Issue Articles
Unlike Any Other: Zydeco’s Rusty Metoyer plays for everybody
If the oft-said phrase “it skips a generation” is borderline cliquish, nonetheless, it still fits Rusty Metoyer to a “T.” The Lake Charles zydeco accordionist and vocalist’s parents, Russell and Portia, didn’t play music, yet both of Metoyer’s grandparents played professionally.
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs: La Prière (Valcour Records)
If you think this is another traditional fare of alternating Cajun two-steps and waltzes, then skip on by. That would be the conventional approach, but Jourdan Thibodeaux is hardly a conformist. He writes his originals on his fiddle, and doesn’t listen to music while driving his truck, instead preferring to hear melodies mentally.
4Horses Cajun Dancehall Band: Live at La Poussiere, Breaux Bridge, LA – Part One (Flattown Music)
4Horses was spawned from Cajun supergroup High Performance when steel guitarist Richard Comeaux had difficulty booking a gig and his usual suspects were unavailable.
Jenn Howard: Valiant Women (Independent)
The musical tale of Jenn Howard could be construed as the prodigal daughter returning home and eventually finding her muse. Initially, she did the rock thing and flirted with national stardom with her group Project NIM. When it was over, she returned to her native New Orleans and resumed a normal life and career path. In 2009, she cut the full-tilt rock sizzler Up All Night with members of Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes.
Marc Broussard: S.O.S. IV: Blues For Your Soul (KTBA Records)
With a portion of the proceeds from each of Marc Broussard’s S.O.S. philanthropic album series benefitting a different nonprofit, his latest installment targets Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, which “fuels the passion for music by funding national relief grants and music education programs for students and teachers.” Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation’s founder is none other than blues-reining superstar Joe Bonamassa, who co-produced Blues For Your Soul and contributed his searing guitar on four cuts.
A Joyous Celebration: Michael Doucet avec Lâcher Prise let things happen organically
Side projects involving your favorite musicians are often intriguing and a growth experience for the musician and attentive listener. BeauSoleil’s fiddling front man Michael Doucet is certainly no stranger to side projects.
South Louisiana Marsh Blues: Michael Juan Nunez is an incredibly inspired songwriter
No matter how you slice and dice it, 2022 was a banner year for Michael Juan Nunez. After years of writing and preparing for his then-upcoming album Rouxsta, the merciless pandemic delayed its release by three years. Finally, things fell into place. The pandemic subsided, Jazz Fest resumed, and the Erath, Louisiana bluesy guitar slinger finally released his best work to date among a stellar catalog—all deserving national airplay.
New Beginning: Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. is keeping his father’s legacy alive
It’s not always easy following in the footsteps of your major dad, especially when he’s the legendary Buckwheat Zydeco (1947-2016) who brought zydeco to worldwide prominence— more so than his mentor and genre founder Clifton Chenier. After spending three years playing organ in Chenier’s Red Hot Louisiana Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, a.k.a. Stanley Dural, Jr., founded his own group, Buckwheat Zydeco and Ils Sont Parti Band. (Ils Sont Parti means “they left,” a commonly heard cry when the horses sprint out of the chute at a local racetrack.)
Rusty Metoyer: Unlike Any Other (Independent)
Rusty Metoyer has been on an upward trajectory in zydeco for some time, but when a senior statesman like Chubby Carrier dubs him the “hot new zydeco band,” do take note. Praise from a colleague and fellow competitor doesn’t come lightly.
The Amazing Nuns: A Falling Knife Has No Handle (Independent)
Considering that Lafayette’s The Amazing Nuns is in its 21st year, the group still manages to stay underground and undiscovered by the rest of mainstream generica. In years past, the art rockers maintained a higher profile by gigging more regionally, once as far as Mobile.
