Elana James is taking her KC roots all over the map. The native Kansan's band, Hot Club of Cowtown, is hitting Europe with Roxy Music this winter.
We caught up with James about touring with big names (like Bob Dylan), and when her band is headed back toward the cowtown from whence it came.
How did this opportunity come about?
We had played some shows with Bryan Ferry sometime around 2003, so he was familiar with the band. But we've also recorded a few of his songs, at his request, when he was thinking about doing a Western swing project of some kind. We reinterpreted four of his songs ("Love Is the Drug," "Dance Away," "All I Want Is You," and "More Than This") as these kind of demos, but nothing really ever came of it, though you can hear them and buy them -- I think -- on iTunes.
When we got the invitation for this tour in December, it was very sweet that Roxy Music thought of us. I feel it's a compliment that they understand what we're doing, and that it has a jazzy, pop appeal and isn't just some kind of hick music (not that there's anything wrong with hick music -- I am from Kansas, after all).
What are you most looking forward to?
It's always gratifying to do a tour with people who are big stars. It brings the whole level of discourse and professionalism way up. Plus, you know, the catering is always great!
When we toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, or even the Squirrel Nut Zippers -- it's fun to have a great big huge throng of excited fans out there. Even if they didn't come to see us, people are primed to have a great time. So it's fun to get out there and feel that energy being unleashed from the crowd. We thrive on that.
What's your relationship with Roxy Music been like? Have you been a longtime fan?
I wasn't that familiar with them until we did some of those first shows with Bryan Ferry, and then I started to get an idea. I like the stylish elegance of the band, and the idea that their songs are structured and melodic and lyrical. We are a band that values those things, too -- we're not like shoegazers who are wearing our jeans half down our butts and singing in whispering, pretentious phrases -- though I would be open to that if it would broaden our audience.
What's coming up for Hot Club of Cowtown? Are things different after you've reunited in 2008?
We've actually been playing together all along, even during the now legendary "hiatus," since we still got asked to play things here and there and honored those requests when we could.
I think it's been a little bit of rough going getting ourselves back on the map. The music we play is so happy and vibrant, I think there was a little bit of a disconnect with our audience for a time, like, What, you guys aren't a perfect, happy band? But we are actually a better band now than we were. And we keep getting better, because everyone knows they can get out there and do it on their own, but it's more fun to do it together. You can be right, or you can be married.
I do hope we make it back to KC soon. I'm sure we'll be back sometime this year and I love to see my KC peeps, hang out on the Plaza and check out all the new stuff that's been going on around town. I love it there.
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