In case you might not have noticed, South Louisiana music is becoming almost as popular as Cajun cuisine…at least in the world of advertising. In fact, just about any time you hear the sound of an accordion on a television commercial today (and it’s becoming more and more de rigueur for bleach and fast food ads), you can bet it’s got origins in the Cajun or zydeco sound—even though, in most cases, it’s not performed by Louisiana artists. But a few Louisiana groups are cutting national commercials and are getting some more national exposure: the Neville Brothers, for example, are recording a jingle for the Burger King chain.

Louisiana’s finally noticed that she’s got a great resource that can be marketed and sold to the outside world—that’s her music and culture, to say nothing of her food. So, there’s a movement afoot to authenticate the use of the word “Cajun”—only the real stuff produced in Louisiana is eligible. Forget the “Cajun style” langoustinos boiled in beer you ate in Dubuque—if it ain’t grown, produced, manufactured, sung or recorded in Louisiana, you won’t be able to call it real Cajun. Amen!

There’s been quite a stirring lately of activity in local recording studios. Ultrasonic Studios recently mixed and edited a new album for Beausoleil, a Cajun favorite. The album is on the Rounder label but won’t be released until early next year…The Dirty Dozen’s new album on CBS is going into production soon, with Scott Billington as producer…Ultrasonic is also involved in lots of contemporary jazz recording. Engineers Dave Farrell and Jay Gallagher recently recorded jazz pianist Henry Butler live at Tipitina’s for the Windham Hill label; Marlon Jordan on CBS; and Willie Tee (who can be heard locally at the Clarion Hotel).

One of the more exciting tidbits of news is that Terrance Simien and The Mallet Playboys are cutting their long awaited first album at Southlake Studio for Enigma. Terrance and the boys knock ’em dead every year at the Jazz Fest and everywhere else for that matter (they were the band at Tipitina’s in the film “The Big Easy,” but, in our opinion, weren’t exactly seen at their best. But then, neither was the city). Terrance is one of the most entertaining, high-energy performers in zydeco, and shouldn’t be missed.

You can see this group, along with Zachary Richard, Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun, as well as Beausoleil and many other fantastic Cajun and zydeco performers, at the Festivals Acadiens on September 13-17 in Lafayette. Lafayette’s at the heart of Cajun country, and as most partying New Orleanians know, is just a two-hour drive from the Crescent City on Interstate-10. Katrinna Huggs’ story on the event in this issue gives some of the details of one of Louisiana’s great festivals. Katrinna is our regular “Cajun correspondent” and reports monthly on doings in Acadiana.

The fall season’s on its way after the summer swelter, and the New Orleans club scene is starting to gear up again. Storyville, which closed down briefly during August (a victim of the city’s struggling economy), has now reopened its doors with a regular schedule of music. Tyler’s (uptown on Magazine Street) is slowly expanding its schedule from weekends only to weeknights again, and in addition to The James Rivers Movement on Fridays and Saturdays features “world class jazz” from local groups such as the New Orleans Stick Band and Woodenhead.

New clubs are rapidly appearing on the scene as the heat abates and tourist trade increases. One of the best ideas we’ve heard lately is the opening of Bart’s on the Lake as a music club. Bart’s begins its live New Orleans music series every Thursday night in September (including James Rivers on September 7th, The Johnny Vindigni Band on September 14th, rising star Charmaine Neville on Thursday the 21st and Miss Irma Thomas to top off “September Thursdays” on the 28th). Bart’s will probably be the first club in the city where music lovers will be able to enjoy New Orleans performers in a comfortable setting. The lake has long been a source of pleasure for us locals (many of us have fond memories of the clubs and restaurants at West End Park). It seems to be undergoing a revival for music and entertainment, just like “in the old days.”

The Hard Rock Cafe in the Jax Brewery now has sets every Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m. with some New Orleans local musicians taking the stage. The Hard Rock is also planning a series of “big name” performers beginning later this month and throughout the fall. We also hear of plans for a major, major bash to celebrate the anniversary of its opening sometime in December on the scale of its opening (which featured Roy Orbison and The Nevilles). Stay tuned for more info in upcoming issues of OffBeat.

Billy Bob Barnett and Spencer Taylor, Texas entrepreneurs who know a good music market when they see it, are finalizing the plans for a massive music and entertainment center to be constructed under the Rivergate complex downtown. According to Barnett, there will be about 10 clubs with music to appeal to everyone. Rumor also has it that that legendary club on Tchoupitoulas, Rosy’s, is soon due for a comeback.

Speaking of comebacks, local favorite rock band from the early 80s, The Cold, plans a reunion at Jimmy’s on Thanksgiving weekend. Jimmy’s has some interesting programming in the works: Joe “King” Carrasco from Austin and Flock of Seagulls from Britain. Jimmy’s also has “All Ages Shows” that invite the younger audiences to participate without that big bad monster alcohol. Check Jimmy’s schedule in this issue for dates and times.

Tipitina’s has expanded its Sunday afternoon format with a “Destination: The New Jazz Age” show from 1 to 4 p.m. The jazz show is designed to showcase young amateur performers from local schools and universities, backed up with a house jazz band made up of professional musicians and players from NOCCA (the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts), New Orleans’ performing arts high school. NOCCA has produced rising young jazz artists like Harry Connick, Jr. (who performs at the Theatre for the Performing Arts on September 25 in a benefit for his District Attorney dad) and Branford and Wynton Marsalis.

Pater Farnilias Marsalis, Ellis, is now back in New Orleans heading up the University of New Orleans’ new Jazz Studies program which begins its first semester this fall at the lakefront campus.

We may also soon have a new music attraction in town, if local entrepreneur Shea Dixon gets his way. Dixon’s trying to attract the Grammy Hall of Fame to a site on Canal Street that was previously occupied by the D.H. Holmes Department Store. Music is a subject dear to most New Orleanians’ hearts and Dixon seems to have struck a chord (no pun intended) in the community, where sentiment towards developing the project seems to be running high.

New Orleans has always attracted music aficionados from all over the world looking for great jazz, blues and rhythm and blues…and now Cajun and zydeco, though to be truthful that genre is best found in Lafayette and its environs. We have some good record stores in town to satisfy every taste, particularly those with some oldies but goodies that can be picked up at bargain prices. Check out Record Ron’s (524-9444) and Record Ron’s Too (525-2852), both on Decatur Street, as well as Record Ron’s new store uptown at 7605 Maple Street (866-1388). If you’re really lucky, you can talk to The Man himself at the store at 1129 Decatur Street. He’s the one with the beard and the Noo Yawk accent…

Yeah, we’ve got music, but in this issue of OffBeat, we have our first report on one of the city’s favorite forms of entertainment: eating. Check out Patrick Shannon’s review of good, cheap eats and upcoming issues for reviews of the best (and worst) of New Orleans and Cajun cuisine. Until next month…