Sara Watkins Performs on Prairie Home Companion

Growing up we always listed to Prairie Home Companion on the Saturday trips coming home from the mountains.  For two hours the family sat in silence and listened to the news of Lake Wobegon. Garrison Keillor and his crew of generationally challenged misfits (they are from an era long gone, and this is a compliment) wowed us with their sound effects and enticed us with Guy Noir.  We also found great comfort in the music, which as a commentary on our culture, seemed to be the balm to our wounds. 

This past Thanksgiving weekend, Sara Watkins (one of my favorites)was featured on Prairie Home Companion.  Taped before a live studio audience you are able to hear the laughs, and applause. I could swear that sometimes you can even hear a tear rolling down a cheek.  This was the same for Ms. Watkins performance of “Where Will You Be?” at The Town Hall in New York City.  Including a brief interview Ms. Watkins also covered Linda Ronstadt’s, “Different Drum,” and another new song, “Too Much,” from her first self titled solo album. 

If you enjoy the music of Sara Watkins as much as I do, then I hope you will take the opportunity to listen to her segments.  If you have never listed to Prairie Home Companion and/or missed this broadcast, go ahead and indulge in the full two hours.  You will not be disappointed. 

All pictures are from Prairie Home Companion.

Johnny Cash by Elloh

"Ode to Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire" by Elloh on Etsy

I’m not sure if I’ve pronounced my love yet here for the great Mr. Johnny Cash, but if not, I’ve been remiss. And I know I’ve pronounced my love for Etsy.

So when I saw these fantastic prints in Elloh’s shop, paying homage to some of the great icons of our popular culture, I immediately wanted, well, all of them. But a few, including this gorgeous Johnny Cash print, made it onto my Christmas list (you reading, dear husband?).

But better hurry. She’s retiring several of these prints on Etsy on December 15th, 2009!

Go on over, take a look, and tell her we sent ya!

P.S.- Spending a good part of my childhood in Nashville, I’d just like to say I loved the great Johnny Cash long before the wave of popular Walk the Line (beautiful movie with beautiful music and acting, though, by the way) came out. Just for the record!

Hotty Toddy

Sweet Iced Tea Photos

Ok, so we have to admit that when we arrived in Oxford, we didn’t know what was going on when we kept hearing people shout out to one another, “Hotty Toddy!”

So, just in case, for the rest of y’all hopefully planning a visit to this, one of our favorite campuses in the Southeastern conference, a little explaination here for you as to what in the South that means.

It comes from the school’s cheer which chants (sorry, Daddy… I know ladies aren’t supposed to curse!):

Are you ready?
Hell yeah! Damn Right!
Hotty Toddy, Gosh almighty
Who the hell are we, Hey!
Flim Flam, Bim Bam
OLE MISS BY DAMN!

So now you’ll know… gosh almighty!

Road Trip with Sweet Iced Tea

Sweet Iced Tea Roadtrip

You might of noticed we’ve been m.i.a. the past week. Where were we, you ask? We’ve been in the good ol’ South, of course! (We’re glad you missed us!)

As promised, we’ve seen some of our favorites states: Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi. So, in the coming weeks, we’ll be bringing you highlights of our favorite points of the trip. Of course, through all the iPod playlists, references to the map, and snack breaks, we were thinking of you, friends and readers!

On the road again…

Austin City Limits Music Festival/Sara Watkins

One fine day or weekend perhaps, I am going to plan a trip to the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  This coming weekend, you can catch some of the best singer/songwriters and bands making music.  I often argue that most current music doesn’t have enough staying power to make it through to the next generation.  However, there are a few outstanding musicians and singers who are vessels of hope in a generation of gauche pop.   One such appearance on the festival stage will be made by Sara Watkins. 

One third of the Nickel Creek trio, Watkins recently released her first solo album.  This long overdue record is a cold drink of water to the weary soul.  She is also featured on an amazing song from Alex Woodard, “Reno.”  Her harmony is perfect and the lyrics genius. The appearance in Austin is part of Ms. Watkins album tour, and if you are lucky enough to live in or near any city on her tour, you will not want to miss the chance.    

We always watched the show, Austin City Limits on PBS as kids, and even as an adult, the music is still exciting. 

Have fun festival goers!

Labor Day Weekend at Mercer University

If y’all are still looking for an idea of a great way to spend your Labor Day weekend, look no further than Macon, Georgia. Mercer University, located in Macon, hosts its 2009 Robert McDuffie & Friends Labor Day Festival for Strings.

Between concert engagements, McDuffie teaches string students at the Macon campus and hosts the Labor Day String Festival to showcase junior and senior year musicians with some of the nation’s premier concert artists.

The Festival’s opening concert takes place Thursday, September 3rd at 6 p.m., and a free closing concert is held on September 7th at 3 p.m. The faculty and students will perform one of my favorite classical pieces, Barber’s Adagio for Strings. The festival will feature Christopher Rex, Paul Murphy, and Andres Diaz.

If you’re looking for something to do between the opening and closing concerts, Macon is full of both city attractions, and those last lazy hazy days of summer relaxation.  There are gardens, monuments, and historic homes galore, as well as some fantastic eats to sample.

What are you doing for the Labor Day holiday?

Find Your Summer Theme Song

It is high time we posted something about music. 

Music, among other things, is the core of my existence.  I live and breathe for good music.  Don’t you just love hearing your favorite song on the radio? Or perhaps even better is when your iPod is on shuffle mode, the first few notes of “the song” begin to play and you pretty much could jump out of your seat, or excitedly roll down the windows and hope to share in the glory with fellow drivers.  Today, I had one such experience while driving to work. 

Ok, my Summer Theme song is not really Southern, but I simply love Coldplay’s “Strawberry Swing.”  The tantalizing intro forces me to smile and shrug my shoulders to the beat.  The song “brings me round, now my feet won’t touch the ground,” and I find myself happy, and loving every little note and second of this song. 

To list all possible summer theme songs, would be nearly impossible, but I can come up with a few southern tunes.  At least, I can come up with a few classics, and ones that tickle my fancy. Here they are in no particular order: 

1)      “Oh,  Atlanta” – Alison Krauss

2)      “Graceland” – Paul Simon

3)      “Memphis”- Chuck Berry

4)      “ Chattahoochee” – Alan Jackson

5)      “Home” – Marc Broussard

6)      “Southern Accent” – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (a bit slower than the others, but sooo good)

7)      “Tennessee” – Arrested Development (this is so 6^th grade summer camp)

8)      “Dance, Dance, Dance” – Steve Miller Band

9)      “Down in Mississippi and Up to No Good” – Sugarland

10)   “Stars Align” – Virginia Coalition

Here a few of the classics:

1)       “Ode to Billy Joe” – Bobbie Gentry

2)      “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” – Charlie Daniels

3)      “Sweet Home Alabama” – Lynyrd Skynyrd

4)      “Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight

5)      “Deep in the Heart of Texas’ – Gene Autry (who doesn’t love to clap?)

Finding your summer theme song might be the perfect antidote to the humidity blues.  If I think of my life, there are so many songs forever connected with my memories, hopefully your song will bring good memories in years ahead. 

What is your summer theme song?

Dance!

Despite my Southern Baptist upbringing, I still like to get out and have a good jig every now and again. Now mind you, my husband will be the first to tell you that I’m terrible at it, but it’s just so much fun. (That’s me, above, dancing the night away at a “Dancing in the Streets” event in Downtown Lexington, KY.)

Whether you’re in your house alone, blaring your favorite Southern tune, or out and about with friends and family, or belong to a team that actually know what in heaven’s name they’re doing, dancing is a favorite Southern tradition, through and through.

If you’re a bit rusty, there are plenty of classes you can take around your town. You can sign up for classes as a one-time activity, or several times per week in most cities. If you get real good, sometimes they’ll even let you perform in front of folks. Below is a local clogging troupe performing at a Junior League Whale of a Sale. Even better, dance for a good cause. Old fashioned dance marathons have gone the way of the butter churn in our day and age, but if you look hard, you can still find ‘em. Dignity U Wear is holding Dancing With Dignity in Jacksonville, Florida and in Raleigh, North Carolina in the upcoming months. Or goodness gracious, just go open iTunes on your computer, put on your favorite song, and have a little ho-down in your living room.

Nobody knows how to cut a rug like a Southerner. So get out there and kick up your heels!