Steve Poltz: Singer, Songwriter, Maniac

During our trip to Folk Alliance in Memphis, we ran into a wide range of characters. None were crazier than Steve Poltz. This man claimed (on camera) to have started FA over 20-years ago, and told us he was starting a sponsorship with Wal-Mart next year to place Khakis in the lobby of the hotel. It was an obvious hoax, but nonetheless genius.

Anyway...it was a rainy day in Memphis when Poltz stopped by the Music Fog bus to lay down this great track called "Trash." Basically, it's the "other side of the story" from the guy who got shot in one of Johnny Cash's songs (Folsom Prison Blues). At the end of the song, the rain fell, and it was magic. Check it out...

Click to read more ...

Cross Canadian Ragweed: Joe's Bar, Chicago

-Jeff Dykhuis, Fan Reporter #001

March 2nd, 2009 - Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL

The music playing over the PA system in Joe's Bar before the show was "My Kind of Town," by Frank Sinatra. When the boys from Oklahoma started rocking it was clear that they are fans of the Windy City.

Cross Canadian Ragweed played a good long set, debuting a few new songs that get more polished at each show in anticipation of going into the studio in Los Angeles later this month to record the new record. They always have a party around them and I can't say for sure which song they started the set with or which song they ended with. I want to say they started off with "Smoke Another" and soon kept it going with their version of Ray Wylie Hubbard's "Wanna Rock & Roll" and ended with the Doors "LA Woman," but I can't remember for sure. When it was all over, Cody lit the set-list on fire and left the place with feedback still ringing in everyone's ears...

NOTE: The photo below is drummer Randy Ragsdale. Cross Canadian Ragweed is one of the few bands in this genre that employs a lighting designer: Will Wright, The Wizard. They bring their own lights to augment the venue's existing system. 

-Jeff

Click to read more ...