Kansas City native Elana James has been singing and fiddling with western swing trio the Hot Club of Cowtown for over fifteen years. In that time, the Austin-based group has recorded numerous alb... Continue reading "Elana James of the Hot Club of Cowtown on What Makes Bob Holler" >
Not just a genre exercise, Holler finds Hot Club of Cowtown paying tribute to a legend with a ton of their own personality. Hot Club of Cowtown have never been strangers to covering older songs. Their sound, a seamless blend of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli-style hot jazz and Bob Will-style western swing, means that they can mix originals and covers and never feel like they're leaving a sepia-toned past. Usually, you can count on a few covers on their records. At worst, the band's work can sound a little too indebted to its influences, but they're [...]

Every Wednesday, I feature a brief review of at least one album that has been submitted to me through the ReviewShine website. I have cleverly titled this recurring segment "ReviewShine Wednesday." Today we're going to focus on Texas Swing music and two bands from the Lone Star State that are keeping the genre alive by honoring two of its pioneers. First up is The Hot Club of Cowtown and their new CD, What Makes Bob Holler . The Hot Club has been one of the [...]

Austin trio salutes the King of Western Swing Hot Club of Cowtown's affinity for Bob Wills has always been a fundamental element of their sound, but the ad hoc covers of their early years have taken fifteen years to ripen into a full-fledged tribute. The trio long ago settled into their winning combination Texas swing and gypsy jazz, but here they lean heavily on the former, with Elena James sawing her fiddle more sweet than hot, and Whit Smith swinging his guitar more polite than fiery. Both James and Smith sing in the style [...]
Get ready for a hot time in cow town.
Keep a lookout next Monday for Past Show No.4, a recording of a Jason Mraz show I made in Manchester. I've got a few shows lined up in the coming weeks, including Derek Trucks Band & Joseph Arthur. As long as the recording comes out o.k. expect to see the Derek Trucks show on the site in the next fortnight, along with Hot Club Of Cowtown before month end. Joseph Arthur distributes his own recordings of shows via his website, so i won't be taping that one.
The next 'Past Show' will be upped next week and feature Ben Kweller on a visit to the UK. Currently the only Open Taping band I will be seeing this month are 'Hot Club of Cowtown', while I also have 'The Low Anthem' and 'Okkervil River' lined up later in the year. If you know of any open taping bands touring the UK in the near future, let me know via the email on the right of the blog and i'll see if i can make the show
For folks who saw the holographic Jerry Jeff Walker in the Austin airport yet still demand the real live thing: LIMITED NUMBER OF RESERVED SEATS JUST MADE AVAILABLE FOR STAGECOACH: CALIFORNIA'S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 27 A limited number of reserved seats have just become available for STAGECOACH: California's Country Music Festival, [...]

Marking the 60th anniversary of Windrush and the 50th of the Notting Hill Riots " Spit It Out " by Warning! Heat Ray! is one of this blogs favourite tracks of the year. MLD co-writer Ryan loved the disturbing way " the icy vocals and bleepy electronics combine with archive voxpop samples " while reader Renee perfectly judged the track if not our readership, flatteringly declaring " Thanks for bringing wonderful music to the masses ". Warning! Heat Ray! started a campaign to get the BBC to release their Windrush 60th anniversary documentary [...]

Marking the 60th anniversary of Windrush and the 50th of the Notting Hill Riots " Spit It Out " by Warning! Heat Ray! is one of this blogs favourite tracks of the year. MLD co-writer Ryan loved the disturbing way " the icy vocals and bleepy electronics combine with archive voxpop samples " while reader Renee perfectly judged the track if not our readership, flatteringly declaring " Thanks for bringing wonderful music to the masses ". Warning! Heat Ray! - " Spit It Out " (MP3) Buy the [...]

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