Monday, March 20, 2006

Sonny Landreth "The Road We're On"

I just picked up another Sonny Landreth CD, and a few of the songs are gems. Sonny has put together another solid CD. Not all of it suits my fancy, but the songs are tight, and mixed well. The thing is with Sonny's music, is that it begins to all sound the same. Of course you could say that with a lot of music, but this CD, as a whole, lacks some creative flavor. Since I'm a dancer, dancable songs tend to catch my attention, but not only. If the lyrics say something true, and the music has some creative tecture and/or flavor, I can get into any tune, especially if the breaks come from the sole.
List of songs:
  1. True Blue
  2. Hell at Home
  3. All About You
  4. A World Away
  5. Gone Pecan
  6. Natural World
  7. The Promise Land
  8. Fallin' For You
  9. Ol' Lady Luck
  10. Gemini Blues
  11. The Road We're On
  12. Juke Box Mama

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Beale Street Zydeco Festival 2006, Memphis, TN

THE FESTIVAL
The merchants of Beale Street in Memphis have gotten together and indulged a cousin of the Blues, and put together a zydeco festival every year. It's one night, with a usual dance the night before by one of the bands.

THE WEATHER
This year, the weather was the worst. Penni & Don, who happen to live in Memphis, were very gracious hosts, and my 'before hand' contacts regarding the festival. Penni had said that they usually only get one bad storm for the season, and that the one the weekend before should have been it. Unfortunately, the weather from Minnesota seemed to follow us down, because the weekend of the Zydeco festival the weather was cold and icy. Many people didn't come because of the weather. My dance partner (Deb) & I were pretty amused when we heard how local folks reacted to such weather, and I have to say they even made fun of themselves about it. We heard that some folks brought extra clothes and overnight stuff with them in the car in case they got stuck somewhere, and couldn't get back home. Being from Minnesota, we chuckled since weather like this was familiar, and not something we'd worry about getting stuck. First of all, in all fairness, I didn't see many cars stuck or in the ditches. And, since Memphis doesn't get this kind of weather very often, of course folks won't be familiar with how to drive in it. Heck, many Minnesotans still have trouble driving in winter weather, to the dismay of others.

THE NIGHT BEFORE DANCE
The night before the Beale Street festivities, at least one dance is held at a local venue. This dance seems to be for all those that are anticipating all the zydeco on Beale Street, and for those coming into town a day or so early. This year Thomas 'Big Hat' Fields and his Foot Stompin Zydeco Band played. I forget the venue, but I think it was in a nearby town, and in an official room at that. The room was carpeted, wood paneled, and the Seal of the City was in the background, behind the band.

BEALE STREET ZYDECO 2006
Here is a list of the bands.
  • Roy Carrier & the Night Rockers
  • Thomas Fields & his Foot Stompin Zydeco Band
  • Dora & the Zydeco Bad Boys
  • Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express
  • T Broussard & the Zydeco Hotsteppers
  • Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
  • Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Cha's
  • Corey Ledet & Zydeco Embrace
  • Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys

Sunday, February 12, 2006

"Sweat" by Chris Ardoin & NuStep

Once again Chris and his band has put out a zydeco CD that is full of talent, beat, dedication, and creativity.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Welcome Everyone!

Welcome to "The Bayou Dancer Post." I started this blog (web log) as an outlet for my own comments, opinions, news, reviews, and interviews of the people I meet along the Creole and Cajun, music & dance trail. Cajun & Creole culture, music and dance originating from SW Louisiana and SE Texas, but reaching all over the world.

*For more information, see the links I've provided along the right hand side of this blog. If you'd like to offer your own, additional links not listed, or comments you'd like to make directly to me, email me at david@bayoudancer.com, thanks.

NEWEST DATES ON TOP
The latest, or most recent posting date will show up at the top of the list. At the left there is a list of archive articles, from which you can choose, is in the same (newest first) order. Comments are also listed and more easily viewed when you select and read the articles one at a time, by clicking on the title as well. Click on 'home' and this will bring you back to the full list.

MY WRITING, MY OPINIONS
I hope to write to this often. Please understand that these are my comments, and my opinions. I will be as honest as I can, with out being rude. And for those times that you find the need to respond, say "here, here," object, reply, add your two cents, correct, etc., there is the comment area.

ABOUT ADDING COMMENTS
I welcome comments , even if it's to say "Hi, I thought I'd stop by and say hello." and/or especially to added your experience regarding a given subject, or correct something that I've written. Just go to the end of the article and find the "comment" link. You're welcome to be honest, but please do not be rude. I will moderate comments as necessary and directed. To comment directly to me, email me at david@bayoudancer.com, thanks.



QUESTIONS?
If you have questions, you're welcome to add those to the comment area as well. I will reply directly to you, if you leave contact information. Or, I'll add a comment of my own to respond to your question. Then, you can check back to see my answer. Or, if you need to, email me direct at david@bayoudancer.com

David, a bayou dancer...

Sunday, November 14, 2004

Step 'n' Strutt Trail Ride 2004, Prairie Larent, LA

2004 LOUISIANA TRIP - PART II


ONE OF THE LARGEST
The Step 'n' Strutt Trail ride is one of the biggest trail rides around. Over the course of the 3 day weekend, about 600 horses and their owners, along with the other dancers and party goers attend the Step 'n' Strutt Trailride. Upwards of 7-8 bands play for hundreds of primarily Black Creoles, and African Americans.

BEFORE THE TRIP
I had been planning to go on this trip and wanted to make some connections before hand, so I got the name & number of the organizer of the trailride, Dave Lamelle.

BEFORE THE TRAILRIDE
This particular trip, we flew into New Orleans, and went to the Pre-Zydeco Cruise fest dances Thursday & Friday. Thursday, Keith Frank & the Soileil Zydeco band played, and Friday it was Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, and Chris Ardoin & Nu Step.

TO THE COUNTRY