Cajun and zydeco music is not just for old people

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Geoff Himes has a nice article in the March 4, 2007 NY Times about young Louisiana Cajun bands like the Pine Leaf Boys, and how they are attracting a young audience in Louisiana. I know that there are also young Louisiana and Texas Creole zydeco bands who incorporate rap and funk into their sound. Now I discovered Louisiana sounds when I was in my 20s. Years later though, in the DC area at least, the only people who go to zydeco and Cajun shows are fanatic Cajun and zydeco dancing couples who also discovered the music back when i did or even before. The Pine Leaf Boys play to 40 something and up only crowds here in the DC area. Maybe there's nothing wrong with that (since I'm in the over 40 age group myself)? Maybe there's not enough media attention to attract current 20 year olders the way I was intrigued by Joe Sasfy articles in DC papers and Christgau and others mentioning stuff in the Voice? Maybe cuz the groups uysed to play bars years ago and not just dances (where folks who can't do all the 'right' steps might feel intimidated). Whether you worry about this or not, you can weigh in here on zydeco and Cajun sounds... I'll post the Pine Leaf Boys article below...

― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 March 2007 14:23 (eighteen years ago)

Pine Leaf Boys NY Times article

NEW YORK TIMES
March 4, 2007
Music
Cajun Sound, Rock ’n’ Roll Energy
By GEOFFREY HIMES
LAFAYETTE, La.

THIS wasn’t a show for Mardi Gras tourists. On Lundi Gras, as they call the day before Fat Tuesday in south Louisiana, the Pine Leaf Boys were onstage before a crowd of locals at the Grant Street Dancehall here. The five musicians, all in their 20s, played songs by Cajun legends like the 1950s accordionist Iry LeJeune and the 1930s fiddler Dennis McGee, but the dancers who were packed shoulder to shoulder on the well-worn wooden floor didn’t seem to care about the history. They were more interested in the visceral excitement of the band’s signature song, “Pine Leaf Boy Two Step.”

The songwriter Wilson Savoy, a long and lanky accordionist in a white mesh farmer’s cap, sang in Cajun French with whoops of excitement. A bleating melodic phrase from his button accordion was echoed by a high-pitched fiddle line and shoved along by an impatient rhythm section of guitar, bass and drums. A spell was cast, combining a mysterious past — the nearly forgotten dialect and the archaic squeezebox’s red bellows — with an unabashed rock ’n’ roll energy conducive to the elbow-flying, hip-swiveling spirit on the dance floor.

The band sustained that spell for 90 minutes. The fiddler Cedric Watson, dressed in a blue Cajun Mardi Gras costume with yellow and green fringe, closed out the show with a new arrangement of “Zydeco Gris Gris.” Mr. Watson sawed out the infectious tune and led the cries of “Zydeco!” The musicians’ fellow 20-somethings in the crowd hollered right back.

This was the Pine Leaf Boys’ seventh show in five days, and if you had spent the Mardi Gras weekend in Lafayette, the biggest city in the Cajun region known as Acadiana, you could have also seen the Lost Bayou Ramblers at the Blue Moon Saloon on Saturday night and the Red Stick Ramblers at 307 Downtown on Sunday night. At each spot you would have found young dancers responding with the same enthusiasm.

These three Lafayette bands, with a fourth — Feufollet, a teenage group that spent the weekend touring the Midwest — form the core of a renaissance in Cajun and Creole music. After years of recycled arrangements and graying performers and listeners, Acadiana’s dance halls are suddenly filled with young musicians, young dancers and a hard-rocking approach to the old acoustic instruments.

Next month Arhoolie Records will release the Pine Leaf Boys’ second album, “Blues de Musicien,” an impressive recording that may vault them onto the national roots-music scene — though probably not onto the pop charts. They are introducing the album with an East Coast tour that brings them to Connolly’s in Manhattan on Sunday night.

Cajun music is the fiddle-and-accordion-based sound invented by French immigrants in rural southern Louisiana and first recorded in 1928; Creole was the variation created by their African-American neighbors. In the 1990s Cajun and Creole were eclipsed on the local music scene by zydeco, an outgrowth of Creole that was bluesier and more percussive. There were some great zydeco acts in the ’90s — Beau Jocque, Boozoo Chavis, Geno Delafose, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas — but they largely abandoned the fiddle, the waltzes and the French language, all essential elements of Cajun and Creole. The Pine Leaf Boys are able to bring back those neglected Cajun aspects without sacrificing any of zydeco’s dance-floor excitement.

“Cajun music has survived because it’s dance music,” Mr. Savoy, 25, said before the show. “Cajuns have a need to go out on a Saturday night to a dance hall and have a good time.”

When he goes out to dance, Mr. Savoy said, “I want to hear a 25-year-old kid jamming on the accordion in a bar where young people are screaming on Football Friday.” Then again, “I don’t want to hear five two-steps in a row,” he added. “I want to hear a waltz so I can get close to a woman.”

ON the Sunday afternoon before Mardi Gras, Marc and Ann Savoy gave a tour of the home where their four children, Wilson, Joel, Sarah and Gabie, developed their deep affection for Cajun culture. Outside Eunice, La., northwest of Lafayette, the 1911 white farmhouse with the yellow trim and red roof sits at the end of a long driveway flanked by old cypress and oak trees and at the center of a 200-acre farm that belonged to Marc’s grandfather. There are home movies, Ann Savoy said, of her children in their pajamas sprawled on the screened porch with their coloring books while some of the greatest figures in Cajun music — Dennis McGee, Dewey Balfa and D. L. Menard — jammed with the parents of the oblivious children.

Like many Acadiana musicians Wilson and his siblings more or less inherited the family business from their parents. Marc Savoy is one of North America’s most respected makers of button accordions, smaller and reedier-sounding than piano accordions. His shop, the Savoy Music Center in Eunice, sells Cajun instruments and recordings. With his wife and the fiddler Michael Doucet of Beausoleil he plays accordion in the Savoy-Doucet Band; last year he self-released his latest solo album, “Marc Savoy Plays Cajun Accordion: Back to the Basics Savoy Style.”

Ann Savoy, a singer and guitarist, has her own bundle of projects, including the Zozo Sisters, a duo with Linda Ronstadt that resulted in the 2006 album “Adieu False Heart” (Vanguard). Nominated for a Grammy for best traditional folk album, it lost to Bruce Springsteen last month.

Ms. Savoy’s parents were jazz buffs in Richmond, Va., and she revisits those roots on a swing record to be released in May, credited to Ann Savoy and Her Sleepless Knights. Meanwhile her all-female Cajun band, the Magnolia Sisters, is working on a second album of traditional Cajun children’s songs. And the second Savoy Family Band album, with Marc, Ann, Wilson and Joel, is set for a summer release.

“Music was a part of the household,” Ann Savoy, 55, recalled. “The instruments were all over the place. We didn’t make a big deal about taking lessons. We just said you can pick up an instrument and join in if you want. Sometimes the best way to drive children away from music is to pressure them to play.”

Marc Savoy, 66, added: “When Wilson said, ‘Daddy, can I play your accordion?’ I said, ‘Sure, but you have to treat it with respect, because it’s delicate. But don’t expect me to show you anything. You have to figure it out for yourself.’ ”

He admitted that later, after he saw that his children were serious about music, he showed them a thing or two. “This music is part of who we are as a family and a people,” he said, “so you don’t want to screw around with it.”

The Savoy tradition was also passed along to Joel, who was a founding member of the Red Stick Ramblers. He didn’t adapt well to the band’s grueling road schedule and amicably departed to start a new Cajun-Creole label, Valcour Records. His most recent release is “Allons Boire un Coup: A Collection of Cajun and Creole Drinking Songs.” Featuring contributions from the Pine Leaf Boys, the Red Stick Ramblers, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Feufollet, Ann Savoy and Joel Savoy himself, the disc’s combination of old songs and fresh approaches is a fine introduction to the lively revival.

“I want to document what’s going on here,” Joel Savoy, 26, said, “because it’s exciting to see all these young kids playing this weird traditional music with accordions and fiddles and to have all these young kids eating it up like it’s the coolest thing ever.”

Joel Savoy’s commitment to the Cajun-Creole revival includes organizing a traditional Courir de Mardi Gras near his parents’ home. This old rural Mardi Gras run features costumed revelers on horseback or foot going from farm to farm to beg for chickens for the gumbo pot while a Cajun band wagon plays on an old hay wagon.

In recent years the courirs in many Louisiana towns have allowed floats, beads, recorded music, uncostumed onlookers and drunken fights until, he said, they became a bad parody of Mardi Gras in New Orleans’s French Quarter. So he and his childhood friend Linzay Young started a traditional courir.

“Linzay and I have always been into creating our own scene,” Joel Savoy explained, adding, “We did that with the Red Stick Ramblers and now we’re doing it with our Courir de Mardi Gras.”

So it was that at 9:30 on Mardi Gras morning 300 people in screen masks (made from window screens), conical caps and fringe-draped costumes stood in the front yard of Joel Savoy’s neighbor, Rick Smith. Mr. Smith was on his roof, holding a writhing, flapping chicken in each hand. He was willing to donate them to the gumbo pot, but according to custom he was going to make the maskers chase and catch the chickens. The maskers responded by stretching out whichever hand wasn’t holding a beer.

Meanwhile, beneath a tree in the yard, Joel’s brother Wilson, dressed in a plaid costume with gold and maroon fringe, was playing accordion while Joel, decked out in a red and yellow costume, was playing fiddle. It was Cajun music for catching chickens, and the two brothers were beaming.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 March 2007 14:25 (eighteen years ago)

I need novamax (Lomax) from Houston to add some wisdom here, and the American Routes people.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 5 March 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

The Bluerunners, also from Lafayette, have always had a big dose of punk energy.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Monday, 5 March 2007 21:33 (eighteen years ago)

Yea, I think they're still around. I saw them up here in DC and once down in Louisiana.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 05:09 (eighteen years ago)

A sad article

Losing Louisiana

This Robert Buckman article says that in Louisiana small zydeco clubs are closing and Creole-Americans are losing interest, although some zydeco bands are playing to bigger crowds in more anglo clubs.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 14:39 (eighteen years ago)

Yeah, when I was living in Richmond, you'd get large doses of this stuff in Anglo clubs and at festivals.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 23:04 (eighteen years ago)

In DC it is now less heard at clubs and festivals. Just mainly special dances ala swing dances and folk contra events. It's interesting (and disappointing) to see how now the music seems most popular around the US only to over 40 white folks though (I remember when under 40 white folks got into it), and in Louisiana and Texas it is appealling to, well --I'm not sure, it depends on whom you talk to how many Creole Americans of whatever age are still into it (and Cajuns too). The only under 40 folks outside of the gulf coast who seem the most remotely interested are jamband types (and I do not like jamband sounds at all)!

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 23:50 (eighteen years ago)

Sounds cool, I wish the show had been this Sunday instead.

― calstars, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 00:37 (eighteen years ago)

On the Houston-Beaumont zydeco Web site zydecoevents.com, there are about a dozen zydeco shows listed in the Greater Houston area in the next week alone. There is zydeco on black radio here and about six or seven Creole Catholic churches that hold dances. And it's not just an old crowd that goes to these shows -- crowds for the rap-influenced groups like J. Paul and the Zydeco Nu-Breed and Nooney and the Floaters have a median age of about 30.

Zydeco is kind of the unofficial soundtrack to spring time in Houston. There are lots of crawfish boils this time of year and you can't have one of those without zydeco. (Or brass band music if you're rollin' NOLA style.)

Creole fiddler Cedric Watson of the Pine Leaf Boys is from near here; so is accordionist Corey Ledet, another ardent neo-traditionalist. (Ledet is from the prosperous suburb of Sugar Land; Watson is from the rural town of Sealy, which is about 40 miles west of Houston.) What's striking is that both of these young guys have turned up their noses at the easy money they could get pandering to the zyde-rap market to play the super-trad music they love, which has meant that they have had to go to Louisiana. There they can play for both the Creole old-timers and the young (often white) kids who seem to be leading another South Louisiana cultural renaissance.

I also found that Buckman article pretty sad, but possibly flawed. It could be that he just talked to the old guard. Zydeco is definitely not frozen in time down here, and just because a 40-year-old joint run by a 89-year-old man is having trouble does not mean the music is dying out. It could be that his audience has died off, the type of zydeco he likes is no longer hip, or his place now seems shabby compared to a nicer joint across the Parish that might even have its own beer license. The same rock clubs don't stay cool forever -- why should zydeco be any different?

Which is not to say that casinos aren't tough competition for club owners, 'cause they are. And here in Houston, there are a few places that don't bother with bands and opt for zydeco DJs instead. (They will mix in country, soul-blues, R&B and the odd rap tune, too.)

Roger Wood's book Texas Zydeco is a must-read for anyone curious about the state of modern zydeco, as well as its all-too-often neglected Texas history.

As for Cajun music, there is almost none here and I recently wrote a column wondering why the hell that was so. My guess is that the Cajuns assimilated more. The Creoles had a lot more cohesiveness -- as Catholics they were apart from the black community and it has always been their churches that have held them together. Cajun emigres to Houston have never had their own parish churches -- they just mixed in with the Catholics that were already here. And that's a bit weird since there are so many of them -- more here than in all but a couple of La Parishes according to census data -- and Houston does have Catholic churches that started out German, Polish, Mexican, Vietnamese and even an Italian one if I am not mistaken. (Most of the urban churches that aren't black or Vietnamese are now Mexican or Central American in any case.)

This article was spurred on by seeing the excellent young Cajun swing revival band the Red Stick Ramblers. I caught 'em at the Continental here -- don't miss 'em if they come through your town.

― novamax, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 04:48 (eighteen years ago)

Unfortunately, I did miss the Red Stick Ramblers the last time they came through town. Of the young Cajun bands, I've only seen the Pine Leaf Boys but not the Red Stick Ramblers, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, or Feufollet. I think J. Paul and the Zydeco Nu-Breed once came through this way (hmmm, I forgot whether I saw them). I did see Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travelers, a Houston area group that incorporates old-school funk into their zydeco sound. Lil Brian told me awhile back that he's doing more gigging in Europe and around the US then back in Texas.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 09:25 (eighteen years ago)

I saw Lil' Brian in 1997 in Nashville and his music was one of the things that cemented my then-shaky decision to move from there to Houston.

Yeah, he doesn't play here that often because he has become expensive, so that angle of the Buckman story does have some merit now that I think about it.

CJ Chenier also lives here and rarely plays here, but in his case it's not just his fee. There is some animosity toward him from the other bands...Not sure how much is over the Clifton connection or because they think he is overrated or what, but people really hammer him down here. (At least that was the case about six years ago.)

― novamax, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 18:43 (eighteen years ago)

Thanks for all that info.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 March 2007 13:59 (eighteen years ago)

[Removed Illegal Link]

From the Times of Acadiana

story by Nik belanger, Times staff
photos by Leslie Westbrook

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Sid Williams, owner of El Sid O's Zydeco dance club, holds his local liquor license Monday at the club. Williams said there's a possibility that he will close his club when the license expires.

As zydeco gains popularity around the globe, local support dwindles. El Sid O's may soon close its doors permanently, ending the legendary venue's multidecade reign as Lafayette's premiere zydeco stop.

They don't dance at El Sid O's like they used to. The club, which at one time brought excitement to the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and St. Antoine Streets every weekend, now holds only a few dances every month. ...."

― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:09 (eighteen years ago)

Acadiana article

Hopefully I posted it right this time

― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:11 (eighteen years ago)

But the Grant Street club in Lafayette is apparently doing ok.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 9 March 2007 15:25 (eighteen years ago)

one month passes...

Lots of zydeco and Cajun action down in New Orleans at the Jazz & Heritage Fest (Aka Jazzfest). I'm not there this year, but here's one of likely several folks blogging about it:

http://www.jazzfestblog.com/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 April 2007 16:55 (eighteen years ago)

I wish some of those Houston zydeco bands would come up to DC. We just keep getting the same ol' Louisiana acts (they're not bad, I just want something new).

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 14:54 (eighteen years ago)

Longtime Offbeat writer John Swenson has an article in the May issue of that magazine about how zydeco no longer has performers competing and claiming the title of King of the genre (like in the Boozoo vs Beau Jocque days or way back when with others). He does not mention any Texas zydeco bands though (but notes how zydeco has developed a following internationally). The article confirms for me why I lost interest in Terrance Simeon--he just wants to reach aging deadheads and jamband fans. Ugh. He does talk about Boozoo's relatives and Rosie Ledet. I haven't seen her or heard her in years, but I always loved her early double-entendre filled stuff.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 May 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago)

I gotta research those Houston bands...

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 04:16 (seventeen years ago)

Bois Sec Ardoin died. Story in the Louisiana Advertiser: http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070518/NEWS01/705180302/1002

This Creole accordionist was something special.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 May 2007 04:07 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QHfB2tEXuo

Bois Sec with Canray on Youtube.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 May 2007 04:09 (seventeen years ago)

Not punk, but plenty of soul, was Balfa Toujours, at least live; I haven't heard their albums. Started by the daughter of Dewey Balfa, I think, and some other offspring of the Balfa Brothers involved at some points. Wanna say they're broken up, though hope not. There's also some excellent cajun and zydeco on the soundtrack to a German movie, Shultze Gets The Blues. It's about a German folk fan who gets totally bored with middle age, and comes to the American South, and it's got German-American bands, and the Bobby Jones Czech Band, and Kerry Cristensen, who combines Swiss- and Jimmie Rodgers-associated yodelling (the combination, or unbroken connection, seems to have its own party tradition in the Southeast-Southwest cusp that Schultze is travelling) Cajun and zydeco incl. Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, The Creole Connection, Carriere Brothers,Zydeco Force, Cleoma B. Falcon (some of these are from Shultze's collection, apparently, like 78s)Forced Exposure's where I got mine.

― dow, Sunday, 20 May 2007 19:47 (seventeen years ago)

Kerry "Christensen," that is.

― dow, Sunday, 20 May 2007 19:52 (seventeen years ago)

Yea, Balfa Tujours are nice Cajun. I also have fond memories of the late Dewey Balfa. I found the below at a website:

http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/balfatj1.htm

With the birth of their second child, Sophie Jo Powell, born February 12, 2004, Christine Balfa and Dirk Powell and Balfa Toujours have not been touring as much lately, but the group is still making appearances at select venues around the country, including a performance before a crowd of some 5,000 in El Paso, Texas, in June 2005. Meanwhile Dirk Powell has been busy with a variety of projects, including performing on Loretta Lynn's Grammy-winning album.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 20 May 2007 20:02 (seventeen years ago)

Forgot she'd married Dirk Powell! Good to know they'll be back, apparently/hopefully.

― dow, Sunday, 20 May 2007 21:27 (seventeen years ago)

Not all zydeco or Cajun, it's Texas accordion music in Houston courtesy of Ramiro Burr's San Antonio blog:

It's down to the final seven contestants in the Texas Folklife's 18th annual Accordion Kings & Queens show and The Big Squeeze. Film producer Hector Galan will be in Houston Friday, June 1 to work on his latest project, 'The Big Squeeze,' a film about Texas Folklife's first accordion contest, including the June 2 Accordion Kings & Queens concert at which the winner will be chosen.

Performing at the 2007 Accordion Kings & Queens concert will be Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, Mingo SaldÃvar y Sus Tremendos Cuatro Espadas, Ginny Mac & the Road to Texas Band Miller Outdoor Theatre is located at 100 Concert Drive in Hermann Park.

And, the seven contestants in the big squeeze are: George Arechiga, Mission; Jose Ricardo Calleros, Mission; A.J. Castillo, Austin; Juan Longoria Jr., Brownsville; Matt Tolentino, Dallas; Robert Vega

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 2 June 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago)

I wonder who won

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 3 June 2007 04:21 (seventeen years ago)

Still wondering. Maybe google will eventually help me find out.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 3 June 2007 14:20 (seventeen years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/musicmain.htm

LSU website that lists lots and lots of zydeco and Cajun bands, offers bios, and links

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 15 September 2007 20:14 (seventeen years ago)

Maybe that music critic guy from Baton Rouge Advocate who shows up here every once in a while to do ask some research questions will have something to add.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Sunday, 16 September 2007 01:27 (seventeen years ago)

I just went to a zydeco dance with Rosie Ledet and her band band tonight. I hadn't seen her in years but have always loved her sultry soulful voice. They are still worth seeing even if you don't have the proper zydeco dancing footwork down. They're gonna be in NYC at Connolly's in midtown Sunday night.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 16 September 2007 05:04 (seventeen years ago)

I do not think she did my fave cut though, "I'm Gonna Take Care of Your Dog (Show him where he can bury his bone)."

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 16 September 2007 12:29 (seventeen years ago)

My two sons were on stage with Buckwheat Zydeco last week.
Sorry, had to tell someone.

― Jazzbo, Sunday, 16 September 2007 12:49 (seventeen years ago)

That's cool (I once sneared at Buckwheat and Dimension 5 (Haikunym Cibula) rightly took me to task for my snobbery. Buckwheat has a zydeco kids cd, right. Plus I think he used to play in funk and soul bands in the 70s.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 16 September 2007 23:20 (seventeen years ago)

I was a Zydeco skeptic until I saw Beau Jocque perform at the Mid City Lanes Rock 'n Bowl back in the early '90s. He was a pretty intense performer, which I guess you have to be if you want to be heard above the sound of balls smashing into bowling pins.

― James Redd and the Blecchs, Monday, 17 September 2007 01:37 (seventeen years ago)

Beau's bass player, Chuck Bush, was on guitar with Rosie Ledet at the zydeco dance the other night. He added more fuzztone than you usually hear from a zydeco axe-slinger.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 17 September 2007 04:48 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

Saw Rosie Ledet last month, and Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners last night (I think they're playing in Providence tonight and New York City Sunday night). Need to blurb more about this. Plus I've been reading about various festivals and stuff.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 27 October 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago)

Nice funky bottom from Leroy Thomas' rhythm section. Plus covers of Ray Charles, Hank Williams and the Everly Brothers. He does some of the same songs that Geno Delafose does. Like Geno he takes a traditional approach--that means he can get '70s style funky but no hiphop influence like some of the younger guys. Zydeco couples dancing when done right is so cool. But I don't have the time to practice.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 October 2007 14:33 (seventeen years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007711190320

Article published Nov 19, 2007
Popular accordion player Zydeco Joe dies at age 64
Herman Fuselier
hfusel✧✧✧@theadverti✧✧✧.c✧✧
Funeral services are pending for musician Zydeco Joe, aka Joseph Adam Mouton of Lafayette, who died Saturday at Lafayette General Hospital. Mouton was a popular accordion player, known for hits such as "You Can't Rooster Like You Used To," "Poppa Jack" and "Jack Rabbit."
Mouton was 64. Syrie Funeral Home in Lafayette is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Mouton, Mouton's son, confirmed Sunday that his father died from complications related to strep pneumonia. After several attempts to revive Mouton from cardiac arrest, he was declared brain dead Saturday afternoon. Mouton was kept on life support for 24 hours so his organs could be harvested for donation.

Mouton's death came as a shock to many in the zydeco music community. He had performed Nov. 10 at Rock the Moon, a KRVS listener appreciation party, held Nov. 10 at the Blue Moon Saloon. He also played Wednesday during the 21st Annual Thanksgiving Zydeco Food Drive at El Sido's Zydeco and Blues Club.

Cullen Washington of Lake Charles, his longtime producer, said Mouton was preparing to go back into the studio. His recent CD, "Black Cat" on Zydeco Gumbo Records, had become a best seller. Washington was ordering more copies for distribution.

Washington remembers Mouton as "a giving person" who often played for elderly residents nursing homes. Mouton was also proud of his Creole roots and the French language used in his music.

"What you see with Zydeco Joe was what he was," said Washington. "He used to tell me he might not be the best accordion player.

"But I used to tell him he might not be Keith Frank or J. Paul, but nobody could beat him at what he did. Not many could do the old school zydeco and the Creole French like he did. He was a natural guy."

Mouton was born Oct. 25, 1943, in rural Lafayette Parish. Although he played guitar as a teen, Mouton did not learn accordion until he was 45. A close friend, Robley Hebert, died in an auto accident and his mother gave the accordion to Mouton.

Dudley Broussard, a nursing home resident, showed Mouton how to play blues and old-style, zydeco tunes.

After mastering the instrument, Mouton formed his Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler Band in 1988. The group played clubs and festivals from Lafayette to New Orleans, along with some out-of-state appearance.

Mouton recorded two CDs, "Jack Rabbit" in 2001 on Maison de Soul Records of Ville Platte, and "Black Cat" in 2006.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 November 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago)

Man, that's terrible. Me and a friend of mine here in Houston have a two-man Zydeco Joe cult. "Can't Rooster Like You Useta" is a classic.

― novamax, Tuesday, 20 November 2007 12:15 (seventeen years ago)

Awesome song title

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 November 2007 19:26 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

http://www.parisdjs.com/images/covers/Mr_Moo-Cajun%20Funk_Vol_1_b.jpg
croc style - boom like that

― CaptainLorax, Sunday, 27 January 2008 21:59 (seventeen years ago)

http://img170.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf59282uk2.jpg

― CaptainLorax, Sunday, 27 January 2008 22:05 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/NEWS01/802110320

Terrence Simien used to put on some great zydeco shows back in the 80s and he would occasionally add some blues and reggae and roots rock into the mix. By the '90s he increased the amount of non-zydeco and began to attract a jam band following. I lost interest in him. Recently I read that he and his wife's multi-year effort to get a Cajun and Zydeco category added to the Grammies paid off. And sure enough, the Grammy folks just gave him the award this year! While his efforts schooling the Grammys folks on the need for such an award is to be commended, it's a bit more questionable saying his latest cd was more worthy than that of the other artists nominated (and some of the great artists not even nominated). Yes I will admit that I have not heard his latest. And maybe expecting a smart decision from the Grammy folks (who once gave Jethro Tull the best heavy metal band award)is naive.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 13 February 2008 01:17 (seventeen years ago)

one month passes...

I'm way into zydeco right now. I admit, the 'hipster proof'ness of the genre is what drew me to it initially, but man, there is some rockin' shit to be discovered here. This was sorta my last stone unturned, genre wise, and I'm pretty excited about it right now. Anyone got any recommendations besides those listed above?

― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 06:31 (seventeen years ago)

do u guys prefer polkas or waltzes

― Curt1s Stephens, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 06:56 (seventeen years ago)

Waltzes are Cajun (and sometimes Creole), polkas are not. I prefer faster-tempoed zydeco to both, but if I had to choose I'd take waltzes.

I like all the zydeco acts that regularly come through the DC area--Curley Taylor, Andre Thiery, Geno Delafose...Plus, if you want to just listen to cds of old classic stuff you can also check out that Kingdom of Zydeco book. There's another book on Texas zydeco that I've been meaning to get.

I wish the more hiphop-inflected zydeco acts from Texas (Houston area mostly) would come my way-Step Rideaux and others. I'm spacing out on some of the names right now. Will list more of 'em later.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 11:28 (seventeen years ago)

Actually Novamax listed 'em above. On the Cajun side of things, I've always liked Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys who add zydeco, melodic swamp pop, and minor-key balladry to their Cajun sound. They're touring the US in May (or at least coming to DC).

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 12:40 (seventeen years ago)

Another great Houston act: Lady D and the Zydeco Tornadoes. Her albums just make me smile.

― novamax, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 16:28 (seventeen years ago)

I wish those Houston acts would tour the East coast.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 April 2008 13:37 (seventeen years ago)

No mentions of Amanda Shaw yet on this thread??

http://blog.rhapsody.com/2008/04/so-i-caught-17.html

― xhuxk, Thursday, 10 April 2008 13:50 (seventeen years ago)

I also really like this Arhoolie album I heard a couple years ago by Sam Brothers 5 (who are only partially young, but still):

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6739414/a/S.A.M.+(Get+Down).htm

― xhuxk, Thursday, 10 April 2008 13:53 (seventeen years ago)

I think I saw young fiddler Amanda Shaw at Jazzfest a few years ago. Your praise and something I read in Offbeat have me curious about her latest cd.

I have vague fond recollections of that Sam Brothers 5 one also.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 April 2008 14:08 (seventeen years ago)

I didn't see it, and I forget the kid's name, but I read that Oprah featured the 10-year-old zydeco accordion prodigy on her show a week or two ago. His name is either Ledet or Leday or Laday or some variant...I've been hearing about him for a few years now.

― novamax, Thursday, 10 April 2008 16:59 (seventeen years ago)

amanda shaw is vile but if for some undoubtedly non-illicit reason actually want to suffer through her schtick the imax film hurricane on the bayou has her pretending to play with an "all-star" band of her, allen toussaint, marva wright and "cajun" novelty bluesman tab benoit. the film also patiently explains to the viewer that the flooding in new orleans was a "natural disaster" and that some people somewhere might think maybe that perhaps the government didn't respond quite as well as it could have.

― adam, Thursday, 10 April 2008 17:13 (seventeen years ago)

two weeks pass...

I've read many folks critique that movie for the same reasons. I always found Amanda Shaw harmless (not exceptional not terrible).

It's Jazz & heritage fest weekend in New Orleans and that big other fest down in Lafayette right now. Lots of zydeco and Cajun for all.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 26 April 2008 18:28 (seventeen years ago)

Just heard Travis Matte & the Kingpins doing "Vibrator" on the radio yesterday. It's about a woman's bottom. The song's actually from 2005 (why I have I never heard this before). I just learned that Matte, who used to please traditionalists with French language Cajun material, now does more zydeco (and in English). His 2006 cd is called "Booty Zydeco"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3oA7_xAChg

http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/zydecokingpins.htm

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 April 2008 16:14 (seventeen years ago)

Then there's Horace Trahan & the New Ossun Express's "That Butt Thang"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXh3eezILaU&feature=related

http://www.lsue.edu/acadgate/music/htrahan.htm

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 April 2008 16:22 (seventeen years ago)

three weeks pass...

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is featuring Texas this summer so I was hoping some of those Texas acts that rarely if ever come up North would be playing. But alas, the only Texas zydeco act that appears to be coming is CJ Chenier. Although Step Rideau will be here June 13th at the Kennedy Center for free.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 May 2008 22:17 (sixteen years ago)

one month passes...

I missed Step, but I think they videotaped the show and it is archived on the Kennedy Center Milennium stage website. I just bought Roger Wood's "Texas Zydeco" book at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest today. Wood was apparently at the Fest last week as one of the themes as I noted above is Texas. I missed CJ Chenier who was apparently good, but stayed on a stool the whole time because he had a stroke (and he's not that old). I saw a little of Jim Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces (or something like that). They were ok--just standard trad Cajun.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 7 July 2008 02:20 (sixteen years ago)

three months pass...

zydeco for Obama

― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 October 2008 03:07 (sixteen years ago)

I heard that on Rachel Maddow's show a couple of nights ago. Curmudgeon, you're doing the work of the Lord, keeping this thread going almost singlehandedly.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Friday, 24 October 2008 08:32 (sixteen years ago)

It's one of my ILX blogs along with the chitlin circuit soul thread!!

― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 October 2008 12:15 (sixteen years ago)

Just heard the Zydeco Cowboy, Texas Fred, playing "Zydeco Strokin'" (a version of the Clarence Carter song) on WPFW. I think it was by Jude Taylor. Very nice.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 25 October 2008 20:04 (sixteen years ago)

God, it's that kind of stuff that makes me miss Virginia.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Saturday, 25 October 2008 23:38 (sixteen years ago)

I know it's not the same but supposedly you can hear wpfw online. Texas Fred, The Zydeco Cowboy, is on Saturday afternoons now from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time (hmmm, that's like 11 a.m. for you). WPFW's chitlin circuit soul and blues show with dj The Gator is on before at noon Eastern time so give it a try some rainy Saturday when you don't mind being near or on the computer.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 26 October 2008 01:41 (sixteen years ago)

My apartment's small, so I can just turn the speakers up a little. Will definitely give it a go.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 26 October 2008 01:48 (sixteen years ago)

I wonder if this scene will end up spreading a little like the Daptone, etc., soul stuff.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 26 October 2008 01:52 (sixteen years ago)

What are the labels and distribution channels for contemporary cajun music? is any of it being released on LP?
my only expose to cajun music has been the series of LPs on the Old-Timey label, mostly of cajun fiddling. That stuff I like very much.

― ian, Sunday, 26 October 2008 02:24 (sixteen years ago)

Oh you're the vinyl addict. Young Cajun band the Pine Leaf Boys are on Arhoolie (who I think still put out vinyl and have been releasing Cajun and zydeco records for decades), the Lost Bayou Ramblers (wh add some jazzy swing to their sound) are on Swallow (maybe still vinyl not sure), and the Red Stick Ramblers (who I don't much about are on Memphis Int.). Great African-american fiddler Cedric Watson who was in the Pine Leaf Boys (they still include Wilson Savoy, Marc & Ann's son) put out a solo cd with guest musicians on a label called Valcour earlier this year---again I know it's on cd but don't know about vinyl.

Louisiana zydeco groups record for a variety of big and small indie labels, and Texas(Mostly Houston area) ones (some hiphop-influenced) record on very small indies.

The Louisiana Music Factory store (with website) in New Orleans sells lots of the above (I believe including vinyl). Alas, the Nooney & the Floaters hiphop-inflected zydeco cd from a few years back that I wanted is now unavailable.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 26 October 2008 14:30 (sixteen years ago)

thanks :D

― ian, Sunday, 26 October 2008 18:28 (sixteen years ago)

No problem. Now I just need a good source on Houston zydeco (and maybe Louisiana too). Maybe if I google Lomax's Texas alt-weekly contributions.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 October 2008 12:20 (sixteen years ago)

I'll save you the trouble 'Mudge. I'm not the music guy down here anymore, but I'll always keep with zydeco...

Here's a mess of Houston and SE Texas zydeco band Myspaces, with a bunch of big names left out, for the simple reason they don't do MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/bigredandthezydecoplaymakers
http://www.myspace.com/curtispoullardczband
http://www.myspace.com/AndreThierryZydecoMagic
http://www.myspace.com/brianjackzydeco
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=109732605 (Corey Ledet)
http://www.myspace.com/jabo832
http://www.myspace.com/390816697 (Keyun and the Zydeco Masters)
http://www.myspace.com/marcusardoinandthezydecolegendz

This site is always the best way to keep up with H-Town zydeco:

http://zydecoevents.com/events.html. I dig the Zydeco version of "Casanova" that plays in the background.

― novamax, Monday, 27 October 2008 21:01 (sixteen years ago)

BTW, that version of "Casanova" has an obvious debt to the Glen David Andrews brass band medley.

― novamax, Monday, 27 October 2008 21:04 (sixteen years ago)

I like Keith Frank. Thanks for all the links--Andre Thiery and Brian Jack have come east (Thiery was just in Maryland Sunday) but not most of those Texas acts.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:40 (sixteen years ago)

god, that casanova cover sounds so wack compared to rebirth

― Jordan, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 02:52 (sixteen years ago)

Zydeco can't help but sound kinda wack compared to brass bands. That's part of its charm to me.

― novamax, Tuesday, 28 October 2008 16:43 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.arnb.org/Schedule.php

Now this is ambitious. A world-wide zydeco and Cajun calendar.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 November 2008 15:57 (sixteen years ago)

http://zydecoevents.com/nooney.html

I Like the syncopation on "Bounce Back," the Nooney & the Floaters song streaming here

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 November 2008 16:04 (sixteen years ago)

From Ned Sublette's e-mail list:

ben sandmel in new orleans sent this today:

Luderin Darbone, the acclaimed Cajun-swing fiddler who co-founded The Hackberry Ramblers in 1933, passed away on November 21, at Calcasieu-Cameron Hospital in Sulphur, Louisiana.

Born in Evangeline, Louisiana and raised in Orangefield, Texas, Darbone taught himself to play, at age twelve, by taking a correspondence course. With the technique that Darbone acquired he was soon able to play by ear and learn songs heard on radio. As a teenager, Darbone moved to the then-remote salt marsh town of Hackberry, Louisiana. There he met his life-long musical collaborator, Edwin Duhon, a multi-instrumentalist who, at that time, focused on the accordion. The two began playing dances together.
They quickly gathered a following, added a third member, and dubbed themselves The Hackberry Ramblers.

Edwin Duhon soon switched to playing guitar, reflecting a prevalent trend in which the accordion faded from Cajun music in the 1920s and ‘30s. This String Band Era, as it came to be known, coincided with the introduction of electricity to rural southwest Louisiana, and The Hackberry Ramblers brought two important innovations to the local scene. They blended the Cajun repertoire with Anglo-American western swing and country songs, which thus far were totally separate traditions, and they introduced electronic amplification to area dance-halls. This allowed acoustic instruments such as the fiddle to be clearly heard over the sound of a crowd, thus encouraging musicians to increase their technique as soloists, raising levels of skill all around. At some far-flung places that did not yet have electricity, Darbone powered the band’s primitive Sears-Roebuck P.A. system with his Model-T Ford, which idled outside the dance-hall all night. .

In 1935 The Hackberry Ramblers signed with RCA Bluebird, a prominent national-level record label. Their hits, released on 78 r.p.m.
records, included the first rendition of "Jolie Blonde" under that title, and "Wondering," which later scored a huge hit for country crooner Webb Pierce. Their eclectic repertoire included Cajun music, country and western swing, jazz, low-down blues, and even the occasion Hawaiian novelty number.
When singing in English the band adopted the moniker The Riverside Ramblers, thanks to a sponsorship deal from the Montgomery-Ward department store chain, which was then marketing a new line of Riverside Tires. These recordings revealed Luderin Darbone, with his lilting, lyrical fiddle style, as a leading creative figure of his day whose contributions have come to be considered historic.

By the 1940s the Hackberry Ramblers evolved from a hillbilly string-band -- to use the record-business parlance of the day -- into a ten-piece western swing orchestra with horns, piano and electric guitar. In this configuration they recorded for the Deluxe Records, in 1950. At the time the Ramblers were in the midst of a ten-year house-band gig at a local roadhouse known as the Silver Star.

The popularity of Cajun music reached a low ebb during the 1960s, and The Hackberry Ramblers contemplated retirement. But cultural crusader Chris Strachwitz, the guiding force behind Arhoolie Records, encouraged the band to stay active, recording them anew in 1963 and
reissuing some of their Bluebird classics. The pace eventually
re-accelerated with the advent of the Cajun music and zydeco renaissance in the late ‘70s. Heritage-conscious young fiddlers such as Michael Doucet sought out Darbone and other old masters, and brought their songs to new audiences. In 1988 The Hackberry Ramblers began a series of annual performances at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival which lasted through 2005. They also started touring nationally, appearing over the years at diverse events including Superbowl '96, The Grand Ole Opry, The Newport Folk Festival, and dozens of festivals and nightclubs. By this point the group’s sound had evolved once again, as electric guitarist Glen Croker added a swaggering honky-tonk tinge that included R & B, rockabilly, and country a la Ray Price and Merle Haggard.

By the early 1990s The Hackberry Ramblers' rich history and
undiminished vitality began to pique media interest. This groundswell
inspired the Ramblers to record their first album in thirty years. Cajun Boogie (released in 1993 by Flying Fish Records, and reissued in 2003 by Hot
Biscuits.) The album was well received by national publications including The New York Times, Rolling Stone and USA Today, leading to TV/radio appearances on Entertainment Tonight, NBC’s Today Show, CNN Showbiz Today,
MTV Live and NPR's Weekend Edition, Fresh Air, and World Café. The
Ramblers follow-up album, Deep Water (Hot Biscuits), featured guest appearances by Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Michael Doucet, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Deep Water was nominated for a Grammy award as the best traditional folk album of 1997. Continual touring followed and, in 2002, The Hackberry Ramblers debuted in Europe with festival performances in France and Holland. That same year, Luderin Darbone and Edwin Duhon received a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the Folk Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts.

In January, 2004 Darbone was featured, along with the rest of the band, in the documentary Make ‘Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers’
Story. Directed by film-maker John Whitehead, Make ‘Em Dance was nationally broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens. The Hackberry Ramblers’ final tour included a performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, where one of Luderin Darbone’s fiddles is on permanent display, following a donation ceremony in 1999. The Ramblers’ final performance took place at the Shaw Center’s Manship Theater, in Baton Rouge, in 2005. But Luderin Darbone, who loved his music, continued to play every day, at home, and he rallied for two performances in 2008, performing in public for the last time at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Luderin Darbone was a kind, gentle, conscientious man. He was a deeply talented musician, a loving parent and grandfather, and a wise bandleader. Although he will be sorely missed, he leaves a rich and beautiful legacy from a long, happy life. May he rest in peace.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Eddie and Annette Darbone; his grand-daughter Paige Neal, her husband Bob, their daughter, Julia, and son, Taylor; his grandsons Heath, and Dustin; and band-members Glen Croker and Ben Sandmel. Luderin Darbone was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lue, who steadfastly encouraged his musical career and travels until her passing in 1999. A devout Catholic who attended mass every day, Darbone was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus.

Visitation will be held on Monday evening, November 24, from 5:00 – 9:00 PM, at Hixson Sulphur Memorial Funeral Home, 2051 E. Napoleon, in Sulphur, 337 – 625-9171. On Tuesday morning November 25, at 10:00 A.M., the funeral will be held at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, 1109 Cypress St, in Sulphur, 337 – 527-5261.

_____________________________________________

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 23 November 2008 03:48 (sixteen years ago)

RIP. I had no idea the Hackberry Ramblers were even recording as late as 1993 much less performing in 2003! God, the man must have lived a good life.

I got a cajun record today. The Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music.
I like it.

― ian, Sunday, 23 November 2008 03:53 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.popsike.com/pix/20071223/350008936915.jpg

― ian, Sunday, 23 November 2008 03:54 (sixteen years ago)

http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/260/268140.jpg

thoughts?

― gabbneb, Sunday, 23 November 2008 04:15 (sixteen years ago)

A group known as the "Cajun Grateful Dead' does not interest me even if Michael Doucet from Beausoleil was once a member. But hey that's just me, maybe you like the Dead.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 23 November 2008 06:30 (sixteen years ago)

No shit! Really??! on "Wondering." I can totally hear that.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 23 November 2008 08:43 (sixteen years ago)

And obviously the man lived a long, full life, but enough of the death stuff already.

― If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 23 November 2008 08:45 (sixteen years ago)

Cajun and country music are obsessed with death! Plus the young Cajun players are always talking about the old cajun players they learned from. Weirdly I don't read the young Creole zydeco players talking as much the same way (although they often learn from the old guys too).

I need to find the time to learn about the younger Houston zydeco outfits Novamax posted the myspace sites of on his October 27t posting above.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 23 November 2008 16:56 (sixteen years ago)

A note from Washington, D.C.'s Zydeco DJ Texas Fred.......
Tomorrow, while you're preparing your turkey dinner.......turn your TV on and watch him ride and play Zydeco with the Zydeco Cowboyz & Cowgirlz in the McDonald's 75th Thanksgiving Day Parade in Chicago!
This is really going to be something for us all to see! Fred and his horse Maggie, and some 14 other Zydeco horseback riders, will be followed by a truck blasting Zydeco music from it. Alongside will be 6 lucky Zydeco dancers, dancing to the music all the way down the parade route! Look out Chi-town, here they come! Yeah, you right!
Be sure to watch for it! The parade will be broadcast live on the WGN network nationally on cable, from 8-11am CST: WGN-TV9, WGN-HD, and WGN America. Or, watch it live on-line by clicking here: Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade. Texas Fred and his posse will be on camera at approximately 10-10:30am CST. Spread the word!
And to Everyone ~ Have a Happy Zydeco Thanksgiving, y'all!

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 November 2008 00:26 (sixteen years ago)

one month passes...

You can see an hour long Red Stick Ramblers Cajun and swing show on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage archives here-http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/search_results.cfm?RequestTimeout=500#

I hear Brad Randell and the Zydeco Ballers from Louisiana were awesome last night at Remington's in Laurel, Maryland, in between DC and Baltimore. They will be at Glen Echo Park in Maryland this afternoon at around 4 (and maybe helping zydeco dance lessons at 3). On Jan 14 2009 they'll be at the Mermaid Inn in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on Jan 17 2009 they'll be at the Eagle Club Ossining, New York

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 January 2009 18:15 (sixteen years ago)

You can hear them here:

http://www.myspace.com/bradrandellandthezydecoballers

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 11 January 2009 18:37 (sixteen years ago)

four weeks pass...

I wonder who won the Cajun and Zydeco grammy. It was controversial because they nominated only Cajun folks basically, including someone from Los Angeles who was tryig hard to get folks to vote for him.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 February 2009 12:58 (sixteen years ago)

Rosie Ledet was not nominated (no new album) but she's great. Here's a recent live gig of hers with Lil' Malcolm's band backing her.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 February 2009 13:00 (sixteen years ago)

Curmudgeon, Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album: "Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival," BeauSoleil & Michael Doucet

― Dan Peterson, Tuesday, 10 February 2009 14:46 (sixteen years ago)

Thanks, Doucet & Beausoleil were competing against themselves as they had a studio album also nominated. Wilson Savoy of the Pine aleaf Boys noted that Cajun band Feofollet were not nominated, and of course no zydeco. It's a shame but to be expected.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 February 2009 14:59 (sixteen years ago)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/arts/dance/23elis.html?scp=2&sq=zydeco&st=cse

Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys with a modern dance company in NYC. I hear they were great on their recent East Coast tour (without the NY dance co.)

― curmudgeon, Monday, 23 February 2009 18:17 (sixteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Some year I have to make it to this fest that includes just performers singing in French--Cajun, zydeco, African, and more. Below are the Louisiana locals-

April 22-26 Wednesday-Sunday Festival International
Jefferson St & W Vermilion St, Lafayette, LA 70501
Info: (337) 232-8086
Ann Savoy and Her Sleepless Knights (LA Cajun,Swing)
Chris Ardoin & NuStep (LA Zydeco)
Feufollet (LA Cajun)
Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie (LA Zydeco,Creole)
Pine Leaf Boys (LA Cajun,Creole)
The Red Stick Ramblers (LA Cajun,Swing)
Lost Bayou Ramblers (LA Cajun)
Racines (LA Cajun,Creole)
Bluerunners (LA Cajun,Zydeco,Roots,Rock)
Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys (LA Zydeco)
Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys (LA Cajun)
T-Sale (LA Cajun)
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience (LA Zydeco,Other)
Many other Non-Cajun/Zydeco Performers
Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars (LA Cajun,Zydeco,R&B) (Sun)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 March 2009 17:17 (sixteen years ago)

one month passes...

"Kemosabe, big ballin' is my hobby," I wonder who sings this? Texas Fred the Zydeco Cowboy is playing it right now on his wpfw radio show that's also streamed live online on Saturdays from 2 to 4 US east coast time.

I think it might be Brad Randell & the Zydeco Ballers

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 11 April 2009 19:21 (sixteen years ago)

three months pass...

Zydeco Legend Roy Carrier is home now but has been hospitalized twice in the past few weeks with a serious blood clot in his leg (which he still has). He is on medication to dissolve the clot but as many of you know thrombosis is no walk in the park.
Needless to say he has not been able to work and has medical bill piling up.
If you are able to contribute anything towards these bills please send a check to:
Roy Carrier
PO Box 322
Lawtell LA 70550

Please pass this message on to any people/lists involved with or fans of Louisiana music - and especially friends/fans of Roy

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 01:34 (fifteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

The DC zydeco scene shaking and spinning to Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-chas at Glen Echo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34zGqXdOZMY&NR=1

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 August 2009 02:43 (fifteen years ago)

From Wayne Kahn's Right on Rhythm Roots & Bluesletter

Zydeco Legend Roy Carrier had surgury Tuesday morning to insert a filter in his leg to prevent any clots from migrating towards critical areas. He is at home resting and will not be working during this recuperation period. His son Chubby is working with a few of the arts/musician help orgs that are in Louisiana as well as the Musicares Foundation to secure assistance for Roy in covering his medical needs and bills. We have begun some preliminary discusions about pulling together a benefit show to help with that as well.
Roy still needs our help in this interem period with medical bills piling up.
If you are able to contribute anything towards these bills please send a check to:
Roy Carrier
PO Box 322
Lawtell LA 70550

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 August 2009 03:08 (fifteen years ago)

two months pass...

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2009/10/26/q-a-with-dancing-by-the-bayou-promoters-michael-hart-and-sharon-schiliro/

Zydeco fest in dc post-event analysis

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 27 October 2009 16:36 (fifteen years ago)

two months pass...

ROR CARRIER HOLIDAY ZYDECO FESTIVAL IS ON!!!
Wednesday December 30 thru Sunday January 3
Offshore Lounge Schedule

SETBACK FOR ROY

Roy went back into Lafayette Hospital on Christmas Eve and initially into the ICU. Multiple problems but primarily one with his kidneys sent him there. He is out of the ICU and into a regular room but there are a host of serious issues working on him. He is awaiting surgery set for Tuesday 12/29 to gather biopsy material from his lungs and that now is the most worrisome issue of all.

Roy says MY FESTIVAL IS STILL ON!!!

Dikki Du, Chubby, Louise and Roy’s sisters and brother will be running the show if Roy cannot attend. If you are in SW Louisiana over the New Years Holiday please make it a point to stop by the Offshore Lounge for some great dancing and show your support and love for Roy.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 December 2009 17:04 (fifteen years ago)

The great Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole are playing for free (and webcast) from 6 to 7 pm Estern time Friday at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and then they're heading up to NYC where they'll be part of that big "world music" event. I like their recent late 2009 album.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 8 January 2010 06:29 (fifteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://www.shoutcastblog.com/2010/01/31/buckwheat-zydeco-wins-best-zydeco-or-cajun-music-album-grammys/

Surprise, surprise I say sarcatically, the Grammy folks chose Buckwheat Zydeco for the Grammy. He's not bad (he's actually quite good) but I would have gone with one of the others.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 February 2010 14:18 (fifteen years ago)

I forgot to post some of my research on hiphop and autotune r'n'b-influenced zydeco--state of the art stuff from Houston and Louisiana. Tonight I will get back to this

― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 February 2010 14:19 (fifteen years ago)

Nice thread, some good music here that isn't really available in the UK.

― Cream Of Some Young Guy, Monday, 1 February 2010 14:23 (fifteen years ago)

I read about Cedric Watson touring the UK some. The Louisiana Music Factory in New Orleans sells zydeco and Cajun cds (but they're very pricey). Alot of acts come through the W. DC area where I am, but many Texas and Louisiana acts don't tour and its hard to find about their music (some ends up on youtube). Curley Taylor is coming here--he does some modern r'n'b influenced stuff.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 February 2010 14:28 (fifteen years ago)

Was just reading dancers grumbling about Buckwheat live--too many show-off solos and abruptly cut-off songs

― curmudgeon, Monday, 1 February 2010 14:59 (fifteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Lots of acts touring for Mardi Gras. Just missed CJ Chenier in town and now Curley Taylor (son of the zydeco musician Jude Taylor) is gonna be at Glen Echo in Maryland outside of DC Tuesday night-Fat Tuesday. He was just at Connolly's in NYC on Valentines Day.

Any of you New Yorkers seen/dance to any zydeco lately? Here's a NYC zydeco calendar:

http://www.letszydeco.com/

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 02:57 (fifteen years ago)

There's still a Creole audience out in the Bay area so there are always shows out there also.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 02:58 (fifteen years ago)

Curley Taylor has such a soulful voice. Check him out on Youtube or Facebook

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:19 (fifteen years ago)

I forgot to post some of my research on hiphop and autotune r'n'b-influenced zydeco--state of the art stuff from Houston and Louisiana. Tonight I will get back to this

― curmudgeon, Monday, February 1, 2010 8:19 AM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark

looking forward to it!

great thread!

i like zydeco where all the instruments are overamped.

― by another name (amateurist), Tuesday, 16 February 2010 04:56 (fifteen years ago)

Computer problems and other stuff delayed me. Will do a partial update shortly! Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble seem to incorporate r'n'b influences from many eras--James Brown, 70s funk (kinda the way the late Beau Jocque did); and current r'n'b. Curley's on a US East coast tour now--did NYC on Valentines Day, MD/DC tonight, Baltimore Friday.

Chris or Sean Ardoin put out an autotuned zydeco single last year. I need to figure out which one--I think they're cousins. It's harder to find out about the Houston stuff. I wish "Novamax" who wrote/ still writes (?) for Texas alt-weeklies would start posting here again.

My son dismisses zydeco and says it all sounds the same. To a degree he's kinda right, but this is music designed for dancing and the best performers do manage to incorporate some unique melodies, hooks, or other touches (overamped instrumentation) that make individual songs and artists stand out.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 17:03 (fifteen years ago)

My son dismisses zydeco and says it all sounds the same.

every musical genre ever to thread

― by another name (amateurist), Tuesday, 16 February 2010 17:44 (fifteen years ago)

Many Fat Tuesday zydeco and Cajun events today (and many fake lets throw beads and drink like we're in Louisiana-related happenings too)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 February 2010 18:17 (fifteen years ago)

Contemporary r'n'b and hiphop influenced zydeco in addition to Curley Taylor whose 2009 cd I should get:

Chris Ardoin’s “Swagga Remix” with guest performers J. Paul and Cupid is at Chris’s myspace site and I think it is on his 2008 album Mr. V.I.P.

quite a few bands in Houston
http://www.zydecoevents.com/bands.html

I was told to contact Houston zydeco dj JB Adams

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 February 2010 04:13 (fifteen years ago)

Josh & the Zydeco Souljas from Ossun, Louisiana have been listening to the-Dream I think

Listen to "Souljas' Luv"

http://www.myspace.com/johandthazodecoouljas

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 February 2010 04:28 (fifteen years ago)

I should have gone to Curley Taylor last night. Anybody see him in Ithica or Rhode Island or elsewhere on this current tour?

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 February 2010 13:57 (fifteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Roy Carrier Update 3/11/2010
Roy is set to finish the last of his radiation/chemo treatments this week and all indications are the treatment has taken. He will have scans done after the treatment and then wait 6 months for a check up on that.
BUT...
He is still having circulation issues with his right leg and the care there is ongoing with His spirits are still great and he wants to get out on the road and play!
Keep those cards & letters coming. He loves to hear from his friends & fans around the world.

BIG BENEFIT SANDWICH SALE & DANCE FOR ROY CARRIER & DONNA ANGELLE
Saturday March 27
at Roy Carrier's Offshore Lounge in Lawtell LA
(Donna had heart surgery last year and has also been hit hard by medical bills)
Sandwich sale begins at 10 am
pork --------- $3
chicken ---- $4
Dance begins at 9 pm until....
Music by Roy Carrier & Donna Angelle
admission $7
for more info or to make a donation call 337-351-2404
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The tax deductable non-profit For the Benefit of Roy Carrier Bank account is ongoing so if you are of a mind please consider making a contribution to help on his medical bills
IT'S TAX DEDUCTABLE!
Here is the info to donate money to Roy's account :
For wired donations the account name is:
Benefit Of Roy Carrier
Account # 819510637
Routing Number 065400137

If you wish to send a check by on-line banking or through the mail
Make the check out to:
Benefit Of Roy Carrier & put the account number on the check..
mail to:
Chase Bank
c/o Benefit Of Roy Carrier
800 Pinhook Rd.
Lafayette, LA 70503
www.chase.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 12 March 2010 14:01 (fifteen years ago)

Sandwich sale.... That's an interesting benefit idea for heart surgery...

― curmudgeon, Friday, 12 March 2010 14:05 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.theind.com/arts-a-entertainment/86-aae/6117-treme-filming-friday-at-crawfish-festival
Tremé filming Friday at Crawfish Festival
Written by Walter Pierce
Tuesday, 27 April 2010

The producers of the acclaimed HBO drama Tremé will be in Breaux Bridge Friday to film a scene for the New Orleans-based series. The scene will center around a performance by The Pine Leaf Boys, one of Acadiana’s most popular up-and-coming Cajun bands.

“They wanted to film at Jazz Fest,” says Pine Leaf Boys accordion player Wilson Savoy, “but Jazz Fest has real strict regulations about filming and they weren’t allowed to do it there, so I told them that we’re playing at Crawfish Fest, and they said they’d bring their crew out on the Friday night, believe it or not, all the way to Breaux Bridge and film us there.”

The band will be joined on stage by musican/actor Lucia Micarelli as part of the continuation of a story thread from the series; Savoy and Creole band leader Cedric Watson appear in episode No. 7 of Tremé with Micarelli, who plays an aspiring fiddle player trying to transition from busking in Jackson Square to becoming a part of the established New Orleans music scene.

Savoy says he and Watson filmed a scene last month in New Orleans in which Micarelli’s character gets a fiddle lesson from Watson’s character. In the scene to be filmed Friday at the Crawfish Festival, Micarelli’s character has won a fiddle contest; the prize is appearing on stage with The Pine Leaf Boys. Watson believes the Crawfish Festival will serve as a generic south Louisiana festival, although the producers may present it as Jazz Fest. The performance is also expected to be available as part of a Tremé iTunes package. The Pine Leaf Boys also filmed a scene for Tremé at Tipitina’s. Episode No. 7 is expected to air in May.

“It’s great for us, and it’s a great experience, once again,” Savoy adds. “The Tremé thing has been really fun for us to work with.”

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 27 April 2010 18:06 (fifteen years ago)

April 28 - May 5, 2010
>
> Routes March On: Brass Bands & Cajun Youths
>
> Visit with musicians taking Louisiana roots music forward into the 21st
> century. Brass Bands like Soul Rebels, Rebirth and Hot 8 can be found
> everywhere in the streets and clubs of the Crescent City, mixing rap and
> funk with older traditional numbers. Over in Cajun country, the Pine Leaf
> Boys swap accordions and fiddles for guitars, moving back and forth between
> Cajun and zydeco tunes and new originals.
>
>
> See below for a full playlist, including song title, artist and release.
>
> Click here <http://bit.ly/b4KLs>; to find a list of stations airing American
> Routes.
> Or click here <http://bit.ly/18iwM2>; to listen to this episode.
>

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 29 April 2010 13:14 (fifteen years ago)

RIP Roy Carrier

JOSEPH ROY CARRIER 2/11/1947 - 5/3/2010

It is with immense sadness that I pass on the the news that Southwest Louisiana music legend Roy Carrier died this morning of a heart attack in Opelousas General Hospital. Funeral arrangements will be announced when available.

Born in 1947, Roy was playing rub board by age six with his father Warren and other relatives and friends that would come by to cut up. Roy moved on to drums, but it was the accordion that caught his fancy. Since accordions were hard to come by, Roy's daddy wouldn't let him play, fearing damage to his instrument. Undeterred Roy "borrowed" his father's accordion and taught himself to play in the barnyard. When he got caught, he got a whippin'. However, Warren understood his boy's determination and eventually allowed him to play.

At 14 Roy formed The Night Rockers with his brother Murphy on drums and Chris Johnson on accordion. Playing guitar, Roy all the while watched what Chris was doing with the accordion and played it himself whenever he got the chance. A farm machinery accident a year later cost Roy half of the index finger on his right (chord) hand, and he nearly lost the ability to play the music he loved. Limited to the guitar it would be two years before Roy would return to the accordion. Meanwhile, Roy soaked up as much pure Zydeco as he could in local clubs around Lawtell and Church Point, Louisiana, following Clifton Chenier, Rockin' Dopsie, Fernest Arceneaux, and Marcel Dugas. Without the use of his right index finger, he developed a unique technique of "crossing" chords, something other musicians don't even try.

Roy came up front to play the accordion when Murphy and Chris Johnson quit the band. His own son Chubby, age eight, played drums. At the time the band featured two rub boards, with Roy's uncle, John, teaching Roy's other son, Troy then six. Roy often got together with Boozoo Chavis, Chris Johnson and Delton Broussard to play for the horses in the barnyard because they wouldn't be allowed to make so much "noise" in the house.

Roy took a job on the offshore oil rigs around 1972, and the seven-day-on, seven-day-off shifts allowed him to continue playing Zydeco. As Roy recalls, he was soon playing Zydeco in an era dominated by youth-oriented disco music and well before it became “cool” again. While many of the newer players moved towards other styles Roy would not. Roy and sons Chubby & Troy often refer back to the ridicule they were subjected to for playing the music that only the old-timers liked. Whenever Clifton Chenier, the King of Zydeco, was in the area, he made it a point to come out to see Roy, sometimes sitting in with him. Roy remembers what Clifton told him: "Roy, don't ever let nobody beat you. You're the best. Whether you're in the mud or the water or wherever, be a hog."

1981 marked the establishment of Thursday night Zydeco jams at Roy's Lawtell, Louisiana club, The Offshore Lounge. Patrons could enjoy as many as six bands for a two dollar cover charge. Throughout the 80's it became THE place for aspiring Zydeco musicians to meet, learn and jam with other Zydeco musicians. It is difficult to find any Zydeco musician that came of age in the 80's and 90's that weren’t encouraged and tutored by Roy. From helping Beau Jocque find his boogie to encouraging John Delafose to perform publicly to loaning equipment to Zydeco Force to giving Geno Delafose his first paying gig, Roy was at the center of Zydeco music development. Roy showed younger musicians what Zydeco is all about. He taught a lot of people in that club." Most of today’s active musicians played The Offshore Lounge on Thursdays, honing their Zydeco chops. .

In 1987 Roy gave up the oil fields and took his band, The Night Rockers, on the road.

Roy felt it was up to him to keep the tradition alive. “When I first came up in the 70's, I was playing for an audience of old timers. But, luckily, a lot of new people are discovering what real Zydeco is all about— the blues. I guess I’ll play the true stuff as long as there are people willing enough to listen. But catch me quick ‘cause I could very well be the end of the line.”

Roy is a bridge from all that Zydeco was-to what it is today. He belongs at the head of any list of Zydeco influences.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 May 2010 13:20 (fifteen years ago)

one month passes...

Hopefully thunderstorms won't impact the Swamp Romp at Wolf Trap today with sultry-voiced Rosie Ledet & her zydeco Playboys and Cajun vets Beausoleil plus others.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 June 2010 15:51 (fourteen years ago)

Rosie's voice was great, her guitarist's solos not so great. Beausoleil were as good as always.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 June 2010 01:09 (fourteen years ago)

one month passes...

Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
General Information
When
Thursday August 5th : 8 p.m.
Where
Skirball Cultural Center
Los Angeles, CA
FREE

I was looking for things to do on my upcoming visit to California and saw this. I always liked Steve Riley & his band. They've got some great swamp-pop melodies that transcend mere genre exercises (and you can still dance to them).

― curmudgeon, Monday, 2 August 2010 01:28 (fourteen years ago)

two weeks pass...

Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble sure do a nice job of melding zydeco and circa 2010 r'n'b

http://www.myspace.com/CurleyTaylorAndZydecoTrouble

― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 August 2010 04:01 (fourteen years ago)

The keyboards and the vocals bring out the r'n'b influence effectively without overwhelming the zydeco aspects

― curmudgeon, Friday, 20 August 2010 14:56 (fourteen years ago)

Rhythm and Roots Festival in Charlestown, R.I. this weekend (unless Earl gets too rough). Sunday will feature Rhode Island’s only Cajun band, Magnolia.

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 2 September 2010 12:52 (fourteen years ago)

Michelle Kaminsky, the gal with the funky glasses, gave Blake Miller (former Pine Leaf Boy, now with Cedric Watson) his first fiddle lesson.

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 2 September 2010 12:59 (fourteen years ago)

Cool. So Blake's with Cedric. Interesting. A bunch of DC area zydeco dance fanatics are heading up there for the Fest. They love it. I'd have to practice zydeco dancing every night for months and months to be anywhere close to the technique level of those hardcore 2-steppers. Most of them have been doing it for years and years. I'm too much of a diletante -- dedicating myself to just Cajun & zydeco is not me (plus parenting, work and more). I wish I could zydeco dance well though.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 September 2010 17:22 (fourteen years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20101216/ACADIANA04/12140352/Local-events-keep-Carrier-legacy-alive

Some year I need to head down to Bayou country around New year's day

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 December 2010 15:15 (fourteen years ago)

two months pass...

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2011/03/album_review_mama_ill_be_long.html#more

Amede Ardoin cd collection

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 March 2011 19:18 (fourteen years ago)

Steve Riley east coast tour on now. Bandmate David Greely is leaving after this tour because of ear damage. They have a nice new album with various special guests on it. They are at Artisphere outside DC tonight, then 2 nights in NYC I think

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 March 2011 16:33 (fourteen years ago)

one month passes...

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/travel/24zydeco.html?pagewanted=1

Nice long article on zydeco trail rides by Shaila Dewan. Here's a small excerpt

Virtually everyone wore T-shirts proclaiming their allegiance to a particular riding club: the No Limit Riders of Mamou, La., the Spare Time Riders of New Roads, the Hip Hop Ghetto Riders of Breaux Bridge. Some clubs, like the Exclusive Steppers, showed loyalty to a particular kind of mount, the high-stepping Tennessee walker, considered the Cadillac of trail riding (“If you ain’t steppin’, you ain’t reppin’ ”). Others, like the Wild Bird Riders, honored their favorite whiskey, while the Suga Riders were named in memory of “one of the realest cowboys you would ever get to know,” a Lafayette man who rode his horse to nightclubs. The Mixed Breed Riders, a youthful posse in short-shorts and tank tops, gave a nod to the racial mélange so common in Acadiana. I counted upward of 50 riding clubs, though a few of them didn’t seem to bother with actual horses.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/04/24/travel/24zydeco.html?pagewanted=3

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 April 2011 17:10 (fourteen years ago)

four months pass...

If you get a chance to see the Anthony Bourdain No Reservations tv show where he visits New Orleans and Cajun country (where Red Stick Ramblers and members of the Savoy family play at an outdoor feast and cook too) you should

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 19:57 (thirteen years ago)

http://rhythmandroots.com/ws/pages/schedule.php

A fair amount of interesting zydeco and Cajun acts at this Rhode Island fest (plus various roots-rock acts)

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 20:02 (thirteen years ago)

one month passes...

Big zydeco fest in the W. DC area this weekend

http://dancingbythebayou.com/

― curmudgeon, Friday, 21 October 2011 19:29 (thirteen years ago)

And I missed it. There's plenty of zydeco acts coming to the DC area these days(but alas, not those Houston hip-hop inflected ones I am curious about)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:16 (thirteen years ago)

I wish Texas writer (and ocassional ILX poster) John Nova Lomax was still writing about Houston zydeco...

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 October 2011 16:25 (thirteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

zydeco in Opelousas

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20111103/ACADIANA04/111030310

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 19 November 2011 15:33 (thirteen years ago)

one month passes...

In his year-end wrapup Southern soul blogger Daddy B. Nice said in part:

--The Zydeco sound was contagious, with artists from T. K. Soul to Kenne' Wayne to Ms. Jody endeavoring to incorporate it into their music. All of the attempts paled next to the mesmerizing rhythms of the real thing in the hands of veterans Keith Frank ("Cassanova," "Haterz") and Rosie Ledet ("When I'm Gone"), whenever Southern Soul deejays deigned to insert their masterful work into their playlists.

http://www.southernsoulrnb.com/corner2012.cfm

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 January 2012 05:32 (thirteen years ago)

two months pass...

Zydeco acts are always coming through the W. DC area and somehow I always miss CJ Chenier. Missed him again last night at Hill Country BBque. I like his albums. I think some zydeco dance fanatics are less crazy about him, as he does not always just stick to that zydeco beat

― curmudgeon, Friday, 16 March 2012 13:10 (thirteen years ago)

Minneapolis seems to have fallen out of favor for touring zydeco bands, so I haven't seen him for quite a few years now. Always prefer his concerts and albums to Buckwheat. I think he's a better, more soulful singer than many of those guys.

― On the sidelines in a trash can grumping (Dan Peterson), Friday, 16 March 2012 14:17 (thirteen years ago)

Curley Taylor, Leroy Thomas, Rosie Ledet, Dennis Stroughmatt, Steve Riley, and others are always coming through the Washington DC/Baltimore area.

http://wherewegotozydeco.com/

I wish obscure Houston and Louisiana zydeco bands that rarely tour would come through.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 16 March 2012 14:31 (thirteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

The same bands tour up and down the East Coast. Here's a June 2012 Connecticut fest schedule. But no obscure Houston bands I don't think.

http://www.strawberrypark.net/cajun-zydeco-festival/

― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 April 2012 15:14 (thirteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Saw Cajuns Goldman Thibodeaux, Hadlee Castille and Steve Riley at Jazzfest in New Orleans, among others.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 1 May 2012 16:04 (thirteen years ago)

three weeks pass...

Missed new and upcoming zydeco artist Ruben Moreno appearing in Maryland last weekend

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 20:19 (twelve years ago)

"New" means he has only been leading a band and touring the East coast recently, but this 22-year-old has been in bands since he was 13

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 20:20 (twelve years ago)

http://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html

lots of zydeco in Texas

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 13:52 (twelve years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu-kzTtrlFg&feature=related

Extended video version of zydeco-r'n'b dance song "Do It With Your Boots On" by Cupid

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 May 2012 02:32 (twelve years ago)

there's a cajun music thread and i never posted this
http://images.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover200/drc500/c581/c58105g0898.jpg????

― Never translate Dutch (jaymc), Sunday, 27 May 2012 07:45 (twelve years ago)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/06/01/why-zydeco-player-curley-taylor-likes-r-kelly/

― curmudgeon, Friday, 1 June 2012 18:47 (twelve years ago)

New York City's zydeco scene is in trouble

http://jimsrootsandblues.com/blog/letter-from-zydecolaura/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 2 June 2012 01:53 (twelve years ago)

Pine Leaf Boys are probably the first Cajun band to tour in these countries

June 13-18 Kyrgyzstan U.S. State Department Tour
June 19-24 Tajikistan U.S. State Department Tour
June 25-July 2 Uzbekistan U.S. State Department Tour

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 June 2012 04:05 (twelve years ago)

The Savoy family (maybe with Wilson Savoy from the Pine Leaf Boys) were just in the UK, France and Belgium.

x-post re the future of zydeco gigs in the Northeast USA:
Read nice writeup of recent New Jersey and Connecticut festivals with zydeco bands. The zydeco fanatics are making it out to the festivals if not to single band shows in individual East coast towns.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 June 2012 14:40 (twelve years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/garden/at-home-with-louis-michot-of-the-lost-bayou-ramblers.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Nice NY Times piece on the fiddle player from raucous Cajun Band Lost Bayou Ramblers and his unique home

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 5 July 2012 13:52 (twelve years ago)

one month passes...

Rhythm and Roots Festival, on Labor Day weekend in Ninigret, RI is getting lots of attention from zydeco fanatics although the bill does not look as good as fests in Louisiana or Texas, naturally

http://www.cascadezydeco.com/trips/festivals.shtml

Host Band: The Pine Leaf Boys Featuring Steve Riley, David Bromberg, Geno Delafose, The Gourds, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Johnny Nicholas, Roddie Romero and that's just the start... many more TBA!

Bed & Breakfast Referrals (from Bed and Breakfast Referrals of South Coast Rhode Island)

There are two huge dance floors, and dancers galore of both sexes! Dancing goes til midnight all three days.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 August 2012 15:12 (twelve years ago)

I go to R&R every year (we’ll be there Sunday). It’s my favorite festival ever — very relaxed, cool people, great workshop tents, good food. Just a fantastic all-around atmosphere.

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 30 August 2012 16:47 (twelve years ago)

I have never been, but I am on a Washington DC area zydeco and root-rock email list with a number of people who go up there every year and always seem enthusiastic

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 August 2012 17:54 (twelve years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.offbeat.com/2012/10/25/hadley-castille-1933-2012/#.UIoJwNqOB1E.email

RIP. I saw this great Cajun fiddler a few times.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 October 2012 13:47 (twelve years ago)

three weeks pass...

zydeco and Southern soul line dance music come together with autotuned vocals:

Here's the zydeco remix of Bigg Robb's "Work That Sexy"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHCqyrXzMh0

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 November 2012 04:42 (twelve years ago)

two weeks pass...

Lost Bayou Ramblers were raucous and rocking in San Francisco tonight, where I saw 'em while on vacation

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 December 2012 09:45 (twelve years ago)

http://www.oxfordamerican.org/articles/2012/nov/29/issue-79-dragged-through-forest-long-gone-sound-am/

― i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Thursday, 6 December 2012 17:26 (twelve years ago)

Those old-time Creole fiddlers like Amede Ardoin are great

― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2012 05:48 (twelve years ago)

he was an accordionist iirc.

― i guess i'd just rather listen to canned heat? (ian), Monday, 10 December 2012 16:56 (twelve years ago)

Doh! Of course. I must have been thinking about Canray Fontenot, who performed often with Bois Sec Ardoin

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/02/obituaries/canray-fontenot-72-a-singer-and-violinist-in-creole-style.html

― curmudgeon, Monday, 10 December 2012 20:27 (twelve years ago)

I need to check out that Oxford issue

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 December 2012 16:28 (twelve years ago)

four weeks pass...

I've been listening to the new Oxford CD at work a lot. Some familiar songs ("Bon Ton Roula," "Sugar Bee") but lots new to me: a great Johnny Adams oldie I hadn't heard before, and Margaret Lewis covering Johnny's "Reconsider Me." They always include one or two "arty" cuts (this time it's "Fifteen Saxophones" by Dickie Landry) that disrupt the flow.

Having friends over for jambalaya this weekend, and already planning what NOLA music will accompany!

― Sailor-neighbor of Chaucer's wife (Tubby) (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 10 January 2013 17:45 (twelve years ago)

Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws
STEP IS COMING TO TOWN! IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG
@Tremont Suites Ballroom, 222 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, MD
"Take Off" Texas Rollin' Empire Inaugural Zydeco Gala
Doors Open 8pm - 12 midnight Music all night

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 18:49 (twelve years ago)

Oh that's Friday and Saturday the 18th and 19th plus Dress: Semi Formal Western Wear "Glitz & Jeans"

I like Step's funky zydeco but am not likely gonna be able to head up to Charm City for the gig

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 January 2013 18:51 (twelve years ago)

three months pass...

Panel discussions Saturday April 20th at the EMP Pop Conference in New orleans at Tulane

Dancehalls of South Lousiana
12:00pm–1:00pm

A brownbag talk with John Sharp
Featuring
John Sharp

The Creolization of Cajun and Zydeco
1:15pm–2:45pm
Featuring
Michael Tisserand
Ben Sandmel
D'Jalma Garnier

http://empmuseum.org/programs-plus-education/programs/pop-conference/2013/emp-pop-conference-2013-new-orleans.aspx

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 17 April 2013 16:47 (twelve years ago)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/04/26/2552992/young-musicians-cling-to-cajun.html

"Cling"

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 27 April 2013 15:36 (twelve years ago)

heard lots of interesting stuff re zydeco and Cajun at EMP.

Meanwhile over in Texas there's a great Mothers Day weekend zydeco and Southern soul gig:

94.5's zydeco meets the blues fest:

May 11 (Skyline Ranch @ 1801 E. Wheatland Rd., Dallas, TX, 75241) 1:15pm

Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, Brian Jack and The Zydeco Gamblers, Lil' Nate & The Zydeco Big Timers Cupid, Mel Waiters, Floyd Taylor, Latimore, Denise LaSalle & The PG Man, and Don Diego & Eddie G

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:41 (twelve years ago)

http://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:42 (twelve years ago)

So if I was to get just one cajun/zydeco compilation, which should it be?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 29 April 2013 19:54 (twelve years ago)

let me think about it. I hope you realize that Cajun and Zydeco are 2 different things-- Cajun is more country and slower tempoed and is created by white folks descended from the French (and relies more on the fiddle); while Zydeco has faster tempos and is created by Afro-Creoles who incorporate r'n'b influences (and uses the accordion more than the fiddle).

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2013 21:44 (twelve years ago)

Yes, I realize I'm guilty of conflating two distinct styles. So recommend me one of each, then, fair play.

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 00:17 (twelve years ago)

You can't go wrong with any discs from Rhino's "Alligator Stomp" series. Start with Vol. 1.
http://s.ecrater.com/stores/67628/508d8fc58e9b8_67628n.jpg

― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 11:19 (twelve years ago)

As a marketing technique and from folks who don't know the difference Cajun and zydeco are often used interchangeably.

I still need to think of an answer as I just have mostly individual releases from artists and not compilations

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:14 (twelve years ago)

There's a nice reissue of Amade Ardoin that complicates the genre issue. He is a Creole who was making music long before zydeco became established. His sound is a bit like more what we think of as Cajun, but its different.

Arhoolie began releasing Cajun and zydeco long ago, need to see if they have any nice comps.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 30 April 2013 14:19 (twelve years ago)

two weeks pass...

Did not make it to Jazzfest this year, but this Gambit writer did:

The Fais Do-Do stage hosted a Lafayette double-header with stalwart young Cajun bands Feufollet and Pine Leaf Boys moving big crowds — despite a formidable mud pit. Showing off just how far Cajun music traditions can be pushed, Feufollet struck up an eerie uptempo take on Brian Eno's "Baby's On Fire," before cheekily asking the crowd, "Y'all ready for some Hall and Oates?"

Roots revival

The Pine Leaf Boys kicked the crowd into gear with a couple of mid-set covers, including a raucous "Great Balls of Fire" and a gorgeous, reverential Cajun tribute to George Jones with his "A Picture of Me (Without You)." The band continued its memorial with a tribute to Les Blank, the documentarian who helped revive interest in Cajun culture with a series of films in the 1970s. The band also caved to an audience request of an early track, "Pine Grove Blues."

Ramble on

"Who's beastin' it today?" shouted Lost Bayou Ramblers singer Louis Michot before the band launched into "The Bathtub," its cut from the Beasts of the Southern Wild soundtrack. The band ripped through songs from old and new albums, including the vinyl single "Bastille" that featured Gordon Gano and got a remix by GIVERS. The band finished its set by dedicating its French version of The Who's "My Generation" to a 30-year-veteran Jazz Fest stage member.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/gambit/thrills-and-chills/Content?oid=2197009

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 May 2013 15:37 (eleven years ago)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/26/nyregion/at-connollys-in-the-theater-district-les-bon-temps-rouler.html?ref=music&_r=0

Zydeco, Creole and Cajun dancing in NYC

― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 May 2013 17:56 (eleven years ago)

175 people at Connolly's in NYC at $20 some buck a person, means zydeco in NYC is not dead yet. Those same touring acts come to DC too. Alas, the Houston area ones I wanna see never come East.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 13:56 (eleven years ago)

Michael Arnone's Crawfish Festival is next weekend in New Jersey. June 1 & 2

It offers Cajun and zydeco plus New Orleans acts and jambands

http://www.crawfishfest.com/schedule.htm

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 14:26 (eleven years ago)

Lots of my east coast friends attend Crawfish Fest every year. I've never been, and don't know if that lineup is worth a cross-country trek for me.

I love Feufollet, and the idea of them covering Eno.

― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:09 (eleven years ago)

I know what you mean. The dancehall stage at that fest is geared to the hardcore dancers who don't mind dancing to the same group multiple times over several days. I love Rosie Ledet's zydeco, but she plays my way enough that I won't travel to see her.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:14 (eleven years ago)

I've never seen Wayne Singleton, or Cajun acts Jesse Lege; and Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:16 (eleven years ago)

Funny-ish story: drummer and I were waiting for our guitar player at practice Saturday and listening to Rajun' Cajun online radio from Larose, LA. (We play rockabilly/surf, not cajun/zyedco, we were just diggin' the music.) He shows up all agitated from getting stuck in traffic, and the chanky-chank is visually upsetting him as he searches for the volume control. "Gah, fuckin' circus music!"

― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:23 (eleven years ago)

I'm listening now, in fact. This is a great discovery:

http://www.klrzfm.com/

― New Authentic Everybootsy Collins (Dan Peterson), Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:25 (eleven years ago)

A brownbag talk with John Sharp
Featuring
John Sharp

I forgot to mention that in this history of Louisiana dancehalls presentation at the EMP conference in New Orleans in April, Sharp suggested that there are less rural dancehalls in Louisiana now of course; and more restaurants though that feature food and music. He also had photos of way old-school Cajun joints where guys would have to pay to get a ticket that would be stapled to their collar before they could ask a girl to dance and head onto the dancefloor. When not dancing they had to stay in a standing room narrow little bullpen. There were some photos of old Creole places as well.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2013 18:41 (eleven years ago)

one month passes...

I missed their DC area appearance yesterday, but folks who went are raving about Rusty Metoyer and Zydeco Krush, a young Louisiana Creole zydeco band

http://www.rustymetoyer.com/

― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 July 2013 14:38 (eleven years ago)

I also missed the recent appearance of the Lost Bayou Ramblers, a great raucus young Cajun band who I have seen and danced to in New Orleans and San Francisco. See my May 2013 posting above

― curmudgeon, Monday, 15 July 2013 14:40 (eleven years ago)

http://www.paulasher.com/cajunuk/

website for Cajun and zydeco in the UK

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 July 2013 13:53 (eleven years ago)

one month passes...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzcOv3EOwPo

Whiskey River Jitterbug dancing adapted by zydeco dancers

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 13:46 (eleven years ago)

http://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/lecajun.html

Cajun (and Creole?) award nominations. Winners have not been posted yet

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 13:47 (eleven years ago)

x-post--that video is of folks dancing to speedy Steve Riley Cajun, but I read elsewhere that such arm movements have been adapted by zydeco dancers as well

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 August 2013 22:56 (eleven years ago)

one month passes...

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzev7054/dancingbythebayoufalldancefestival/

Nice bill next weekend in the D.C. burbs with bands led by Rusty Metoyer, Step Rideau and Jesse Lege

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 September 2013 18:25 (eleven years ago)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/10/04/shutdown-wont-put-a-damper-on-step-rideaus-zydeco-party-this-weekend/

My interview with H-town's Step Rideau

― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 October 2013 18:59 (eleven years ago)

three weeks pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrjKbv0-UF8

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 27 October 2013 04:55 (eleven years ago)

WPFW radio keeps playing 2 years later this zydeco/southern soul song "Ride it like a Cowboy (like a rodeo/back that thing up)"
by Kenne Wayne (spelling?) that has inspired a line dance

Great song

I had posted this on the chitlin circuit southern soul thread

― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 October 2013 15:13 (eleven years ago)

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/03/240744661/accordions-beer-and-god-zydeco-in-gran-texas?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

― curmudgeon, Monday, 4 November 2013 15:31 (eleven years ago)

two months pass...

I heard a great zydeco meets southern soul meets autotuned vocal song on the radio Saturday... "Zydeco swag" maybe? Not sure of the title

― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 January 2014 16:40 (eleven years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/its-a-new-day-for-rachel/134360

Wanna help zydeco musician Curley Taylor's wife beat cancer

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 February 2014 22:09 (eleven years ago)

And hope for the best re Cajun guitarist from the Basin Brothers band

Al Berard had a brain hemorrhage early this morning. Details are not known at this time.

Not happy Mardi Gras news alas

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 February 2014 15:32 (eleven years ago)

I think Al's health took a turn for the worst according to an Acadiana google group

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 26 February 2014 16:00 (eleven years ago)

RIP Al

http://www.theadvertiser.com/viewart/20140226/ACADIANA04/302260012/Musicians-friends-recall-Al-Berard

Only 53 years old

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 February 2014 19:35 (eleven years ago)

Some of the same zydeco acts that always come to my area, are returning around Mardi Gras; I wish there was a way to get the hip-hop inflected Houston zydeco acts that rarely tour to come up here (but unless I win the lottery and book 'em myself that likely won't happen). Need to go visit Houston

― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 February 2014 17:24 (eleven years ago)

Not familiar at all with zydeco. Any songs you'd recommend for the 'younger', 'hip' crowd? I want to see if I can throw some of these at my next party.

― Moka, Saturday, 1 March 2014 00:20 (eleven years ago)

Yes. There are zydeco cuts that add autotuned r'n'b vocals and synths to the traditional accordion, rubboard and rhythm section sound that should work.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 1 March 2014 16:02 (eleven years ago)

Leon Chavis
These days, Leon and artists like Chris Ardoin, Travis Matte and others continue the tradition of innovation by incorporating elements of hip-hop and contemporary R&B, like Autotune, sampling and drum machines, while keeping the signature rubboard and accordion sounds. Keith Frank had a regional hit last year with a remix of his song “Haterz,” which featured Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie; Chavis and pretty much an entire generation of zydeco young bloods guest on R&B singer Cupid’s zydeco hit “Do It With Your Boots On.”

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/11/new-school_zydeco_from_leon_ch.html

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 March 2014 20:18 (eleven years ago)

I found mention of more new sounding zydeco tracks on Big Daddy Nice's Southern Soul r'n'b blog. Will post 'em here later today, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras....

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 March 2014 15:27 (eleven years ago)

x-post re death of youngish guitarist Al Berard

'http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/698055/emal/847040'

Here is the copy of the link to the campaign fund we have set up for anyone who wishes to contribute to Al's guitar project CD. This could be a great gesture in lieu or in addition to flowers for the service Saturday.
We lost an amazing man, father, husband, musician, cultural ambassador and beautiful spirit in the passing of Al Berard. Days before he passed, he finished a lifelong dream of recording a guitar album of his original music. Please help fund the production and distribution costs to help his dream come to life. Many thanks.

Contributors will get a copy of his album -- a digital download, an actual CD, or both.

Even if you're unable to contribute, please share this campaign with others. And even more true to Al's amazing spirit, continue to share the LOVE.

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 March 2014 18:17 (eleven years ago)

x-post -from Daddy B. Nice's soul blog-

Tyree Neal - "She Gone Make Me Fall In Love"

Avail Hollywood-Zydeco shuffle and "Club in da Woods"

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 March 2014 18:28 (eleven years ago)

one month passes...

It is with great sadness we note the passing of Kevin Carrier. In his prime he was one of the best damn bass players in all of Zydeco.

Kevin Wayne Carrier Age 40

Kevin Carrier died Sunday, April 6 from complications of Congestive Heart Failure at Opelousas General Health System.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 19:10 (eleven years ago)

Was a member of Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, and was Chubby Carrier's brother I think

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 19:13 (eleven years ago)

Sun. 4-27- Koray Broussard & Zydeco Unit from the bayou at Gypsy Sally’s in W. DC. (funky modern zydeco with some hiphop accents it appears)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 19:14 (eleven years ago)

Koray Broussard comes from a strong heritage of Zydeco greats—grandson of Delton Broussard and nephew of the legendary Jeffery Broussard

I bet he's doing some other east coast gigs too

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 22 April 2014 19:17 (eleven years ago)

Missed the DC gig, plus the various Cajun & Zydeco bands playing last weekend in Louisiana festivals...

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 April 2014 17:08 (eleven years ago)

http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Zydeco-Mexican-Connection-hits-all-the-right-notes-5460769.php

Zydeco-Mexican Connection hits all the right notes
Jesse Hamlin
Eugene Rodriguez: Connecting zydeco with the traditional music of Mexico hits all the right notes
Eugene Rodriguez was playing a gig last year in Pescadero with Los Cenzontles, the Mexican American roots band from the vital San Pablo cultural center of the same name, when the sound man told him he had to meet another rocking musician from the Richmond area, the zydeco accordionist Andre Thierry. The name vaguely rang a bell, but Rodriguez didn't know Thierry's music or much about Richmond's Louisiana Creole community and its rich music and dance tradition.

He got up to speed after checking out Thierry - major instrumental chops, soulful singing voice - and connecting with him online. Rodriguez invited the accordionist to jam with Los Cenzontles and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, a longtime Los Cenzontles collaborator who knew that Queen Ida had been part of a lively zydeco scene in Richmond and who was eager to come play with this young Creole dude. Hidalgo and the band were bowled over by Thierry, with whom they're creating a new multimedia project called the Zydeco-Mexican Connection.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 10 May 2014 18:15 (ten years ago)

British pop singer Lily Allen listens to Louisiana swamp pop (Wish I could get Lil' Band of Gold to play my wedding. They're a great band. Robert Plant likes 'em too):

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/arts/music/lily-allen-at-home-in-england.html?ref=music

My husband is a big fan of the whole kind of Louisiana swamp pop scene, so we listened to a lot of Cajun stuff. We actually flew a band called the Lil’ Band o’ Gold over for our wedding, and they played here. There’s another guy called Tommy McLain, who did this song called “Before I Grow Too Old,” and that was our first dance.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 12 May 2014 00:21 (ten years ago)

Lil' Band of Gold are an awesome supergroup of sorts with Steve Riley and others

― curmudgeon, Monday, 12 May 2014 15:21 (ten years ago)

i have a question... does zydeco still have a lot of popular currency in louisiana/texas? i mean, i know that lots of roots-music heads etc. listen to it, but is it still played in bars and stuff? and what's the usual age of the audience?

― espring (amateurist), Monday, 12 May 2014 17:32 (ten years ago)

Zydeco does still have popular currency in Southern Louisiana and in the Houston region of Texas among Afro-Creole raised residents. It's a passed down family genre that also generates youtube videos of folks dancing to hiphop-inflected, autotuned vocal zydeco songs (upthread I mention and link to some). I shamefully must admit to not having been to those portions of Louisiana and Texas myself, but heard discussions of this at last year's EMP Pop Conference in New Orleans, and I've read and heard and watched stuff myself online and in print (plus seen young zydeco bands on tour and in New Orleans). I think the audience down there may be aging a bit, but there are still young folks into it

― curmudgeon, Monday, 12 May 2014 17:50 (ten years ago)

http://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html

Check out the flyers and listings

― curmudgeon, Monday, 12 May 2014 17:53 (ten years ago)

four weeks pass...

The Revelers (newish group that contains some folks from the Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys) play some swamp-pop (yes!)

The Revelers add 1950s and ’60s Louisiana rock ’n’ roll and New Orleans R&B-derived swamp pop to their recordings and set lists. Currently recording the second Revelers album in Lafayette (for release next winter), the band will issue “The History of Swamp Pop, Vol. 1,” in 7-inch vinyl and digital formats in July.

http://theadvocate.com/utility/homepagestories/9084760-129/swamp-pop-supergroup-the-revelers

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 June 2014 19:18 (ten years ago)

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/06/17/new-zydeco-project-heading-philly-beyond/10704687/

excerpt:

Philadelphia public radio station WXPN announced Tuesday that "Zydeco Crossroads" will present the music's past and present through a 15-month series of concerts, educational events and a new documentary film by producer Robert Mugge.

Supported by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, "Zydeco Crossroads" is a multimedia project that includes a website with field recordings, music streams, performance footage and original contributions from authors and scholars Nick Spitzer, Ben Sandmel and others.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 19 June 2014 16:43 (ten years ago)

x-post--I listened to the Revelers on Spotify and they sound great. Some nice rhythmic Cajun tunes plus catchy swamp pop ones that have an almost NRBQ at their most pop phase feel

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 June 2014 14:47 (ten years ago)

two months pass...

http://www.rhythmandroots.com/ws/pages/artists.php

Lots of Northeast US zydeco dancers heading to this Labor Day weekend fest in Rhode Island with zydeco, Cajun, Tex-mex, roots and ugh--- jam bands

― curmudgeon, Friday, 29 August 2014 19:33 (ten years ago)

I'll be there Sunday. The most wonderful time of the year.
Looking forward to The Handsome Family and Charles Bradley in particular.

― Jazzbo, Friday, 29 August 2014 20:00 (ten years ago)

Chares Bradley sounds great and he and his band put on an enjoyable James Brown inspired show.

Go see the Revelers for me--Swamp pop and Cajun band I mentioned a few posts up. I have never been to the fest. It does look like it has lots to offer

― curmudgeon, Friday, 29 August 2014 20:14 (ten years ago)

three weeks pass...

This jam is some dope-smoking long-haired swamp pop from 1972 - has a bit of a Doug Sahm vibe. It's a borderline novelty song - all the youtube comments are from locals who remember loving it when they were little kids - but it's catchy as hell. It's on one of the Aquarium Drunkard Louisiana mixes too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=018Wyc36YGc

― Brio2, Wednesday, 24 September 2014 20:42 (ten years ago)

also Arhoolie's selling off their 45's at 5 bucks a pop, and saying they won't be repressing them. lots of classics here:
http://www.arhoolie.com/vinyl-lps-and-45s/45-rpm/

― Brio2, Wednesday, 24 September 2014 20:47 (ten years ago)

Cool. Thanks

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 September 2014 04:51 (ten years ago)

thank you! this thread is great, wish I had more to add.

― Brio2, Thursday, 25 September 2014 16:17 (ten years ago)

Wish I could fly down to Louisiana for this Thursday event and a festival that's going on through the weekend (with good music plus alligator po-boys to eat). Spitzer, Ancelet, and Sandmel are smart and entertaining, and the musicians panel should be great too (based on having heard some of them speak before)

http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/music/40th-anniversary-events.html

Thursday, October 9

Hamilton Hall Auditorium - University of Louisiana at Lafayette

9:00 - 9:45

"Themes of Cultural Conservation, Creolization and Modernization in the Work of Alan Lomax and Ralph Rinzler"
Nick Spitzer, keynote

10:00 - 11:30

"Academic and Journalistic Perspectives on Festivals Acadiens et Creoles"
Mark DeWitt (moderator), University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Barry Ancelet, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Josh Caffery, Indiana University
Nathan Salsburg, Association for Cultural Equity
Ben Sandmel, writer and folklorist
Nick Spitzer, Tulane University

11:30 - 1:30

Lunch

1:30 - 2:15

"The History of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles"
Barry Ancelet, keynote
With personal observations by Keith Cravey

2:30 - 4:00

"Musicians and Family Members Reflect on the Festival"
Pat Mould, moderator
Lawrence Ardoin
Christine Balfa
Michael Doucet
Ann Savoy
Gary Newman

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 October 2014 15:00 (ten years ago)

http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/music/

Hmmm, the Thursday through Sunday music schedule is not opening for me right now...

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 October 2014 15:04 (ten years ago)

http://www.arnb.org/louisiana.php?genre=cz

Plenty of listings here. Ooh, Warren Storm's gonna be at that fest, swamp-pop fans!

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 October 2014 15:29 (ten years ago)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/46442/lil-pookie-and-the-zydeco-sensations-at-college-park-american/

A current fave of mine. He's gonna be at the Dancing by the Bayou fest in Glen Echo, MD near DC Saturday; and in College Park, MD Sunday

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 October 2014 22:28 (ten years ago)

It bugs me that the folks who do that American organization in Nashville and do an annual festival now (that was covered by NPR/Bob Boilen and by Ann Powers reverently) do not emphasize zydeco

― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:50 (ten years ago)

Americana I mean...

― curmudgeon, Friday, 17 October 2014 13:50 (ten years ago)

KRVS is hosting two events at the Blue Moon Saloon Thursday, October 30th. From 7-10pm, we're celebrating a KRVS member-only LIVE broadcast and taping of WXPN's Zydeco Crossroads featuring Creole United with hosts David Dye of World Cafe and KRVS' own Herman Fuselier. This will be followed by an after party from 10pm-12midnight with music by Soul Creole.

Creole United is an all-star band made up of six Zydeco band leaders: Andre Thierry, Sean Ardoin, Edward Poullard, Rusty Metoyer, Jeffery Broussard and Lawrence Ardoin.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 October 2014 18:13 (ten years ago)

two months pass...

This is how they do zydeco in Houston...an upcoming January gig:

Come pass a good time with the Wolf Pack Riders and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers! If you were there last year you know that it was bananas inside! FREE FOOD! This yr we are offering reserved tables with bottle service starting at $80!

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 December 2014 22:34 (ten years ago)

It's Jabo, the Texas Prince of zydeco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OXEtnhGZLI

― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 December 2014 22:49 (ten years ago)

two months pass...

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-09/how-cajuns-reinvented-rock-n-roll-swamp-style

swamp pop history lesson (leaves out some but still worth hearing)

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 March 2015 22:41 (ten years ago)

ace records has been putting out a seemingly never-ending string of swamp-pop and louisiana R&B compilations that are all pretty smokin'

― he quipped with heat (amateurist), Wednesday, 11 March 2015 22:42 (ten years ago)

Old school swamp pop singer and drummer Warren Storm used to drum and sing for Steve Riley & CC Adcock's side-project swamp pop and rock group Lil Band of Gold. Saw them live twice and they were awesome.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 12 March 2015 00:15 (ten years ago)

Baton Rouge or New Orleans based Stephanie McDee did this song a few years back and it was more recently covered by Neneh Cherry and the Thing (the jazz group she worked with for awhile)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ayo2iTVpOI

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 15 March 2015 20:12 (ten years ago)

Quintron & Ms Pussyvcat also covered that song, plus Keith Frank's "Haterz"

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 15 March 2015 20:33 (ten years ago)

two weeks pass...

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/30/feufollet-capably-mixes-alt-country-and-cajun-music

Feofollet have changed singers and their sound a bit. They're getting good reviews. I haven't heard it yet, and missed their most recent show in town

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2015 18:16 (ten years ago)

Feufollet

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 April 2015 18:16 (ten years ago)

The Annual Easter Zydeco, Trail Ride, and Rodeo Weekend is April 3rd, 4th and 5th the Trinity Valley Exposition Fairgrounds, FM 563 in Liberty.

Gates open 12 noon Fri., April 3. Lil’ Nate & The Zydeco Big Timers will perform 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday evening.

Sat., April 4, Calf Roping begins at 9 a.m. Gospel singing by Chester Baldwin starts at 10 a.m. The trailride is at 2 p.m.

Leon Chavis & The Zydeco Flames will perform 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday evening.

The Easter Rodeo is Sun., April 5. Sunday evening’s entertainment is Brian Jack & The Zydeco Gamblers from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

http://www.thevindicator.com/history/article_557196ca-d8af-11e4-bb85-3b3f6754cb18.html

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 April 2015 18:25 (ten years ago)

Liberty is a Texas town in the Houston area

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 April 2015 18:26 (ten years ago)

three months pass...

Turner Classic Movies cable channel(TCM) is showing a bunch of Les Blank movie docs tonight Tuesday the 28th through the wee hours of Wednesday morning. They are starting at 8 EST with

8 pm Les Blank 1 hour doc Always for Pleasure from 1978 New Orleans that includes Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas , the Wild Tchoupitoulas and more;

Later there will be docs about Creole and Cajun culture and cooking plus a post-midnight showing of a doc about zydeco legend Clifton Chenier

TCM website has the listings

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 July 2015 15:30 (nine years ago)

You are fucking kidding me? I canceled cable not four days ago and I've been wanting to see these for years. I was going to buy the Les Blank Blu-Ray set, which includes "Always for Pleasure," but I was hoping for the price to come down. I would have DVR'd all of these. Fuck me.

― Jazzbo, Tuesday, 28 July 2015 15:45 (nine years ago)

I was up way too late and saw a little of the Clifton Chenier Hot Pepper one. It had some great footage of him onstage; and also playing on a front porch with his cousin. I got my dad to dvr some of 'em for me.

There's an interesting Christgau commentary on Les Blank from back in 1979 I think (someone just tweeted it). Will add it here later

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 29 July 2015 19:19 (nine years ago)

http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/movies/

The Les Blank movies are available on TCM on Demand until August 5th

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 July 2015 03:45 (nine years ago)

http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/misc/blank-79.php

Christgau re Les Blank

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 July 2015 16:02 (nine years ago)

The Les Blank movies are available on TCM on Demand until August 5th

I still need a cable provider to watch TCM on demand, and all I’ve got is Apple TV. Think I’m just going to shell out $65 for the Blu-Ray box set. The more I read about these films, the more they’ve got me salivating.

― Jazzbo, Thursday, 30 July 2015 16:13 (nine years ago)

And I did. Package is expected to arrive tomorrow.

― Jazzbo, Friday, 31 July 2015 14:28 (nine years ago)

I watched some of the 1978 one about New Orleans on my 'puter, as I pay too much for cable.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 July 2015 18:32 (nine years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150823/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150829859#

Rhythm and Roots fest in Rhode Island organizer struggles a bit, but he's got zydeco and more this year

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 25 August 2015 19:19 (nine years ago)

My wife and I will be there Saturday. Always our favorite day of the year. However, I heard they were getting rid of the main stage dance tent this year, which sucks if true.

― Jazzbo, Friday, 28 August 2015 13:25 (nine years ago)

I know some zydeco dancing folks from my part of the US who are traveling up there for the fest. I am not gonna make it.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 28 August 2015 14:00 (nine years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/10/15/sonnier-responds-tragedies-healin-song/73923682/

Sonnier unveiled “The Healin’ Song” and its all-star lineup of musicians at a press conference Wednesday at the Community Foundation of Acadiana. Sonnier and organizers hope the song and video move listeners to donate to the Healin’ Song Fund, an account with funds that the CFA will administer to community needs on an as-needed basis.

Sonnier called on Cajun and zydeco musicians who account for nearly 40 Grammy nominations and 10 Grammy wins to sing or play on the project. Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, Chubby Carrier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Yvette Landry, Roddie Romero, Eric Adcock, Michael Doucet and Sonny Landreth were among the participants

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 October 2015 16:14 (nine years ago)

been watching a bunch of les blank docs and it's making me think i need more cajun/zydeco music in my life. also more cajun food.

― tylerw, Monday, 19 October 2015 16:22 (nine years ago)

Those Les Blank docs will do that. I am not enough of a foodie to know which is Cajun food and which is Creole food...

Just me being pedantic re Cajun being country (French Acadian-Louisiana), and zydeco being Creole (afro-Louisiana but also a bit French Acadian)...

― curmudgeon, Monday, 19 October 2015 17:33 (nine years ago)

I take Xgau's point about Blank, but I love his stuff because I'm more of a rank sentimentalist/folkie

― it's not a tuomas (benbbag), Tuesday, 20 October 2015 00:46 (nine years ago)

This looks great but a roadtrip is not in the cards for me this weekend

WXPN's Zydeco Crossroads Weekend
in Philadelphia October 23 & 24

Details here:
http://tickets.worldcafelive.com/event/934713

Featuring:
Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band
Rosie Ledet
Ruben Moreno
Corey Ledet and His Zydeco Band
Wayne Singleton & Same Ol' 2 Step

and the premiere of Robert Mugge's film
Zydeco Crossroads: A Tale of Two Cities

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 October 2015 02:33 (nine years ago)

I think director Mugge has been influenced by Blank. I have seen and danced to Keith and Rosie, but not the others, although I have heard good things from them all.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 October 2015 15:01 (nine years ago)

one month passes...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/12/07/revelers-feeling-really-cool-grammy-nomination/76934820/

Cajun band from Louisiana with former members of the Red Stick Ramblers

― curmudgeon, Monday, 7 December 2015 22:24 (nine years ago)

Watched a bunch of zydeco dancing YouTube videos yesterday. Looks fun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pjfeOj9HE

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OFVBghVUSwk

― i;m thinking about thos Beans (Michael B), Monday, 14 December 2015 21:06 (nine years ago)

It is although some folks try a little too hard to be all fancy with too many spins and such. It takes a lot of practice too.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 December 2015 03:48 (nine years ago)

And some folks who get really good at couples zydeco dancing, sneer at those who are not so good. Or maybe that's just me being paranoid...

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 December 2015 18:33 (nine years ago)

one month passes...

Sad news. I always wanted to go there and now its closing

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/01/17/after-69-years-slims-ki-ki-closing/78942360/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

January 17, 2016

After 69 years, Slim's Y-Ki-Ki closing

Herman Fuselier

Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, a zydeco dancehall in Opelousas since 1947, has closed its doors. Owner Tony Gradney confirmed Sunday that the club is no longer in business and held its last event Dec. 29. The world-renowned dancehall will likely be appraised soon and put up for sale. As word of the club’s closure spread last week, Gradney has had at least six people inquire about buying it.

But Gradney, 58, said he’s had enough. Since they were teenagers, Tony and his sister, Cynthia, 67, have worked in the club, opened by their late father, Arnold “Slim” Gradney. Grammy winners, like Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Sidney and Terrance Simien, cut their musical teeth at Slim’s. Clifton Chenier, the late King of Zydeco, are among the Grammy winners who have performed at Slim's Y-Ki-Kin in Opelousas.

Media outlets across the globe have visited the club. “Passion Fish,” a 1992, Oscar-nominated movie starring Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodard, features a frenetic dance scene with John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys on stage at Slim’s. But Gradney said, in recent years, the atmosphere has changed. Ever-increasing expenses, along with young, often unruly crowds, caused him to close the doors. “It’s a lot of changes with the crowd that’s coming out now,” said Gradney, who works as a pipeline welder. “My sister is at the age where she couldn’t handle it anymore. We decided, after 43 years, it was time for a break.

“It’s a younger crowd and a lot of disrespect. They’ll take off their shirt and want to dance with no shirt. It’s not like it used to be with the older people. People would just come out and have a good time. You’re under four hours of nothing but stress now.” Gradney said band fees have only elevated the stress level. Top zydeco bands have charged him $3,500 or more for one performance. Gradney said there’s little money left to make a profit. “They don’t look at the overhead you have, the utilities and things like that. They tell me, ‘We’ll take the door (cover charge.) They’ll start off charging at $10, then $15 and $20. By midnight, they’ll have a packed house.

“They’ll put the money in their pockets and go home. Then you have all the stress of what the night crowd destroyed and what you have to fix. It got to where we weren’t hardly making any more money.” Gradney longs for the days when parents, often dressed in their Sunday best, brought the entire family to Slim’s. Besides the legendary musicians, he recalls numerous couples who married after meeting at the club. Gradney said he’ll miss the good times and cherish the old memories. But recent memories haven’t been pleasant.

“Things changed when the older crowd stopped coming out. Before you used to be able to kick back, enjoy it and let the night go on. “Now, you have to be on your Ps and Qs at all times. The things they do now are very disrespectful. "We said, 'Let’s close and have good remembrances.' My sister and I did 43 years of this for the public and we never had bad, bad stuff at the place. We need to go out with it like that. Back in the day, it was a nice place to come out and enjoy yourself.”

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 January 2016 23:42 (nine years ago)

So the late Houston, Texas music scholar Mack McCormick helped Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie find Lightnin Hopkins who introduced them to the live zydeco music of CJ Chenier, way back when. Of course.

https://books.google.com/books?id=30-bCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=houston+zydeco+mack+mccormick&source=bl&ots=_bexZC2lep&sig=VA2YWhU2nNmjw3Xs9zkOhDY5jHI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9za6G8bjKAhVN7mMKHSZmAqMQ6AEIPDAF#v=onepage&q=houston%20zydeco%20mack%20mccormick&f=false

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 20 January 2016 17:23 (nine years ago)

one month passes...

I am really liking this Revelers album "Get Ready." It was Grammy nominated but lost. The Revelers are a rockin Cajun band who also do swamp pop, made up of members from the Pine Leaf Boys and the red Stick Ramblers. They have horns and an accordion. They are coming to the DC area March 11th and 12th

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 04:13 (nine years ago)

Well, some of the album is not all that. The songs with the country-swing influence from the Red Stick Ramblers. Their swamp pop is good but not quite at the Lil Band of Gold level

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 13:58 (nine years ago)

i enjoyed lil nathan & the zydeco big timers' 2015 record face 2 face, good mix of covers and originals. definitely in the modern digital zydeco style that i know some find offputting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSna6r2cJZc

― adam, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 14:58 (nine years ago)

argh sorry for embed

― adam, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 14:58 (nine years ago)

it occurs to me i've never hyped my former coworker jim's excellent WWOZ show on this thread--sundays at 1pm central check it out. dude is extremely knowledgeable about cajun and southwestern LA music.

― adam, Wednesday, 2 March 2016 15:00 (nine years ago)

Thanks for both. The modern digital zydeco types never come up North.

Revelers md gig last night emphasized Cajun waltzes, ballads and swamp pop ballads. Nice but I coulda used more of their rockin tunes

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 March 2016 18:23 (nine years ago)

Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters are making their first trip up north. Thursday show in College Park, D. Cedryl's got a great contemporary r'n'b voice that he mixes with more traditional zydeco playing . A native of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Cedryl (pronounced “see-DRELL”) Ballou began playing music at the tender age of five, making his professional debut as a drummer with his grandfather, legendary guitar pioneer Classie Ballou, at the age of 11. His future as a frontman was inevitable—both Cedryl’s father, Cedric Ballou, and step-grandfather, “Rockin’ Sidney” Simien, were successful touring musicians, and Cedryl grew up steeped in Creole music and culture.

“Being raised in a family of musicians gave me the chance to learn the ropes,” says Ballou, “but also the freedom to try new things. This music is all about people—people change, and the music changes with us. ”

A young but seasoned zydeco musician and singer, Ballou shifts easily from drums to accordion and vocals, fronting the Zydeco Trendsetters and touring extensively with regional Zydeco artists, including Andre Thierry, Corey Ledet, Rosie Ledet, Step Rideau and Soul Creole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2y7MyVQVHA&ebc=ANyPxKrUFkIoLsWWx7HwFngR9RVsjYlhMMOrH6PXFDjS7j1rxoGzVErkcqAmxyTUf_bZYr1cdAwT4xfyIkbMFijvqTR1izeQKw

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 13 March 2016 18:26 (nine years ago)

That's near me. Where exactly in cp?

― Heez, Sunday, 13 March 2016 22:16 (nine years ago)

Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters at College Park American Legion at 8 pm, 9218 Baltimore Ave (Route 1), College Park, MD

DC, Maryland, Philly, and New York zydeco and Cajun gigs are often listed here:

http://www.wherewegotozydeco.com/

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 March 2016 13:42 (nine years ago)

In the DC area there is a group of oh 50 to 75 people who are real into zydeco and Cajun couples dancing. But no need to feel intimidated by them if one is not able to or doesn't want to dance like that. Standing and head-noddin is ok.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 March 2016 13:44 (nine years ago)

Some dances have lessons beforehand

― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 March 2016 13:45 (nine years ago)

Oh I'm gonna dance!

― Heez, Monday, 14 March 2016 15:05 (nine years ago)

Report back here. Not sure if I am gonna make it there.

At the Revelers gig, one of the promoters was telling me that Geno Delafose, who used to tour a fair but, just stays home now as he can make decent money and still sleep in his own bed. Also, the same with Houston-based and Louisiana based zydeco bands that add autotune and synth funkiness.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 March 2016 16:20 (nine years ago)

I need to research online and see if I can find recorded material by Houston combos and Louisiana folks who don't tour

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 17 March 2016 18:11 (nine years ago)

http://theind.com/article-22882-David-Egan-has-died.html

David Egan, one of the bright lights in South Louisiana’s musical firmament, has died. The singer-songwriter, whose tunes were covered (and on Grammy-nominated and -winning records) by Irma Thomas, Joe Cocker, Solomon Burke, Etta James and many others, succumbed to cancer after a two-year battle. He died at home surrounded by family.

Egan was a member of several trailblazing Louisiana bands including A-Train, Filé and Lil’ Band O’ Gold.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 18 March 2016 20:39 (nine years ago)

two months pass...

http://www.offbeat.com/news/lost-bayou-ramblers-louis-michot-host-residency-eclectic-new-york-city-venue/

May 31 to June 5

The series will begin on Tuesday, May 31 with an early set from his family band–Les Freres Michot–which feature his father Tommy Michot on accordion and his brother Andre Michot on guitar. It will be followed by a standard set from the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Michot will lead a number of other off-kilter performances throughout the week, including sets from the Lost Bayou Ramblers Unplugged, Spider and the Cajuns (playing The Pogues with Spider Stacy of The Pogues), Michot’s Meldoy Melody Makers, The Mello Joy Boys (cajun swing), Le String Noise (violins ‘n’ fiddle) and a rendition of the Beasts of the Southern Wild score with members of the Wordless Music Orchestra. Some of these acts will be performing for the first, and possibly the last, time.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 25 May 2016 15:29 (eight years ago)

two months pass...

http://yvettelandry.com/web/about-yvette/

Louisiana Cajun musician (and professor) coming to the US East coast for some gigs in September

― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 August 2016 16:48 (eight years ago)

http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2016/08/91-year-old-henry-gray-has-lost-everything-in-louisiana-flooding/

Not zydeco or Cajun, but from Louisiana.

Legendary blues piano player Henry Gray is a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, hard hit by the flooding. Henry’s home is underwater and earlier today Henry stated “I lost everything.”

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 20 August 2016 16:52 (eight years ago)

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2016/08/geno_delafose_flood_water_resc.html

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 21 August 2016 13:25 (eight years ago)

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/08/18/fundraiser-set-up-buckwheat-zydeco/88943794/

A portion of the article--

Friends of Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr., leader of Buckwheat Zydeco, have established a GoFundMe account to raise money for the Emmy- and Grammy-winning musician. Dural, who has been seriously ill with lung cancer, is dealing with high medical bills and other expenses.
Dural’s illness has caused him to miss numerous gigs in the past year.
According to spokesperson Dustin Cravins, Dural’s struggles increased last weekend when his Carencro home took on some water during the historic flood that struck south Louisiana. Bernite Dural, his wife of 40 years, suffered a fall during the cleanup.

https://www.gofundme.com/2khuzztk

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 21 August 2016 18:42 (eight years ago)

Lost Bayou Ramblers instagram says they are releasing an old show of theirs on bandcamp as a Louisiana flooding fundraiser. They are also doing multiple benefit events down there Friday night Aug. 26th

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 23 August 2016 17:16 (eight years ago)

Yvette Landry often sounds more country than Cajun, though she has played with Cajun bands

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 August 2016 16:12 (eight years ago)

four weeks pass...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/09/24/dural-leader-buckwheat-zydeco-passes-away/90910752/

accordionist, bandleader, keyboard player too...

RIP, dead at 68 from lung cancer

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 24 September 2016 13:07 (eight years ago)

three weeks pass...

*Sat. Oct. 22-Cajun and Zydeco Music Festival at Glen Echo w/ Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco TrendSetters; Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys; T'Monde; Squeeze Bayou Cajun Band; and Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble 2pm to 12mdt.

I want to see Ballou (who's also playing tonight) but am gonna have to miss both gigs

― curmudgeon, Friday, 21 October 2016 17:39 (eight years ago)

two months pass...

From Big Daddy Nice's southern soul r'n'b blog/website

Finally, Zydeco continued to influence and infiltrate southern soul, with none other than traditionalist Ecko Records' John Ward picking up tricks from newbies like Baton Rouge producer Beat Flippa (last year's winner) and giving strong proof for producer of the year. Ward incorporated the cajun-style button accordion into percolating fast jams by Jaye Hammer, ("Trail Ride") and O.B. Buchana ("Why Can't I Be Your Lover"). And on the other side, zydeco's Chris Ardoin (following in Keith Frank's footsteps) moved ever closer to a zydeco-southern soul hybrid with the rhapsodic "Boo Thang."

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 January 2017 19:04 (eight years ago)

Southern soul singer Ms. Jody on Ecko has a zydeco mentioning and influenced song too

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 3 January 2017 19:06 (eight years ago)

two months pass...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/travel/louisiana-zydeco-music-capital-accordions-etouffee-dancing.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmusic&action=click&contentCollection=music®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=sectionfront

Travel article piece with a kinda generic zydeco overview plus a focus on The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette, and Buck & Johnny’s in Breaux Bridge. Some good info

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 March 2017 17:48 (eight years ago)

Southern soul act Mr. Sam does "Zydeco Sum Mo"

― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 March 2017 02:56 (eight years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2017/06/22/cajun-music-legend-belton-richard-dies/418555001/

In her book, “Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People,” author Ann Savoy wrote “Belton Richard is the most widely imitated singer and musician in southwest Louisiana today. Not only has his vocal style set the new standard for Cajun singers, but his songs are played at every dance. Belton Richard’s poetry looks at life with a tough romanticism that appeals to the earthy Cajuns.”

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 July 2017 14:12 (seven years ago)

three weeks pass...

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-d-l-menard-20170728-story.html

The 85-year old Cajun Hank Williams, D.L. Menard has passed. He was enjoyable when I saw him live.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 29 July 2017 20:36 (seven years ago)

four weeks pass...

Houston-born zydeco musician Cory Ledet and band are ok according to twitter (re the flood), but stuck in a Houston subdivision

― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 August 2017 19:22 (seven years ago)

John Nova Lomax article from January 2017

http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/houston-heightss-cajun-invasion/

Houston experiences the same sweltering and sticky climate that afflicts New Orleans and Lafayette. Our Bayou City braces for the same natural disasters—hurricanes and floods—as the Bayou State (Houstonians barely know the tornados that afflict northern and western Texas or the ice storms that paralyze Dallas). Like South Louisiana, the Houston area has seen large-scale sugar and rice production. The I-10 corridor is lined with oil refineries from east Houston all the way to Lake Charles. You can still hear Cajun and Creole music regularly on the radio on noncommercial stations like KPFT and Majic 102, a commercial R&B station.

I could go on, but here is the kicker to my bold declaration. I invite you to drive past the Spanish moss-draped live oaks and swampy prairie landscapes west of Houston on Interstate 10. I promise, it won’t feel as though you’ve entered “real Texas” until you hit the Peach Ridge Road exit out by Brookshire, where the ground finally starts to get a little roll to it. That, and not the Sabine River, is where you are finally truly leaving Louisiana.

According to the “best guesstimate” of Jim Gossen, chairman of Houston-based Sysco Louisiana Seafood, Houstonians now annually consume more crawfish than the entire state of Louisiana.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 August 2017 17:20 (seven years ago)

one month passes...

Marcus Ardoin & the Zydeco Legendz

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kwVvmfuR9T0

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 23:59 (seven years ago)

three months pass...

Lost Bayou Ramblers , Cajun band, won the best regional traditional music Grammy for their Kalenda album beating out Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers and Northern Cree (a Canadian native/aboriginal North American group) .

Meanwhile Houston has a big zydeco fest April 7th 2018

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-houston-zydeco-fest-tickets-40606022707

LIL NATE & THE ZYDECO BIG TYMERS

BRIAN JACK & THE ZYDECO GAMBLERS

KEYUN & THE ZYDECO MASTERS

RUBEN MORENO & ZYDECO RE-EVOLUTION

LIL JABB & THE ZYDECO SOLDIERS

OFFICIAL DJ: DJ JACK FROST

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 January 2018 19:52 (seven years ago)

three months pass...

http://www.99playboys.com/

A new project by Jean Bertrand (of the Pine Leaf Boys)

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 15 May 2018 02:21 (six years ago)

one month passes...

Anthony Bourdain episode last night recorded at Mardi Gras time in southwestern Louisiana was worth watching. Marc & Anne Savoy & family, Lost Bayou Ramblers, zydeco writer Herman Fuselier, Sid Williams, drunk guys in costumes, talented women costume makers, good food, and Bourdain talking with them all.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 June 2018 13:46 (six years ago)

i stumbled on the louisiana cajun-zydeco festival in armstrong park in new orleans this past week and caught the first 2 sets (and the final set) on the second day. there were indeed a lot of old people there but 1) they did not appear to be tourists 2) they were dancing with more enthusiasm and genuine mirth than i have seen in years 3) they were for the most part good dancers. there was one (not OLD old but not young) couple in particular whose chemistry was mesmerizing -- they were beautiful to watch.

also i saw a guy there wearing a RLYR tshirt (Chicago band featuring former members of Pelican & idk what other bands, def not a well known band)

<3 <3 <3 zydeco music & people

― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 28 June 2018 14:12 (six years ago)

was kind of bummed to miss the cajun portion of the lineup but i enjoyed it regardless

― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 28 June 2018 14:13 (six years ago)

In the Washington DC area zydeco caught on with a sizable group of white roots music fans who became fanatics of the style and pretty good at dancing to the genre couples style. Alas, no subsequent generation similarly caught on. In zydeco's southwest Louisiana home, Afro-creole parents teach their kids how to dance to it, and I think it is also taught now in schools (or at least I have seen video of white Cajun kids learning Cajun dance in class like settings).

Wow, that was a great lineup!

2018 LOUISIANA CAJUN-ZYDECO FESTIVAL MUSIC SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 23:
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bruce Daigrepont
12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Sean Ardoin
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Les Freres Michot
4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Lost Bayou Ramblers

Sunday, June 24:
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Li'l Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Chris Ardoin & NuStep
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band
4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 June 2018 16:13 (six years ago)

Oops, I meant to say that zydeco caught on in DC in the 1980s

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 June 2018 16:14 (six years ago)

Watching stylish and adept dancing couples at zydeco (and Latino styles and old-school r'n'b) captivates me and makes me jealous. Despite a handful of lessons, I would need to take many more and practice multiple nights a week I think to get that good.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 28 June 2018 16:18 (six years ago)

I think it was Chris Ardoin & his band who covered Ginuwine's "Pony" -- that number yielded some *fire emoji* dancing
this was the first time i have experienced actual zydeco music played live in an appropriate context. super duper enjoyable and def not just for old people.

i was too hot and had no partner but i could follow and was dancing by myself in the shade :)

― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Thursday, 28 June 2018 16:19 (six years ago)

three months pass...

https://open.spotify.com/track/15QtWl5i8h5d8E0KIDvRcW?si=pvK1SagGT_Wf0dCbU0XveQ
I know f all about this genre but this track makes me smile

― calstars, Sunday, 21 October 2018 03:51 (six years ago)

one year passes...

So, there's no dedicated swamp pop thread on ILM, and barely a mention of my new favorite singer: Jimmy Donley. I stumbled into him because Bill Kirchen (one of my favorite guitarists and performers) covered a song on a Black Top Records Christmas compilation called "Santa! Don't Pass Me By." I loved it so much my band learned it for a Christmas party, and research on the original record let me to Donley.

Holy smokes what a voice, somewhere between Fats Domino, Freddy Fender, and Charlie Rich. And what a tragic life story: Married six times, prone to bouts of both heavy drinking and domestic violence, committed suicide at 33 by asphyxiating himself with his car's exhaust fumes.

Kirchen covers "Think it Over" as well, and I currently think it's the best song ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FmANhYiPQU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HseZ53q7M8E

― A breezy pop-rock feel fairly typical of the mid-'80s (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 12 December 2019 18:24 (five years ago)

two weeks pass...

Here’s another swamp pop group

http://www.aaronforet.net/calendar/December2019.html

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 December 2019 23:07 (five years ago)

Aaron Foret Band

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 December 2019 23:08 (five years ago)

three months pass...

Watching Lil Nate (son of Nathan Williams ) livestream right now from Lafayette on his youtube channel Little Nathan's tv

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 March 2020 04:01 (five years ago)

oh no sound just went out. Was gonna contribute to their cash app

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 March 2020 04:03 (five years ago)

lil' Nathan's tv

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 March 2020 04:08 (five years ago)

Saw Steve Riley do some Cajun shows on Facebook from his home . Also saw Jay and the Zydeco Backwood Boyz who mix zydeco w/ modern r’n’b

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 31 March 2020 04:04 (five years ago)

four months pass...

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13883253/if-cities-could-dance-houston-zydeco

Great video on Afro-creole zydeco dancing in Houston

― curmudgeon, Friday, 7 August 2020 23:31 (four years ago)

three months pass...

Been digging into the whole Louis Michot universe (mentioned upthread several places). The Lost Bayou Ramblers are a lot of fun. I also really like this, from earlier this year — https://soulcreole.bandcamp.com/album/trois-rangs-single-dub-mix. Ethereal cod-reggae zydeco? The dub version is pretty cool too.

And this document from Michot's residency at The Stone is quite a thing. Hard to describe. 45 minutes of improv Cajun drone and tin whistles (courtesy of Spider Stacy) with song bits mixed in: https://lesdouze.bandcamp.com/.

― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 19 November 2020 16:51 (four years ago)

Oops, meant to link directly to this one: https://lesdouze.bandcamp.com/album/the-stoned

Although the second disc is good too.

― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Thursday, 19 November 2020 17:12 (four years ago)

Will check that out, thanks. Just saw this sad news about 4 Senior Cajun musicians dying of Covid, and other Creole and Cajun musicians struggling financially

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/28/938574647/covid-19-hits-hard-for-south-louisianas-cajun-musicians

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 28 November 2020 19:54 (four years ago)

one month passes...

Cajun & zydeco Sunday afternoon radio show hosts fave albums of 2020

Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours. "Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours." Self-released. (Grammy nominee)

Daiquiri Queens. "Daiquiri Queens." Self-released. Features New Orleans’ own John Dowden on accordion and fiddle.

Feufollet: Prends Courage: A 20 Year Retrospective (Feufollet Records)

Lost Bayou Ramblers: On Va Continuer! (DVD & CD) (Worklight Records)

Michot's Melody Makers. "Cosmic Cajuns from Saturn." Nouveau Electric Records NER 1012, 2020.

Sweet Cecilia. "A Tribute to Al Berard." Self-released. (Grammy nominee

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 31 December 2020 04:53 (four years ago)

Part of the list from another WWOZ DJ:

Michot’s Melody Makers "Cosmic Cajuns from Saturn"
Soul Creole (45) a.) Trois Rangs (Three Rings) b.) Trois Rangs dub
L.E.S. Douze (2. Le String Noise) Recordings from Louis Michot’s residency at The Stone in NYC’s Lower East Side
Lost Bayou Ramblers "Asteur"
Goldman Thibodeaux & The Lawtell Playboys "La Danse A St. Anns"
Daiquiri Queens "Dauquiri Queens"
Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band "Live from Mamou Volume 1") digital release only
R. Scully "New Confusion"
Static Static "The Future As Dark"
Lakou Mizik "HaitiaNola"
79’rs Gang "Expect the Unexpected

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 31 December 2020 05:07 (four years ago)

Good article by Joe Nick Patoski on South Texas Cajun and Creole culture
https://texashighways.com/culture/people/cajun-culture-flourishes-texas-golden-triangle/?fbclid=IwAR3eQWO-Nyzf56EVZ0NM3f8MXpCMd_mhpAfqxv4YqUEzWqU6aZEZpSJs-EQ

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 31 December 2020 14:10 (four years ago)

How are Feufollet 20 years old? I remember seeing them as little kids. I still need to check out Sweet Cecelia.

― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 31 December 2020 16:35 (four years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRRW3aine6Y

― xzanfar, Thursday, 31 December 2020 20:05 (four years ago)

Lots of Houston zydeco acts are on Instagram

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 3 January 2021 01:52 (four years ago)

I have to catch up on some of the above

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 January 2021 16:28 (four years ago)

Plus some from this Offbeat magazine list. I am not always into some of the stuff they like ( bar band blues-rock and lame corporate rock) but there’s often a few good choices

https://www.offbeat.com/articles/the-50-best-albums-of-2020-in-louisiana-music/

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 12 January 2021 05:41 (four years ago)

one month passes...

Great films about James Booker, Mardi Gras Indians, jazz parades, the Rebirth Brass Band ; plus rare showing of "Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey," a portrait of Lil' Band o' Gold on Tipitina's TV today Sat 2-13, Feb 14 & Mardi Gras

on their own page and their Youtube page

https://tipitinas.tv/?fbclid=IwAR2dOL9iM-suPRrWwt_QYd-P7QFRYFj5za0k-5i33pjM70NSPGOsCJG90pM

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 February 2021 16:36 (four years ago)

Sat, Feb 13, 2021 Streaming Schedule (All times in Central Standard Time):
10am / Bury The Hatchet
11:27am / Donald Harrison
11:30am / Bayou Maharajah (James Booker)
1:08pm / Henry Butler (2001)
1:30pm / American Patchwork: Jazz Parades (“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”)
2:28pm / Tipitina’s TV Exclusive
2:30pm / The Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey
3:47pm / Bruce Daigrepont (2004)
4pm / Never A Dull Moment: 20 Years of the Rebirth Brass Band
5:30pm / Dr. John (2004)
6pm / Bury The Hatchet
7:27pm / Donald Harrison
7:30pm / Bayou Maharajah (James Booker)
9:08pm / Henry Butler (2001)
9:30pm / American Patchwork: Jazz Parades (“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”)
10:28pm / Tipitina’s TV Exclusive
10:30pm / The Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey
11:47pm / Bruce Daigrepont (2004)
12am / Never A Dull Moment: 20 Years of the Rebirth Brass Band
1:30am / Dr. John (2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwflNeY0HPM...

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 February 2021 16:52 (four years ago)

This swamp doc on Lil Band of Gold showing now is awesome.

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 February 2021 20:56 (four years ago)

one month passes...

Cajun musician and author Ann Savoy's new book re history of Cajun music volume ii is out. I don't think I ever read volume 1, but have seen Savoy sing and read some of her writing and seen her in docs, so I am sure both volumes are worthy.

As it happened, the stay-at-home constraints of the pandemic kept Ann off the road last year and she was finally able to realize the vision herself.

Bluebird Press will publish Cajun Music A Reflection of a People Volume II on February 17. Like its predecessor, the new book is lushly illustrated with historic and recent photographs, transcriptions of thirty-five English and Cajun French interviews and biographies and more than 100 songs with French translations and phonetics and musical notation.

The book is not only a reference resource but also is, itself, a repository of cultural artifacts that document an idiosyncratic music and way of life focusing on such artists as Boozoo Chavis, Happy Fats, Harry Choates, Nathan Abshire, Octa Clark, Chester “Pee Wee” Broussard, Wilfred Latour, and many others from the entire spectrum of Cajun and Zydeco music. As an adjunct to the books, the Arhoolie Foundation’s website will host the Ann Savoy Collection, an aggregation of audio assets, almost 200 interviews that are part of the books, as well as interviews with Cajun, Creole and zydeco artists that were conducted over the past 60 years by Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz.

https://www.americanbluesscene.com/second-volume-of-ann-savoys-cajun-music-a-reflection-of-a-people-out-next-month/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 20 March 2021 19:18 (four years ago)

Ann Savoy and Louis Michot on Out To Lunch!

podcast.We had a fun time doing the show plus got a free lunch from French Press, one of my top favorite restaurants.

You can also hear the show any time and see photos from the show here: https://link.chtbl.com/Vj_kXlwb If this link takes you to our podcast platform, which it can if you’re on a mobile device, and you want to go to our website, the direct link is https://itsacadiana.com/show/out-to-lunch/

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 20 March 2021 19:23 (four years ago)

Korey Broussard, young zydeco musician whose uncle had/has a band, is often doing Instagram lives

― curmudgeon, Saturday, 20 March 2021 19:24 (four years ago)

five months pass...

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/article_d09c4722-1053-11ec-a31d-c7bc38709d20.html

RIP The great Louisiana swamp pop, Cajun, & rock and roll singer drummer Warren Storm at 84. On ballads could sound a bit like Roy Orbison. I saw him in New Orleans when he played with Lil Band of Gold. Was healthy and gigging on occasion there until August when he got sick and was hospitalized.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 September 2021 15:15 (three years ago)

five months pass...

Regrettably, I am announcing that Lagniappe Productions is suspending all operations immediately. As a result, the 24th Annual Rhythm & Roots Music, Dance and Food Festival scheduled for Labor Day weekend 2022 is cancelled.

I have not come to this decision lightly. After consulting with my doctors and my family, we’ve decided that I should step away from festival production for health issues that have taken their toll for the past 12 years. Most recently, a major medical event hospitalized me for two days during the last Rhythm & Roots festival. You can imagine the frustration and disappointment that I experienced missing the festival that I planned for two years. The consensus of all involved is that I must step away from festival production immediately....

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 10 February 2022 19:11 (three years ago)

I wonder if someone else will pick up the slack and do a Northeast fest.

I am following on Instagram various zydeco acts and they’re back gigging In Louisiana and Texas ( especially in Houston area)

― curmudgeon, Friday, 11 February 2022 15:17 (three years ago)

**June 9 -12 Strawberry Park Blast From The Bayou
@Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Rd., Preston, CT 06365
Steve Riley & Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie,
Jesse Lege’ & Bayou Brew, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble,
Pineleaf Boys, Jeffery Broussard & the Zydeco Cowboys,
Lil’ Wayne & Same Ole Two Step,
Rusty Meter & Zydeco Krush
Dennis Strouggmatt & Honky Tonk Dance Band
Plus more bands, too many to list
FFIC: http:www.strawberrypark.net
860 886 1944 for Reservations

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 February 2022 14:25 (three years ago)

one month passes...

Swamp Pop Legend Tommy McLain has a new all-star backed record coming out in August, and also will be touring with Nick Lowe this summer.

https://yeproc.11spot.com/tommy-mclain-i-ran-down-every-dream.html

I Ran Down Every Dream is the first album in over four decades by swamp pop legend Tommy McLain. Produced by his musical protege C.C. Adcock, I Ran Down Every Dream was recorded in Louisiana, Texas, California, and England, with a similarly disparate group of friends and fans, including Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe (both of whom contribute co-writes), plus Jon Cleary, Denny Freeman, Ed Harcourt, Roy Lowe, Augie Meyers, Ivan Neville, Van Dyke Parks, Mickey Raphael, Steve Riley, Speedy Sparks, Warren Storm and more.
As an album, I Ran Down Every Dream is both a celebration and a requiem. It bookends a career that has seen Tommy scale the upper reaches of the Billboard charts, share the stage with the likes of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, The Yardbirds and ZZ Top, and become a global ambassador for the swamp pop sound - that singularly affecting combination of rhythm and blues, country and western, gospel, and traditional French Louisiana styles. The album also looks back, with more than a little heartache, in tribute to some of the fellow musical travelers that McLain has lost. Two tracks on the album were written by McLain’s dear friend and Louisiana music royalty Bobby Charles, and it also marks the final sessions for two legendary musicians who died in 2021; Texas guitar slinger Denny Freeman, and Tommy’s close collaborator Warren Storm. For McLain himself, the years-long road to I Ran Down Every Dream was beset by a heart attack, two hurricanes and a house fire. With every obstacle he overcame, McLain's resolve to complete I Ran Down Every Dream grew stronger.

― Precious, Grace, Hill & Beard LTD. (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 19 April 2022 19:37 (three years ago)

oooo, that sounds like it will be good. Swamp pop is good stuff

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 April 2022 19:57 (three years ago)

three months pass...

Friend and archivist Michael Klausman dug into the demos sent to cajun label Goldband Records, now housed at UNC-Chapel Hill. Most were unlabeled, and many were utter shit, but after listening to most of them, he whittled down a selection of 30 tracks for our listening pleasure. Some very weird and also very cool stuff here.

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/cdcf39a6b68dd876a5940ada55dd835620220808160758/be740f?src=dnl

― broccoli rabe thomas (the table is the table), Tuesday, 9 August 2022 21:12 (two years ago)

one month passes...

Missed the above, and the we transfer of Goldband 30 tracks has expired

https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/20245/
UNC has this link but I wonder if I can access the music that way

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 October 2022 23:31 (two years ago)

Saw Lafayette, Louisiana band the Revelers for free today in DC. Real nice set of swamp pop, Cajun waltzes, and fast-tempoed Cajun and zydeco songs. Plus a cover of "I got Loaded" that I know from Los Lobos but haven't looked up who wrote it

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 2 October 2022 23:33 (two years ago)

The original is by Lil' Bob & The Lollipops

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNOlcNAmcz4

It's a serious Gulf Coast Standard. Somebody's probably dancing to it in a bar/dancehall right now.

― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 3 October 2022 00:02 (two years ago)

I guess this is as good a place as any to mention that writer John Nova Lomax (poster 'novamax' upthread) needs help: https://www.gofundme.com/f/john-nova-lomaxs-road-to-recovery

― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Monday, 3 October 2022 00:12 (two years ago)

Thanks for both of those posts.

Nova Lomax has done some great writing about Houston area zydeco and old school r’n’b over the years.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 3 October 2022 16:38 (two years ago)

one month passes...

Tommy McLain was on JAMES CORDEN last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qB_zTRzKs

― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 3 November 2022 22:14 (two years ago)

oh nice. A good album.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 November 2022 04:49 (two years ago)

http://bayoutechedispatches.blogspot.com/2022/05/state-of-genre-swamp-pop-in-21st-century.html

― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 November 2022 04:51 (two years ago)

Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas and Sean Ardoin are both nominated for Best Regional Roots Music Album n Grammys

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 16 November 2022 14:52 (two years ago)

one month passes...

https://www.nola.com/gambit/music/with-new-solo-music-louis-michot-plays-weekly-residency-at-maple-leaf-in-january/article_90b685ca-82fb-11ed-98a9-5fdea198a1ac.html

Louis Michot from Lost Bayou Ramblers has a solo album in the works with some experimental aspects ( mixing in Alan Lomax items) and a series of shows in New Orleans with some collaborations. Looks cool to me

― curmudgeon, Monday, 9 January 2023 20:10 (two years ago)

one month passes...

https://wherewegotozydeco.com/

This site lists upcoming live zydeco and Cajun shows in DC, Md, Va , PA, NY & sometimes New England states

― curmudgeon, Monday, 27 February 2023 14:47 (two years ago)

one month passes...

Steve Riley is giving zoom Cajun accordion lessons. He and a band are also touring the northeast

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2023 18:10 (two years ago)

four weeks pass...

From his Dad's Go-Fund Me for him: John Nova Lomax is in his last days with liver and kidney failure, an infection, bleeding ulcers and lesser issues, all of which came to a head today (Monday 5.8)

He wrote some great articles about Houston zydeco

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 9 May 2023 05:18 (one year ago)

Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz died a few days ago as well. Been listening to some of Clifton Chenier's classic records from his label.

― birdistheword, Tuesday, 9 May 2023 05:24 (one year ago)

I listened to some Clifton Chenier on YouTube as I couldn’t find his Black Snake Arhoolie album on Spotify, and I only own a few Arhoolie releases on vinyl.

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 14:20 (one year ago)

FWIW, I always thought this was a solid "best of" that Strachwitz put together. This and Bayou Blues (from Specialty) make a pretty great intro to Chenier.

https://www.discogs.com/master/730702-Clifton-Chenier-60-Minutes-With-The-King-Of-Zydeco

― birdistheword, Wednesday, 10 May 2023 19:34 (one year ago)

Thanks. Will check those out. I am still interested in some current zydeco too-

I wish some of these 2023 Houston zydeco bands would come to the east coast. I haven't researched what they have available for purchase or stream yet.

Looking for a great time in Houston? The upcoming Houston Zydeco Fest will be fun! Dancing, Food and more! See You There! 💥 #Houstontx @Eventbrite #EmancipationPark @epconservancy pic.twitter.com/hGeVheyfWB
— LaVerne St.Mary NMLS #113731 Equal Housing Lender (@MortgageLaVerne) April 28, 2023

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 May 2023 14:30 (one year ago)

Lawrence "Black" Ardoin, patriarch of family of Creole and zydeco music has died. He played music & was son of Creole music legend Bois Sec Ardoin, & the father of musicians Sean Ardoin, Chris Ardoin and uncle to Ernest Ardoin and Gus Ardoin

https://www.katc.com/news/around-acadiana/lawrence-black-ardoin-creole-music-patriarch-has-died

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2023 14:44 (one year ago)

Lawrence Black Ardoin died in December 2022.

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2023 14:53 (one year ago)

RIP writer John Nova Lomax at 53 who wrote about Houston , Texas culture including music like zydeco, hiphop and more

"Whether covering crime or culture, streets or songs, Lomax overturned all stones."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/john-nova-lomax-writer-houston-texas-dies-18088579.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vbGlmZXN0eWxlL2FydGljbGUvam9obi1ub3ZhLWxvbWF4LXdyaXRlci1ob3VzdG9uLXRleGFzLWRpZXMtMTgwODg1NzkucGhw&time=MTY4NDc4ODIwOTczNw==&rid=YzVkMmE5M2QtNGU1Yy00ZmI4LWI0YzEtMjBjMjFjZGUyMTNm&sharecount=MQ==

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 23 May 2023 03:42 (one year ago)

five months pass...

Every Grammy Awards nominee for best Regional Roots Album is from Louisiana:

New Beginnings
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band

Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers

Live: Orpheum Theater Nola
Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Made In New Orleans
New Breed Brass Band

Too Much To Hold
New Orleans Nightcrawlers

Live At The Maple Leaf
The Rumble Featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.

― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 November 2023 03:22 (one year ago)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/16/travel/things-to-do-cajun-country-acadiana.html

No mention of zydeco club El-Sido's

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 November 2023 16:05 (one year ago)

one month passes...

RIP Jo-El Sonnier Louisiana Cajun and country musician from what sounds like a heart attack

https://kpel965.com/louisiana-cajun-country-music-artist-jo-el-sonnier-dead/

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 14 January 2024 20:52 (one year ago)

four months pass...

And RIP Chris Stafford, Lafayette area Cajun musician and founding member of Feufollet, who has died young as the result of an automobile accident. I am spacing out on the name of an older Cajun musician who recently died as well.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 04:50 (eleven months ago)

Louis Michot is always up to cool stuff . This is about a gig 4 nights ago in New Orleans

via Instagram--

@musicbox.village will be filled with musical residents moving from house to house and recreating the sounds from #rêvedutroubadour on the amazing sonic neighborhood that is MUSIC BOX VILLAGE. Come support the Village; and enjoy a special collaboration with @louismichotmusic @leylacello @risingstarsfifeanddrum @coreyledetzydeco @bryanwebre @somefarawaybeach @ceaser.calad + a bilingual lyric visual show mixed by @brubobaggins #musicboxvillage #neworleans #endoftheworld #rampart #louismichot

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 05:12 (eleven months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrCMy7oZdk8

Ann Savoy band with Dirk Powell in it, at the Kennedy Center in DC

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 29 May 2024 23:05 (eleven months ago)

They did a nice Cajun take on the Kinks "Waterloo Sunset"

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 May 2024 00:05 (eleven months ago)

x-post - the other death was RIP zydeco guitarist & bandleader Chester “Tune” Chevalier from the Creole Zydeco Farmers at age 81

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 May 2024 00:07 (eleven months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shFWGTZtomk

I like this Folkways doc about Ann Savoy and her latest album. It’s her life story- Richmond photographer/ folk singer who moves with her Mom to Europe after her Dad dies young and unexpectedly. Her seeing art and getting into music there and learning French. Then her coming back and discovering Cajun music and culture and getting enamored with Louisiana musician farmer Marc Savoy and they creating a life and family together. She continues to make music and do photography and more the whole time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shFWGTZtomk

― curmudgeon, Friday, 31 May 2024 02:19 (eleven months ago)

https://www.myspiltmilk.com/articles/remembering-feufollets-chris-staffords-importance-at-jazz-fest

More on the recently passed Chris Stafford and how he was a Cajun musician but also into Eno and garage rock

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 4 June 2024 21:43 (eleven months ago)

seeing on Facebook there was a big fest up in New England somewhere yesterday plus I think some recent gigs in NYC. Alas, there are some Louisiana and Texas zydeco bands busy working dayjobs as well who can't afford to take time off and play gigs elsewhere

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 9 June 2024 15:53 (ten months ago)

two months pass...

https://www.ponderosastomp.com/music_more/299/Lynn+August

Blind Louisiana Creole accordionist & keyboard player Lynn August is coming up my way around October 19 (but I will be on the left US coast for a wedding)

Some others coming in the fall:

September 8 Sunday Jourdan Thibodeaux w/Cedric Watson & Joel Savoy
Presented by American Roots Concerts & Quicksilver Productions Foundation
@Hill Center at The Old Naval Hospital
921 Pennsyllvania Ave. SE, Washington DC 20003
Admission: Free Music: 4:30-6:30
Tickets Recommended
FIC: https://www.hillcenterdc.org 202 549 4172

September 20 Friday The Pine Leaf Boys
Presented by Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts & Culture
In cooperation with Dancing By The Bayou
7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812
Admission: TBD Dance Lesson: 7:00 Music: 7:30-10:30
FFIC: https://www.glenechopark.org
301 634 2222

September 20-22 Fri, Sat, Sun The Pine Leaf Boys
Presented by The Maryland Folk Festival
@115 S division St, Salisbury, MD 21801
Many bands too numerous to post. Check the schedule
Admission: Free FFIC: https://www.mdfolkfest.com
410 677 1916

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 August 2024 13:24 (eight months ago)

Wow, I had no idea Lynn August was still active. The CDs he recorded for Black Top are good, I put them on fairly often when I’m cooking jambalaya.

― The transparently flimsy and misleading (Dan Peterson), Thursday, 22 August 2024 15:18 (eight months ago)

I had not realized he was still active till I saw that he was coming up my way.

I also see that Cajun musician Steve Riley has a new to me band called the Cajun 4 and his son Burke Riley is in the group

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 22 August 2024 19:21 (eight months ago)

Also coming my way are the trio of Cajun fiddler & vocalist Jourdain Thibodeaux w/ Creole accordionist Cedric Watson and Cajun guitarist Joel Savoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu4yHMYK8JE

― curmudgeon, Sunday, 25 August 2024 23:10 (eight months ago)

two weeks pass...

Cedric Watson was a no-show, so Jourdan T was joined by Joel Savoy and his brother Wilson Savoy. Real nice show of Cajun waltzes and stuff. Plus lots of between song stories from Jordan Thibodeaux, and some impressive couples dancing in the crowd. Some folks were irritated of course by Watson not being there. Jourdan said "He made other plans."

― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 11 September 2024 19:02 (seven months ago)

wow his accent is wild, i bet it was fun listening to him tell stories all night

― budo jeru, Wednesday, 11 September 2024 19:06 (seven months ago)

It was . He kept talking about his “harses “ ( horses) but also got serious and spoke about learning from Black Creole musicians who had much tougher lives than him, and how making it for anyone in rural Louisiana is tough. The Savoy brothers spoke less but they are such great musicians it didn’t matter.

― curmudgeon, Friday, 13 September 2024 12:58 (seven months ago)

two months pass...

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-secure-el-cerritos-cultural-landmark

We need to save Les Blank studio and Arhoolie records building

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 November 2024 16:34 (five months ago)

https://www.discogs.com/release/9961038-Various-Trail-Riderz-Vol-1?srsltid=AfmBOopVkTj30NYtoRLYLIQ481jfCZ7M4vcjYs1GmJNm_ssAwkOf0cYX

I picked this up when I still lived in Louisiana so I’m not sure where to track down a copy these days but maybe it’s out there somewhere…always found the zydeco and radio rap/pop hybrid sound to be pretty fascinating, definitely kind of a niche scene I think.

― Slim is an Alien, Tuesday, 19 November 2024 17:40 (five months ago)

Includes the Zydeco standard “Bitch Better Have My Money”

― calstars, Tuesday, 19 November 2024 18:30 (five months ago)

oh yeah! the band i saw when i caught the zydeco fest in NOLA played a cover of Pony that had people dancing like nothing i have ever seen in my life

― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Tuesday, 19 November 2024 18:35 (five months ago)

Cool.

Bryan Jack who does the “Bitch “ song on that track is one of several zydeco acts in Houston area of Texas who I follow on Instagram who meld zydeco with hip hop and Rnb . He’s got a “Boots, Bling, & Zydeco “ gig on November 23 in Beaumont, Texas .

― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 November 2024 18:58 (five months ago)

four months pass...

Saw Louis Michot (from Los Bayou Ramblers & Beasts of the Southern Wild soundtrack) duet for an hour and a half with 15 years New Orleans resident Haitian- American Leyla McCalla tonight for free at the Library of Congress Coolidge Auditorium. Pretty good show with McCalla Haitian Creole ballads sounding great and the Creole & Cajun dance numbers and ballads sounding good. Michot played mostly just fiddle, and a few songs on guitar & sang with his old-school Louisiana French drawl. McCalla played mostly cello, but banjo on some songs and guitar on a few. Her voice was passionate and soulful on the French Creole lyrics she sang. They each did one song alone, and they did one song together without instruments where Michot's high, lonesome voice and her soulful tear-stained vocals melded together and contrasted nicely. Lots of explanations between songs with his often being this was done by my great uncle and its about a guy on a farm, while hers were more like I found this old Folkways album by so & so and this song is about poor people with holes in their shoes struggling , and my Dad helped me understand the meaning of the Haitian Creole lyrics. They also both talked about how Haitian culture has influenced Louisiana music.

Something called the Nous Foundation from New Orleans is putting out an album with the 2 of them together, in May.

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 March 2025 03:31 (one month ago)

four weeks pass...

Clifton Chenier tribute album featuring the Stones and some younger people out in late June:

Start with the Stones, and Mick singin’ in French. Add Louisiana native Lucinda Williams delivering a slow, slinky, swamp pop sound, and invite Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, Charley Crockett and so many more to pay tribute to the late King of Zydeco.
Chenier, who died in 1987 due to diabetes-related kidney disease, would've turned 100 on June 25. To celebrate his centennial, Valcour Records founder Joel Savoy and Los Lobos' Steve Berlin teamed up with executive producer John Leopold to produce “A Tribute to the King," out June 27.
Tracklist:
1. Zydeco Sont Pas Salés,” The Rolling Stones and Steve Riley
2. “Easy Easy Baby,” Charley Crockett and Nathan Williams, Sr.
3. “Hey ’Tite Fille,” Taj Mahal and Keith Frank
4. “Release Me,” Lucinda Williams, Tommy McClain and Keith Frank
5. “Just Like A Woman,” Steve Earle and Anthony Dopsie
6. “I’m On The Wonder,” Jon Cleary and Curley Taylor
7. “My Soul,” Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Nicholas and Steve Riley
8. “Hot Rod,” David Hidalgo and CJ Chenier
9. “Tout Le Temps En Temps,” Shannon McNally, Keith Frank and Molly Tuttle
10. “Ay Ai Ai,” Ruben Ramos with Los Texmaniacs and Augie Meyers
11. “I May Be Wrong,” Marcia Ball and Geno Delafose
12. “I’m Coming Home,” CJ Chenier and Sonny Landreth
13. “You Used To Call Me,” John Hiatt and Roddie Romero
14. “Why Did You Go Last Night," Kam Franklin, A.J. Haynes and Roddie Romero
All proceeds from “A Tribute to the King” will fund the newly established Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship, which will provide financial assistance to students studying traditional music — specifically zydeco accordion — at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

― Lithium Just Madison (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 25 April 2025 16:29 (one week ago)

Oh nice, Steve Riley with the Rolling Stones; 84-years old Augie Myers w/ Ramos & Los Texmaniacs

― curmudgeon, Friday, 25 April 2025 17:44 (one week ago)

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