One Cool Cat

"We'll be playing and people will pass by and stop to listen because they see this young, fresh band with a young girl and a bunch of guys," Shell says. "And even though they may not be familiar with the music, they stick around to listen. On the other hand, we'll have snowbirds, older people that come by, and when they hear these familiar songs, they seem to think it's cool that these young people are bringing back these songs and styles that they remember and relate to. So that's really gratifying as well."

Shell says her goal is eventually to be able to gig three or four nights a week, securing enough steady work to avoid having to rely on a day job. For the time being, she's modeling, mostly at night, allowing her the flexibility to concentrate on writing, rehearsing, and marketing herself during the day. Mainly, she hopes to bring her music to the masses.

"I just want to make people feel good," she insists. "If I can provoke a smile, some finger snapping, a hand tapping on the steering wheel, then I've done my job. I really believe in the power of music to connect people, and it's my hope that the stories in my songs have that relatable quality that makes people feel welcome and understood."