Heavenly Hot August Jam

Wow! I almost hate to tell you about the Hot August Blues after party at Hightops Backstage Grille last night- you'll be kicking yourself that you missed it!

I can't tell you how happy I am that Old Man Brown opened the festival and served as the house band for the late night shindig. I've been watching Adam and the boys play their jam-based blues and funk to a growing following at bars around Baltimore for a few years now, and they never fail to deliver. But, last night may have been their most shining moment.

After a laying down a sweet, horn-kissed groove for a few songs, they got the great Tom Principato to trade leads. A few more friends did a little round-robin instrument swapping and as the rivets started to unfasten, a couple of guitar legends waltzed in and completely blew the roof off!

Imagine this: Jason Isbell and Derek Trucks trading leads on The Meter's "Cissy Strut." ARE YOU KIDDING? Man, (Baltimore Unsigned producer) Nick Jackson and I were inches away from rock and roll greatness and a jam that couldn't be scripted any better. It was in a word: blissful.

Jason told me afterwards that he had never met Derek, but always wanted to.....and was stoked at the chance. The two hung out at Hot August which then led to this impromptu guitar get together. And they both looked like two giddy boys who pulled off the greatest prank in school history.

Trucks, Isbel and Old Man Brown laying it down: as that beer commercial used to say, the one with satisfied dudes sitting around the fire eating their catch, "It doesn't get any better than this."

Five Years of Powerful Songs

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq. Whatever your views are on the war, it's hard to disagree that many talented songwriters have created inspired time capsules that a generation from now will look back on, much the same way we revisit the soundtrack to the Vietnam era.

Here's one from my favorite album last year, SIRENS OF THE DITCH. Jason Isbell has a way with the pen, with words that convey nothing partisan- just evocative phrases that capture life in its purest form- whether the hurt from a divorce, an experience with a Mrs. Robinson-like love, or capturing the hurt and love a small town feels for its fallen soldier. Jason has a way of encapsulating the American experience and DRESS BLUES does that in the most moving and profound of ways (just the line "American boys hate to lose" seems to say it all). It's less a protest than a tribute to a friend, a Marine. The music leaves it to us to interpret whether Matt would do it all over again.



What songs that relate to the war have moved you the past five years?

Non Comm Wraps Up With Comebacks and Discoveries

Hola from Louisville! Just wrapping up the last night at Non Comm and what a night it's been. The triumphant return of Paula Cole, long awaited new music from Suzanne Vega and a chat with a former Drive By Trucker who wrote some of their best songs are among the highlights.

Paula brought the public radio heads gathered on the 16th floor of the Brown Hotel to their feet this afternoon. She kicked things off with I'M SO ORDINARY from her debut in '95, HARBINGER. She rolled through new songs from her forthcoming disc, COURAGE and played the amazing TIGER, from THIS FIRE. Even though we'll find out more about why she waited so long to make a record again when I play back my chat with Paula for you this week, it's baffling that she was away from music for seven years- her voice, musicianship and passion couldn't be contained!

Suzanne Vega performed at the theater next door to the hotel for the big closing show tonight. I first saw her in '85 at Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College...and it dawned on me as she played Tom's Diner, Luka and Left of Center...that it's been twenty two years since I last saw Suzanne and she, and her music, hasn't aged at all. Too bad I can't say the same for me ;)

I talked with Jason Isbell, former guitarist and lyricist for the Drive By Truckers (he wrote DECORATION DAY) and he's looking forward to putting out a Muscle Shoals soul infused album this summer. He's even got some horns on the record.

I wanted to share the story of rhythmic guitarist and soul singer Raul Midon with you. When he was an infant, he and his twin brother were blinded as infants after they spent too long in an incubator without adequate eye protection. He learned jazz at University of Miami...and honed his skills a session singer. He's an absolutely electric performer on an acoustic. Raul's new song about his late Mom, moved a few to tears today. Check out the rhythm and the horn section on this song, SATE OF MIND, and be amazed.


It was personally moving to see so many musicians and those that love and want to share music...interact in this kind of setting. From bands busking in the street, to radio folks talking about their latest discoveries...this amazing experience has been something I hope you'll get a feel for, when I play back conversations from the artists we've met. Artist. You know, everybody had ID badges with their name and station ID that we wore around our neck. But, the musicians wore tags that simply said, "Artist." I hope we bring you closer to them everyday.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for listening. Thanks for loving the music. Good-bye from Louisville. Talk to you Monday morning. Peace.

Erik