Vanessa Niemann relocated to the Crescent City in 1999 to sing in big band/swing ensembles.

A stint in rockabilly followed but now Niemann as Gal Holiday has with her honky-tonk band crafted its best album with an elevated quality of songwriting and killer solos and fill-ins by lead guitarist Chris Adkins and steel guitarist Tony Martinez.

As a vocalist, Niemann often astounds, such as on the slinky “Broken Rings” and “South of I-12” with the intriguing line, “There’s nothing south of I-12 that’s built on solid ground,” a reference to the impermanence of South Louisiana life.

Since many songs were written on the road when Niemann and upright bassist Dave Brouillette juggled time between Los Angeles and New Orleans, there’s a prevailing road theme (“The Long Back Ribbon,” “Broke Down and Broke”) to the proceedings.

The tropical, lilting “Rainy Nights, Sunny Days” was the first song written while living in California and features Adkins’ stylish jazz licks. If there was ever a tune that doubled as a dance primer, it’d be the infectious “Teach Me How to Two Step” that came about from a fumbling hardwood-floor experience.

When it comes to honky-tonk, the real deal’s right here.