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) link
Cool. Thanks
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 September 2014 04:51 (ten years ago) link
thank you! this thread is great, wish I had more to add.
― Brio2, Thursday, 25 September 2014 16:17 (ten years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
Americana I mean...
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
It's Jabo, the Texas Prince of zydeco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OXEtnhGZLI
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 December 2014 22:49 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
Quintron & Ms Pussyvcat also covered that song, plus Keith Frank's "Haterz"
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 15 March 2015 20:33 (nine years ago) link
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 (nine years ago) link
Feufollet
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 (nine years ago) link
Liberty is a Texas town in the Houston area
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 April 2015 18:26 (nine years ago) link
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) link
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) link
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) link
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) link
http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/misc/blank-79.php
Christgau re Les Blank
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 30 July 2015 16:02 (nine years ago) link
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) link
And I did. Package is expected to arrive tomorrow.
― Jazzbo, Friday, 31 July 2015 14:28 (nine years ago) link
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) link
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) link
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) link
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) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 BandRosie LedetRuben MorenoCorey Ledet and His Zydeco BandWayne Singleton & Same Ol' 2 Step
and the premiere of Robert Mugge's filmZydeco Crossroads: A Tale of Two Cities
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 21 October 2015 02:33 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link
argh sorry for embed
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 (eight years ago) link
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 (eight years ago) link