Quick Q and A with Whit Smith (Hot Club of Cowtown)
 by Cliff Garber  ·  15 April 2009

Whit Smith plays guitar and sings with Austin’s Hot Club of Cowtown. Hot Club is hot! They’re a western swing jazz band who have revitalized the genre and have fans eager for more! Hot Club of Cowtown came into national prominence when they opened for the Bob Dylan / Willie Nelson tour of ballparks in 2004. Check out this video of Hot Club performing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqB8gIQEPCo Find out more about them on their website.

Tell me about your musical influences (or give me three albums you must have on a deserted island).

Nat King Cole for desert island! Influences are too many: Django Reinhardt, Louis Armstrong, Bob Wills to the Rolling Stones would certainly be included.

Describe Hot Club of Cowtown five years from now.

Five years from now I’d like for us to have had music included in a major motion picture, be traveling in a little more comfort so I could practice during the day when touring.

After expending all that energy and excitement, what do you all do to unwind after the show?

We do tend to stay up late! Jam sessions are always great if you can find one but often it’s back to the hotel or a couple hours driving to the next town.

What media gets you the most visibility these days?

Lots of people find us through YouTube.com. We always get a lot of feedback from syndicated radio shows such as Prairie Home Companion too. My favorite way to play for new audiences is when we open for someone like Bob Dylan.

Tell me what’s on your ipod?

I listen to lots of Frank Sinatra, Red Norvo and Coleman Hawkins on my iPod these days.

Mac or PC?

Mac all the way!

Photo courtesy of Tidalist (Mark): http://www.flickr.com/photos/tidalpix/sets/72157604103836033/show/with/3408396925/