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 (two years ago) link
**June 9 -12 Strawberry Park Blast From The Bayou@Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Rd., Preston, CT 06365Steve 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 KrushDennis Strouggmatt & Honky Tonk Dance BandPlus more bands, too many to listFFIC: http:www.strawberrypark.net860 886 1944 for Reservations
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 February 2022 14:25 (two years ago) link
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.
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 (two years ago) link
oooo, that sounds like it will be good. Swamp pop is good stuff
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 19 April 2022 19:57 (two years ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
oh nice. A good album.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 November 2022 04:49 (one year ago) link
http://bayoutechedispatches.blogspot.com/2022/05/state-of-genre-swamp-pop-in-21st-century.html
― curmudgeon, Friday, 4 November 2022 04:51 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
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 (one year ago) link
Steve Riley is giving zoom Cajun accordion lessons. He and a band are also touring the northeast
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 April 2023 18:10 (one year ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
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 (eleven months ago) link
Lawrence Black Ardoin died in December 2022.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 16 May 2023 14:53 (eleven months ago) link
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 (ten months ago) link
Every Grammy Awards nominee for best Regional Roots Album is from Louisiana:
New BeginningsBuckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band
Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage FestivalDwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
Live: Orpheum Theater NolaLost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Made In New OrleansNew Breed Brass Band
Too Much To HoldNew Orleans Nightcrawlers
Live At The Maple LeafThe Rumble Featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 13 November 2023 03:22 (five months ago) link
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 (five months ago) link
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 (three months ago) link