Gretchen Peters "Five Minutes"

Today, this right here, is exactly what is wrong with today’s country music. The emotional resonance is just up and gone, you know? Everything is too squeaky clean, too packaged and predictable. Not like this song. This covers ground! This takes you from the insignificant to what is really happening with a fine eye for detail, one that makes it possible for all of us to see ourselves.

I was going to write about how fast everything is, then remind you to get your doctor for a check-up, and then I was just swept away by the human drama; regret, sadness and resignation to it all. What a song. And what a performance. Gretchen Peters is an impassioned purveyor of the truth. She is also on tour, glory be! You should go see her if she is in your neck of the woods! This is “Five Minutes,” from Gretchen’s latest album Hello Cruel World, with Barry Walsh on keys.

-Jessie Scott

Tara Nevins "Train 45"

Tonight there is a gala concert at the Izod Center in East Rutherford , NJ, a star studded tribute to the late Levon Helm. So many will gather in salute of his music, to raise money for the Love For Levon Benefit to Save The Barn to keep his legendary Rambles in Woodstock going. How is this for a lineup: Gregg Allman, Jakob Dylan, John Hiatt, Mavis Staples, Marc Cohn, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Warren Haynes, Robert Randolph, Joe Walsh, My Morning Jacket, and of course The Levon Helm Band with Larry Campbell. Honestly, the list goes on and on, and if you are anywhere near the New York metro area, this is the place to be. Of course you can donate (buy a T-shirt) to this worthy cause even if you are not around.

Tara Nevins of Donna The Buffalo fame has today’s entry. Word is DTB is working on a new album, though I am not sure when it will see light  of day. You might know that Larry Campbell produced Tara’s solo effort of last year, Wood & Stone. It was when the Music Fog crew caught up with her, at our Fall Music Fog Marathon at Marathon Recorders in Nashville during AmericanaFest. Here is “Train 45,” with Rose Sinclair and Chris Henry.

-Jessie Scott