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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > August > 17 > Entry
CD Review: Hot Club of Cowtown, ‘Wishful Thinking’
Hot Club of Cowtown
Wishful Thinking
(Gold Strike)
Grade: B+
They haven’t made a studio record since 2002 and they even broke up in 2005, but fans should know that all is well in Cowtown. The trio of singer/violinist Elana James, singer/guitarist Whit Smith and singer/bassist Jake Erwin haven’t budged an inch. James did time in Bob Dylan’s band and played with Her Hot Hot Trio (a.k.a and the Continental Two). Whit Smith’s Hot Jazz Caravan rocked around Austin.
They reunited last year and it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they still split the difference between Texas swing and small combo jazz. Which means they’re still in love with Bob Wills (“Can’t Go On This Way” opens the album). But they also have time for Tom Waits (a mournful “The Long Way Home”), Hoagy Carmichael (“Georgia”) and George and Ira Gershwin (a torchy “Someone To Watch Over Me”).
Their originals still find emotional purchase. Damien Llanes’ drums add heft to “Cabiria” and “Heart of Romain.” But it’s love’s fallout that the band spends the most time with. “Reunion” could be bitter, but stays ambiguous, a run-in with an ex-boyfriend (and bandmate?) with a smart chorus: “We’re so proud/we’re so pleased/we’re so glad that you’re living your dreams” (you didn’t need to make the boyfriend part explicit, Elana). “What You Meant To Me” contemplates the aftermath of a break up, while Smith’s “Carry Me Close” explores a history of loss. It’s like they never left.
Hot Club of Cowtown is scheduled to play live on Eklektikos with John Aielli on KUT at 11 a.m. Friday. They also play a free 5 p.m. in-store at Waterloo Records and a gig at the Continental Club, both later that night.
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