Elizabeth Cook at Beachland

Elizabeth Cook

Arriving fresh from the SXSW music showcase in Austin, Cook will be previewing cuts from her upcoming record Welder due out in May.

    For those that are dialed into Sirius/XM satellite radio, you may be familiar with the lovely voice of Elizabeth Cook, host of Apron Strings from 6-10 AM weekdays on the station’s Outlaw Country channel (Sirius 64 and XM 12).Others may remember my story about three years ago before Elizabeth’s DJ gig touting her Rodney Crowell produced record Balls and the hottest song on the jukebox “Sometimes It Takes Balls To Be A Woman”.Well ladies and gentlemen, you have a chance to see the sweetheart of Outlaw Country in person when Cook takes the Beachland Ballroom stage on March 25th.

   Arriving fresh from the SXSW music showcase in Austin, Cook will be previewing cuts from her upcoming record Welder due out in May.I was peavey to see Cook perform a few new numbers in Nashville during the AMA showcase with her husband guitarist Tim Carroll and Bones Hillman on bass. “I’ve tracked 14 songs one rainy weekend in October” explains Ms. Cook.“I didn’t notice anything but adrenaline.I sang into big fancy microphones a Frankie Miller cover, a scad of all over the place freaky originals, an ole school country song my mother wrote when she was young, and I wrote two songs on the spot.” The album is being produced by Grammy Award maestro Don Was, who has done work for a slew of A list artists including Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan along with several films.The new album includes guest vocals from Buddy Miller, Dwight Yoakam, and Rodney Crowell.Cook smiles and adds “My favorite thing is Tim Carroll playing crazy guitar all over it.”

     While promoting the Balls album during an interview on Outlaw Country, Cook initially was not interested when asked to host a show on the music channel.But now she enjoys the experience of meeting new hardcore music fans along with fellow artists in an environment besides the chaotic backstage.Cook tapes the program either in her home studio or on the road.“My gear is portable, though I can’t carry it on the plane.At LAX, they suggested I might bludgeon someone with the mic stand. I’d never thought of it ‘til then … now I entertain that regularly” says a wry Cook.Her unique lovely style has also been used on some voice over production including a spot on a video game.

     The album’s title may refer to Elizabeth’s father, who back in the day served 11 years in prison for running moonshine.Two new skills he learned while serving time was learning to play the upright bass and weld; so he could make better stills.After being released, he played in local bar bands and eventually met Elizabeth’s mother.Ironically, while Cook was working on the new album, a 45rpm record was uncovered by some relatives of her late mother singing when she was oh so young.Cook explains “It was a reminder of what a privilege it is to get to record.Mama wanted to be a singer so bad, it was her total escape.She was completely pinned by poverty and circumstance.But she did what she could.Here I was sitting with a reasonable budget and Don Was and this team of pickers around me.What a dream.”

    So come show some love to Elizabeth Cook at her Cleveland show and give an affirmative nod to the new songs just like her Mama would.

Reach Jay at blues4bird@aol.com.

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