Texican Velvet Tour: James Cook Band at Cotton Court-Lubbock, TX

Name: Texican Velvet Tour: James Cook Band at Cotton Court-Lubbock, TX
Start: 2025-05-03T19:00:00-05:00
Location: Cotton Court, by Valencia Hotel Collection

Schedule

Sat, 03 May, 2025 at 07:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Cotton Court, by Valencia Hotel Collection | Lubbock, TX

Cotton Court-Lubbock, TX
7-10PM
On his latest album Texican Velvet, James Cook does something unexpected – he embraces his roots in Spanish-language music while simultaneously stripping his sound down to its acoustic essence. The Wichita Falls native, known for his compelling narrative songwriting and versatile vocals that can shift from gritty to tender on a dime, has created his most intimate and personally revealing work to date. Situated just twenty minutes from the Oklahoma border, Cook has spent years crafting a sound that masterfully balances Texas swagger with Red Dirt grit.
"I love the vocals of Otis Redding, Rod Stewart, and Bob Seger, but I also love the tender vocals of lyrical greats like Paul Simon, Harry Nilsson, and John Prine," Cook reflects. This broad range of influences shines through on Texican Velvet, which was recorded in Seymour, Texas, with The Great Divide's Mike McClure at the helm – a dream collaboration for Cook, who's long admired McClure's production work. The album features an all-star cast of musicians, including Kyle Nix, Kevin "Haystack" Foster on fiddle, banjo, and mandolin, Adam Odor on bass, Lauren Lee providing additional fiddle, and Jason Brown on dobro. Adding depth to the vocal arrangements are backing vocalists Hazel and Cook's wife, Stacie.
The album's lead single, "Is That All You Got," showcases Cook's knack for character-driven storytelling, following the journey of Josie, a resilient figure who faces life's obstacles head-on. "No one whispers when they want to win a war," Cook belts in the chorus, channeling the raw determination that defines much of the album's spirit. The title track, "Texican Velvet," marks Cook's first foray into Spanish-language songwriting, combining flamenco-influenced guitar work with organic percussion created through foot stomps and hand claps. The song's gradually layered arrangement mirrors its emotional build, creating a powerful statement about the heartbreak that transcends language barriers.
"How To Live Lonely" emerges as another standout track, featuring Lauren Lee's sorrowful fiddle riff that "cuts you like a knife with every revisit," as Cook describes it. The song explores the complex journey of finding strength in solitude, a theme that resonates throughout the album. Meanwhile, "Empty Wagons" takes a self-deprecating look at excessive talking, with Cook admitting, "Full of gas and I'm going nowhere. Empty wagons always make a lot of noise. I'll talk all day until I get my way or until I lose my voice."
Cook's journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. After making waves in the Texas/Oklahoma music scene with explosive performances at venues across both states, he's shared stages with luminaries at festivals like Outlaws and Legends Festival and Musicfest in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. His previous release, The Other Side of Hell, featured collaborations with Luke Wade, Sarah Hobbs, and Courtney Patton, establishing him as a rising force in the regional scene. The album chronicled his life before and after meeting his wife, Stacie, who he credits with "saving him from himself."
"I decided to start writing daily, even if I didn't like the end result," Cook says of his creative process for Texican Velvet. This disciplined approach, combined with road-testing the songs in front of live audiences before entering the studio, helped shape the album's direction. The decision to keep the production stripped-down and acoustic was a turning point. "I liked the freedom of being completely in control of the basic tracks and allowing the emotion to become the marching leader so the additional musicians could follow the lead," he explains.
The album closes with "Houndin' Me," a haunting track that showcases Cook's ability to create atmosphere through tension. Featuring creepy banjo lines and ethereal backing vocals from Hazel and Stacie Cook, the song demonstrates his willingness to push into darker territory while maintaining the record's acoustic foundation. It's this kind of creative risk-taking that sets Texican Velvet apart from his previous work while still maintaining connections to his debut album Lullaby for the Rapture's acoustic sensibilities.
Looking ahead, Cook and his band – featuring Tim Maloney on bass, Ricci Amador on drums, and Jason Brown on lead guitar/steel guitar – are gearing up for an extensive tour to support the album. With Texican Velvet, Cook has crafted a record that proves sometimes the most powerful statements come from stripping everything down to its essential elements. Through eight carefully crafted songs, he explores themes of loneliness, self-reflection, and personal growth with unflinching honesty, all while expanding his musical palette to embrace the Tejano sounds that colored his upbringing.