Unforgettable live shows are something that you strive to see being in the business that we are in.  Hot Club of Cowtown fits that bill and then some. Keeping alive the traditional country swing brand of music in today’s society is not an easy task, but Elana James has the chops and talent to pull it off every time. The other two members since 2001, Whit Smith (guitar) and Jake Erwin (stand up bass), have been complimenting EJ’s torrid fiddle prowess with larger than life, building shaking fun!

Nestled in this true to life cool venue in Tomball, Texas HCOC seemed right at home from the start with the trio in sharp harmony. “High Up on the Mountain”, “Three Little Words”, and “Minor Swing” got the crowd rolling behind them with thumping bass backing sparks flying duels between violin and guitar jams. The unique thing about this band is how they mesh great American songbook tradition with wicked jazz traits. It takes a special person to pull that off and Elana James is that.  She has a tireless demeanor of happy that permeates thru the band and into the audience from start to finish.

All three musicians can outright take over the stage and EJ knows how to let that happen.  “Next to the Soil”, “Billy the Kid”, and “Forget Me Not” made you “feel good” which is way more than just a cliche about this band’s performance. The Bob Wills’ classic “Ida Red” ruled with Smith’s guitar playing astonishingly good. Erwin’s bass plucking is so fast and intense that it hard to imagine how he could pull that off for a whole gig.

But the straw stirring this drink is the lady in the center of it all for sure. Her classical training shines thru in her smoking fiddle playing coupled with her stylishly authentic vocals that breath life into songs even as old as the “Continental” from 1933!