Links
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Heifer International
Such a great organization. Here is their mission statement (they can describe what they do way better than we can:) : “Heifer’s mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. By giving families a hand-up, not just a hand-out, we empower them to turn lives of hunger and poverty into self-reliance and hope. With gifts of livestock and training, we help families improve their nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways. We refer to the animals as “living loans” because in exchange for their livestock and training, families agree to give one of its animal’s offspring to another family in need. It’s called Passing on the Gift – a cornerstone of our mission that creates an ever-expanding network of hope and peace.
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Nellie McKay
Elana saw Nellie McKay live at Joe’s Pub in NYC earlier this year (2011) and was utterly blown away. A spectacular, eccentric and extraordinary entertainer who also loves and advocates on behalf of animals. Go Nellie! -
LOPE
LOPE provides Texas racehorses with opportunities for new careers after their racing days are over. LOPE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that partners with the Texas racing industry to help find racehorses of all breeds new homes through its ranch adoption facility and racehorse listing services.
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Bob Wills
One of our greatest influences and inspirations…..
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Johnny Gimble
Need we say more?
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Amazon Conservation Team
We love these guys! An organization that, among other things, funds shamans in the Amazon so that they can pass on their esoteric knowledge of ethnobotany, or how wild plants can be used for medicinal purposes. We (the Hot Club of Cowtown) are hoping to undertake a project in 2003, in conjunction with you, our Hot Club fans, to benefit this organization, so stay tuned.
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The Continental Club
Our home away-from home while we are at home, Steve Wertheimer and everybody at the Continental Club have been over-the-top gracious to us going on five years now. Where should you go to hear great music when you come down to Austin? No question.
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Huun-Huur-Tu
Elana’s favorite cowboy band, though they happen to be from Mongolia.
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Taraf de Haidouk
Elana’s favorite band in the universe. Gheorge Angel, the fiddler in the hat (below) must be seen to be believed. According to Elana, he came over to her house one night in 2001 and jammed with her and Whit in her living room. He took time out only very briefly to chain smoke and to call Romania from her bedroom.
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Joe Kerr
Pianist/composer Joe Kerr plays on much of our Ghost Train CD and is also featured on our second CD, Tall Tales. He’s totally friggin’ fantastic. Elana met Joe in France in 1992 where they forged a fast and permanent bond playing “You are My Sunshine” at a pigroast in the French countryside.
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The Lucky Stars
Our western swingin’ compadres in Hollywoood. The Lucky Stars feature, among other stars, Dave Stuckey, who has cowritten a bunch of our songs with Whit, our friend Sage Guyton, and Jeremy Wakefield, the the most extraordinary of the extraordinary steel players (every time we see Johnny Gimble he asks about Jeremy-”Hi Elana, Hi Whit, Hi Jake…yeah, great…ah, …but where’s JW?”
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Stuff Smith
One of Elana’s very favorite fiddle players, Stuff Smith sounds more like a horn player than most horn players. He is a swinging monster and one of Elana idols. His early recordings are my favorites–I love all his double stops, his wild, squirrely licks and evil riffs. Her favorite song right now is his radio transcription of “Bugle Call Rag.” It is sick!
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Joe Venuti
Well, Joe Venuti is another monster player. Elana especially likes his early stuff with Eddie Lang and his bright chiming harmonics and parallel fifths and immaculate elegance, plus he was a very eccentric guy and liked to call nightclubs “upholstered sewers.” Nice
