Welcome to Issue #56
of FloridaCajunZydeco.com Update!
for September 2017
This newsletter showcases dance events from the FloridaCajunZydeco.com website and publishes articles not on the website pages. We are all concerned for our friends in Texas this weekend. My first article lists a few organizations that are hard at work bringing relief to people who have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Join us on the first and third Tuesday of the month at Caddy's in downtown St. Petersburg for a Cajun Zydeco Dance 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. This weekend many of our friends are in Rhode Island enjoying Ninigret Rhythm & Roots
Festival. Check out Festival-O-Rama for other festival opportunities. We're on Facebook in Groups (Florida Cajun Zydeco Dancers) and with our own Facebook Page (Florida Cajun Zydeco). Check us out and "Like" us to see the posts and reminders throughout the week. This is a good way to get your Cajun and zydeco fix between newsletters. FloridaCajunZydeco.com loves to travel — in your pocket on your smart phone. Check the website for dance information wherever your travels take you. Regards, Jim Hance
Publisher, FloridaCajunZydeco.com
Donations to Hurricane Harvey Recovery Effort
As you know, Hurricane Harvey has displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Texas and Louisiana. Our federal tax dollars should be going to agencies that provide relief in the short term, but likely those resources will be slow to get there, and just not enough. You can make a personal donation to one or more of the agencies which can more directly help people in need. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax deductible flood relief donations. Call 1–800–924–5985 or online (https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/) to donate. United Way of Greater Houston
is providing safety, shelter and basic needs. Once the community is stabilized, United Way will focus on long-term recovery efforts. To help United Way’s efforts, donate here (https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/flood/flood-donation). Houston zydeco artist Ruben Moreno has requested donations for this organization: Solel International depends on financial donations to be able to provide disaster relief immediately. Donations made to https://www.solelint.org/harvey will be used to respond to the needs of displaced residents, and to provide creative programs for life after. Interested volunteers in the Houston area can register at volunteerhouston.org. Medical volunteers can visit the
SETRAC website to register for disaster volunteer opportunities. RoweDocs is offering online healthcare services to Harvey victims. Residents and business owners in counties who sustained disaster related damage due to Harvey can apply for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If your home was ravaged by the floods or sustained storm damage, you can register your damage with FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas is helping displaced animals. You can donate at www.spca.org/give or sign up to adopt a
displaced animal at www.spca.org/foster. Gofundme has curated a list of Harvey relief efforts, with fundraisers for individual cities, families and homes. Food banks in Corpus Christi (http://www.foodbankcc.com/) and 26 counties north and east of Houston (https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org) Avoid Scams
Before giving money to an organization, do your research. Charity Navigator (https://www.charitynavigator.org/), identifies worthy charities and has a handy list of organizations that are responding in the aftermath of the storm. Their extensive database provides a good starting place to research nonprofits. Also, the Internal Revenue Service can also help you investigate an organization. Its search tool reveals whether or not an organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-select-check).
First + Third Tuesdays --- Cajun Zydeco Dance at Caddy's on Central (St. Petersburg)
Tuesday Sept. 5: "Bucket o' Zydeco" Dance
featuring new music from Chris Ardoin, Keith Frank, Bonsoir Catin, and High Performance. Tuesday Sept. 19: "Texas Trail Ride" Dance
"That's right, you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway." We're celebrating bands from Texas like Jerome Batiste, Ruben Moreno, Brian Jack, J. Paul and Ed Poullard... and that might even include some Lyle Lovette. "You can have my girl, but don't touch my hat." 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 18 at Caddy's on Central, 4217 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33705. No cover charge!
Website: caddysoncentral.com Good mix of danceable music by Cajun and zydeco artists that give you that instant lift as soon as the music starts to play. We're in the lounge with a wood dance floor at Caddy's. It's around the corner from Ringside Cafe and Jannus Landing. Stop by early for a quick introduction to the dances. I am playing some classics and some new tunes just released this summer. We're a very sociable crowd, so stop by and get to know us. Parking on the street is free after 8 p.m. (on Central Ave.) but the hours on the meters around the corner on side streets may be free after 6 p.m. Check the times posted on the meter! Also, there are a half dozen parking structures within a block or two, and I am told the
Sundial Garage is still just $1 all evening. No cover charge and drink specials the first hour. Great food. I can recommend the fish tacos and shrimp appetizer and the key lime pie. Info: www.FloridaCajunZydeco.com
Gumbo Boogie
Sat. Sept. 2, 2017 --- Gumbo Boogie Band (Treasure Island)
6 to 10 p.m. at Captain Bill's, 145 107th Ave., Treasure Island. Sun. Sept. 17, 2017 --- Gumbo Boogie Band (Bradenton)
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ace's Live, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton, Fl. 34209
941-795-3886
"Legend" by Chris Ardoin — another highly danceable collection of zydeco numbers with a bit of hip-hop influence. Some standout dance numbers include "Doing the Zydeko" and "Swing My Way," and a nice change of pace, a nightclub two-step "A Night to Remember." Most Chris Ardoin tunes have a similar tempo, typically in a very danceable groove but at the same time a bit repetitious. Tunes from "Legend" will definitely be on my playlist.
"L'Aurore" by Bonsoir, Catin — Rich and adventurous melodies at a variety of tempos with a bit of country twang. "Squirrel Song" is a fun zydeco, "J'ai Vu Lucille" alternates between a Latin tempo and a rockabilly. Only one waltz, but a fine dance number: "Carencro." A couple bluesy tunes "All Night Long" and "Marier en Secret" really rounds that out this collection. I love the fun and variety this band brings to Cajun music.
"Cajun Cool" by High Performance — Another great Cajun side project for Steve Riley, definitely with some old-style country influence. "1960s dance hall music on steroids," says the band on Facebook. Nice variety of tempos, some hard driving and full throttle to keep your feet moving on the dance floor. Some great accordion work by Jason Bergeron, with Riley mostly on fiddle. If you like the country and Cajun blend, you will like this one.
"One Night at Cowboy's" by Keith Frank — Well produced "live" recording that will please all of the Keith Frank fans. Like Chris Ardoin, most of Keith Frank's tunes are in that danceable 155-bpm zydeco groove, but I think Keith makes each tune a bit more unique. I like his take on an old Four Seasons' number "Oh What a Night," his remake of the Arthur Conley soul tune "Good Music," and a bluesy "I Love 'Em All". "Mathilda" is a doo-wop tune at nightclub two-step tempo, and sure to fill the dance floor. I will be playing a lot of tunes from this collection at the first and third Tuesday Cajun and Zydeco dances in St. Pete.
"Straight Allons" by Kyle Huval and the Dixie Club Ramblers — This collection is pure Cajun with five waltz tunes, some fast two-steps, and a couple bluesy numbers to boot. Includes a remake of the Jim Croce tune "Don't Mess Around with Jim," which makes me wonder at just how Croce's brief career, cut short in the early 70s in a plane crash, still influences music today.
"Bad as I Wanna Be" by J.J. Caillier — Zydeco with a Jamaican accent. Caillier fans will be pleased with this collection which is mostly in a zydeco groove but with reggae and hip-hop influences. A different tune on this collection is "Gotcha Knockin" which is more of a pop disco tune. Overall a good party album.
Geno Delafose
still achieving the unexpectedBy Herman Fuselier (from the Daily Advertiser)
Photo by David Simpson Geno Delafose is a living and breathing irony, always achieving the opposite of what you might expect. Delafose hasn’t released a new CD in 10 years. Yet, he and French Rockin’ Boogie are constantly in demand. Delafose wrote only three of the 15 songs on that CD, “Le Cowboy Creole.” But the album was nominated for a Grammy. Fans at his dances will likely hear the same songs he played the last 10 times they saw him. Yet, many of them will be back the following week — if they can wait that long. I’ve asked Delafose about this phenomenon, which has existed for well over a decade now. He answers with his usual down-home wisdom. “If I’m doing good selling
bananas, there’s no need for me to start selling tomatoes, just because the other guy is selling tomatoes,” said Delafose. “I’m going to keep on selling bananas.” Leader of his own group since 1994, Delafose sticks to traditional zydeco and Cajun music. That tradition keeps rewarding him. Most local bands are lucky to have one or two gigs in a weekend. French Rockin’ Boogie routinely handles three or four.
Delafose and band played nine during the long Fourth of July weekend. On Labor Day weekend, he’ll play a gig in New Orleans, two in California, Whiskey River Landing in Henderson and the Knights of Columbus Hall in Iowa, La. Like Delafose, other zydeco accordion players perform on stage in a cowboy hat, jeans and cowboy boots. But Delafose actually raises cattle and horses on his 140-acre, Double D Ranch near Eunice. Born in 1971, Delafose was raised on the farm, speaking Creole French, the language of his ancestors. But the age of 8, he was playing rubboard in his father’s legendary band, John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys. Delafose stayed in his father’s band until John’s fatal heart attack in 1994. Geno took the wheel and started French Rockin’ Boogie. Four
years later, Michael Tisserand’s book, “Kingdom of Zydeco” was released. In the book, Delafose took issue with the new young crowd that was discovering his music. They complained that Delafose played too many waltzes, sang too much in French. Soon, you can make sweet music at the 'm.i.brary' “I’m happy people don’t appreciate my music around here like they do elsewhere,” said Delafose. “I really enjoy the road, and I’m making a good living, and I’m not ready to be popular at home.” How times have changed. Herman Fuselier is music and entertainment writer for the Times of Acadiana and Daily Advertiser. Contact him at hfuselier@theadvertiser.com.
This month's Festival-O-Rama includes some band appearances at clubs. If you are in the area, check out the club websites for the band appearing at that time. This Weekend --- Ninigret Rhythm & Roots Festival (Rhode Island) Rhythm & Roots Festival at Ninigret Park, Charlestown, Rhode Island. Bands include: The Mavericks, Rosanne Cash, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, MarchFourth!, The Squirrel Nut Zippers , The Knickerbocker All Stars w/ Special Guests TBA, The New Orleans Suspects w/ Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat, Marcia Ball, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Shinyribs, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, The Pine Leaf Boys, 10 Strings and A Goatskin, Big Sandy & the Fly
Rite Boys, Sarah Potenza & Ian Crossman, The Turtle Duhks, Los Texmaniacs, Courtney Granger & the Bad Hombres, Lilly Hiatt, Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express, Say Darling, Sunday Gospel w/ Sarah Potenza & Christine Ohlman, The Revelers, The Alex Meixner Band, David Greely, Johnny Nicholas, Li'l Anne and Hot Cayenne, Magnolia Cajun Band and Ed Poullard & Preston Frank.http://www.rhythmandroots.com Sat., Sept. 2, 2017 --- 35th Zydeco Music Festival (Opelousas, LA) Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Jamie Bergeron and the Kicking Cajuns, Travis Matte & the Kingpins, Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws, Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas and Lil Nate & The Zydeco Big Timers. Website is https://www.zydeco.org Sept. 2-3, 2017 --- Sonoma County Cajun, Zydeco and Delta R&B Festival in Sebastopol, CA Sept. 2 and 3, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Ives Park in Sebastopol. Saturday is zydeco, Sunday is rockabilly. Band include Geno Delafose, Mark St. Mary and HIs Blues and Zydeco Band, The BluesBox Bayou Band, CZ and the Bon Vivants. http://winecountrycajun.com/ Sun. Sept. 3, 2017 — Kevin Naquin & Ossun Playboys (Lafayette, LA) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Vermillionville. Website: http://www.vermilionville.org/ Fri. , Sept. 8, 2017 — Pine Leaf Boys w/ Beausoleil (Lafayette, LA) All day — Feed n Seed. Website: http://www.feedandseedlafayette.com/ Sat. , Sept. 9, 2017 —
St. Tammany Crab Festival (Slidell, LA) Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Ln, Slidell, LA 70458. Amanda Shaw, Rockin’ Dopsie & the Zydeco Twisters, Leo Nocentelli from The Meters. Festival continues on Sunday, Sept. 10. Website: https://www.sttammanycrabfestival.com Sat., Sept. 9, 2017 --- Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic (San Diego) War Memorial Building, 3325 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 6:20 p.m. Zydeco basics lesson, 7:00 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. open dancing to Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic. Website: www.icajunzydeco.com Sat. , Sept. 9, 2017 — Lisa Haley and the Zydekats Olives Adobe Concert (Ventura, CA) 7:30 p.m. 4200 Olivas Park Dr, Ventura, CA 92002. Website: http://www.cityofventura.net/mus Sept. 9-10, 2017 —- Crawfish and Catfish Festival (Woodland, CA) Yolo County Fairgrounds, 1250 East Gum Ave, Woodland, CA 95776. Website does not show bands, but one source says Mark St. Mary Louisiana Blues & Zydeco Band, Motordude Zydeco, Zydeco Flames will perform. Confirm before going. Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crawfish-catfish-festival-tickets-32193421390 Sun., Sept. 10, 2017 —Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic (Long Beach, CA) 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at PCH Club (Golden Sails), 6285 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90803. Cost $15. More Info: David Souza (909) 527-0926 davidsousa@verizon.net, or Dempsey (562) 396-1132 bontemppappion@aol.com Sun. Sept. 10, 2017 ---
Feufollet (Chicago, IL) Feufollet playing the season finale of SummerDance, downtown Chicago in the Spirit of Music Garden on Michigan Avenue between Balbo and Harrison. FREE EVENT! Basic dance lesson from 4 to 5 pmwith band playing from 5:30 to 7:30. Come by to celebrate another great year of music and dance from SummerDance. www.chicagosummerdance.org Mon., Sept. 18, 2017 --- Third Monday Zydeco Dance at Tio Leo's (San Diego)
6:15pm - 6:45pm Zydeco Basics Lesson w/Greg
6:45pm - 7:15pm Intermediate & Advanced Zydeco Lesson
7:15pm - 9:00pm Zydeco DJ Dance
Cost: $5 cover. Admission enters you in drawing for CDs and other goodies, and dance lessons Location: Kearney Mesa Moose Lodge, 3636 Ruffin Rd., San Diego, CA 92123, phone 619-542-1462. Questions: Greg, 619-857-8409, email: greg@zydecoach.com. Free Online Zydeco Warmup Lesson: www.ZydecoLesson.com Sat., Sept. 23, 2017 --- Cajun Festival (Charlotte, NC) 2:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Cajun Festival, Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28202, Phone: 704-432-4280. Sun. Sept. 24, 2017 --- Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express (Lafayette, LA) 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Vermillionville. Website: http://www.vermilionville.org/ October 12-15, 2017 --- Swannee Roots Revival (Live Oak, FL) Lineup will include Donna the Buffalo, Grandpa's Cough Medicine, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jim lauderdale, Verlon Thompson and dozens more. Website: http://www.suwanneerootsrevival.com Find additional Festival listings are at: http://www.floridacajunzydeco.com/festivals.html
Cajun Humor
What Fish?After a day fishing at a lake near his house, Boudreaux is walking home carrying two big ol' fish in a bucket. He is approached by the Game Warden who asks him for his fishing license. Naturally Boudreaux doesn't have one. He says to the warden, "I didn't catch dese fishes, dey are my pets. Every day I come down to de lake and dey jump out de bucket and I let dem swim for awhile, an' when I whistles, dey jumps back in de bucket so we can go home." The warden, not believing him, reminds him that it is illegal to fish without a license. Boudreaux turns to the warden and says, "If you don't
believe me den watch," as he throws the fish back into the water. The warden says, "Now whistle to your fish and show me that they will come out of the water." The fisherman turns to the warden and says with a smile, "What fish?" The ArgumentBoudreaux & Marie were having their first fight, and it was a big one. After a while, Boudreaux said, "When we got married, you promised to love, honor and obey." Marie replied, "I know. But I didn't want to start an argument in front of all dem people at the wedding."
Outside Florida
Atlanta Cajun Zydeco AssociationSaturday Sept. 24, 2017 --- Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Saturday Oct. 7, 2017 --- Big Easy Playboys Dorothy Benson Center, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30328.
7 p.m. Beginner Dance Lesson
8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Open dancing to Cedryl Ballou & Zydeco Trendsetters
$18 admission / $14 for members Atlanta Cajun Zydeco Association website: http://aczadance.org/Bands usually play at Benson Center, 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs, GA 30328; Phone: 404-613-4900. Check website for dance events in Atlanta area at http://aczadance.org/ Houston/Texas Cajun-Zydeco Eventshttp://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html Southern California
Eventshttp://www.icajunzydeco.com
If you missed last month's newsletter...Discover all of the Update! newsletters and feature stories on Cajun and zydeco artists on the "Stories" page at floridacajunzydeco.com/stories.html
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