This live recording by 87-year-old Goldman Thibodeaux & The Lawtell Playboys is significant in countless ways and will likely grow in importance in the years to come. He’s a folklorist’s goldmine, a standard-bearer for Creole lala music that was a precursor to the first generation style of zydeco championed by Clifton Chenier. Since the death of The Lawtell Playboys’ fiddler Calvin Carriѐre in 2002, Thibodeaux has unwaveringly led the band that has been in existence since 1946 when it was founded by Calvin’s father and uncle Eraste and BéBé Carriѐre, respectively. Over time, Thibodeaux has been highly lauded. Most recently, in December 2019, he was named to the Order of Living Legends in the Acadian Museum of Erath, Louisiana. In 2014, he was a recipient of the Folklife Heritage Award and featured at the 2015 Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Bright Lights Literacy Awards.
While Thibodeaux may be a living legend, he’s hardly just an academic specimen. At this family reunion held at his home parish, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, in Mallet during November 2019, he’s a vibrant performer and a jovial personality and talks to his audience in between songs. At one point, Thibodeaux even announces food is being served, giving the displaced listener a sense of being there. He jokes about how his band of “good musicians” is pushing him, but it’s really him leading the attack on accordion and vocals in a spontaneous, improvisational way. According to the band’s fiddler Louis Michot, Thibodeaux keeps everyone on their toes by calling out tunes with no notice and improvising melodies and lyrics on the spot, a quality he cherishes about Thibodeaux. Incidentally, St. Ann’s was the site of Thibodeaux’s first “official” gig when gas was 25 cents a gallon.
Musically, it’s a throwback to times unimaginable at this point, raw, real and rough, unvarnished to the point of splinters. Drummer Barry Cormier and bassist Justin Leger lay down a solid foundation, allowing the band to motor along with a signature groove of its own. It’s not slick but it’s authentic and enjoyable without any enhanced post-production gimmickry. Half of the 14-song set list is Thibodeaux originals with the opening track “Two Step De St. Ann” bearing some semblance to “Jolie Bassett.” There are also a few Creole chestnuts like “Lucille” and “Jolie Catin” but what’s particularly interesting is how Cajun and Creole cultures blend together on the romp of Iry LeJeune’s “J’étais Au bal” and “Zydeco Sont Pas Salé.”
Eventually, the band takes a break. A cousin announces for everyone to go outside for the group photo to be taken by a drone, setting up a symbolic, contrasting juxtaposition of a tradition-based culture and modern technology. Overall, a total blast.
