Notes from Acadiana – Early Spring 2004

(April 13, 2004) I looked at my calendar today and realized I’d been living full time in Louisiana for just over 2 months now. Last year this time, I was already thinking about packing up shop and taking the 2200-mile drive back West to the Bay Area. But not this year! Instead, I reflect on life in my new home as I mail back my jury duty notice to San Francisco County, with a ‘sorry, I’ve moved’ notice attached to it.
Since I arrived in Lafayette this time around, in between purchasing a new home, and starting remodeling work on “Chez SFBayou’, I’ve also managed to fit in a lot of great music and dance events. Mardi Gras season has come and gone, as has the 4th (for me) Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage weekend. I’ve also attended the Washington Catfish Festival, headed out to Whiskey River on Sundays, to Hamilton’s on weekend nights, to a few zydeco breakfasts at Café des Amis in Breaux Bridge, and become a regular at the Saturday afternoon jams at Louisiana Heritage and Gifts, and the Thursday night string jams held by Louisiana Folk Roots in downtown Lafayette. During this time, the weather has been unpredictable: last weekend, I wore shorts, and today I pulled out a light jacket because the temperature isn’t expected to top 65 degrees.
I’ve noticed that even though I probably do something fun involving the local music & arts scene an average of 5 times a week, my music and dance life are not as frenzied as they used to be. After all, there’s laundry to do! Of course, you can still wear yourself out here trying to do everything that’s available. I was exhausted just listening to everyone’s tales of 3-5 events a day over Mardi Gras (and thinking, that used to be me!).  
One of the things I especially like about being here is discovering some of the newer bands If you get the chance, here are some new and notable bands to check out:
Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. Curley Taylor, who most recently spent several years playing drums for Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, released his debut CD several months, “Zydeco Trouble”, but only made his live performance debut at Hamilton’s Club in March. The club was packed with Curley’s fans (from as far as the Bay Area), family and friends, and the band sounded just terrific, playing a nice mix of original tunes and zydeco & Creole classics.

Boxed Wine Jubilee. This young Cajun “super-band “ was started informally to perform at a fund-raiser at the Blue Moon for Festival International. Consisting of Louie and Andre Michot & Chris Courville (Lost Bayou Ramblers), Josh Caffrey (Red Stick Ramblers), Kevin Wimmer (Balfa Toujours), Chris Stafford (Feufollet) and Wilson Savoy (Savoy Family Band), the band rocked out playing traditional Cajun and Creole music and had such an enthusiastic reception that they have begun performing regularly locally, and recently, out of state.

The Racines. Another new superstar band getting a lot of local buzz is the Racines. This Cajun roots (racines in French) band features Steve Riley of the Mamou Playboys, Kevin Wimmer of Balfa Toujours, Mitch Reed of Charivari and Chris Stafford of Feufollet and plays forgotten (researched and revived by the band) nuggets as well as classics from the Cajun and Creole traditions.
Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet. A Houston native now living in Parks, Lil Pop was weaned on the classic Zydeco of Clifton Chenier, Rockin' Dopsie and others and started playing the accordion at age 10. His music sits comfortably within that big sounding zydeco pocket and groove.
 
Cedric Watson. Young Cedric hails from south Texas and started playing the fiddle, with his Creole grandmother providing encouragement. James Adams, a Houston-based DJ who runs a zydeco music show, and also plays guitar, discovered Cedric’s interest in Creole fiddling, and mentored him, bringing him to Augusta Heritage and Balfa camps, and introducing him to the local Creole and Cajun community. A few weeks ago, after showing up playing fiddle with Zydeco Force over Mardi Gras, with Corey Ledet, on the Creole heritage workshop at Festival Acadiens, and as one of the dinner bands at Balfa weekend with James Adams, Cheryl Castille of WhatBayou brought Cedric (along with Corey and James) to “Zydeco Est Pas Sale” with MC and JB, which is a live Saturday morning radio broadcast on KRVS – FM, the local University of Louisiana NPR affiliate. He played and sang old Canray Fontenot tunes, among other things, and the phone started ringing off the hook his entire set… and for weeks afterwards. The DJs are still talking about his visit on the air, imploring him to come back. 

Part of the way such young musicians as Cedric Watson (as well as us outsiders) get exposed to the local traditions, especially when they are not living in Southwest Louisiana, is by attending organized heritage camps that focus on the local music and culture. I attended my 4th such event in early April: The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week-End, which offers participants a chance to deepen their knowledge of and appreciation for some of the world’s most unique cultural expressions with a resident staff that includes some of the region’s most talented musicians, singers, storytellers and scholars. Balfa camp offers true immersion and unparalleled opportunities to meet and learn from senior artists seldom seen locally or outside the state. The camp also offers plenty of time for jamming, dancing, socializing and just plain hangin’ out in a beautiful state park… we were at Lake Fausse Point this time. Similar to the dance scene, long-standing friendships are forged by the attendees at this event and each year also has the feeling of a family reunion. I took guitar lessons with David Doucet of Beausoleil (you could also take Cajun fiddle with Al Berard or Michael Doucet, Creole fiddle with D’jalma Garnier, Cajun accordion with Jimmy Breaux or Paul Daigle, Creole accordion with Dexter Ardoin, or classes on Louisiana nature or French language/history through song. I attended quite a few other master sessions: highlights included one session on Dennis McGee twin fiddling put on by Mitch Reed & Michael Doucet (2 great story tellers, as well as fiddlers.), one with Creole accordionist Preston Frank, and another with master accordion player Walter Mouton, who inspired such players as Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, Jimmy Breaux and Kevin Naquin, to name just a few. During mealtimes we were entertained by trios of master musicians which included members of Beausoleil, Charivari, Balfa Toujours, the aforementioned Cedric Watson and James Adams, & Preston Frank. There were also road trips to Saint Martinville, La Poussiere and Whiskey River for evening dances (the Frank Family Band, Walter Mouton & the Scott Playboys and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie) followed by late night jam sessions. The Balfa heritage camps are truly an inspirational immersion experience, in the heart of southwest Louisiana and the weekend was over way too soon!