditions. Here is the Music Fog rendition of “The Old Pawnee Waltz,” filmed during a private session in Nashville last year.

-Jessie Scott

Parker Millsap "Fine Line"

Labor Day has come and gone, without much in the way of work going on in the music business. Rumor has it that things will start to return to normal in 2021, or even 2022. I don’t know many people who can hang on that long without a paycheck. We remind you that for big crowds to gather safely again, we need to get a handle on Corona Virus, to tamp down the spread of this pandemic. I fear for the venues, the artists and everyone else who supports music behind the scenes. PLEASE wear a mask. And ask your friends to wear one, too.

Today’s video comes from Parker Millsap. When last we checked in, he was getting ready to test some new songs out with an audience. “Fine Line” is from his 2018 album Other Arrangements, where he experimented with edgier sounds and rocked out some more. When Music Fog filmed him, he performed solo, so the song really shines. "Walking a fine line between the feast and the famine," are prescient lyrics for sure. Our prayer for everyone is that we get Covid under control so we can have events again.

- Jessie Scott