Hi JB, in Germany with about 83 Mill. peoples I know 4 real cajunbands. And they all work very hard, to give this wonderfull music to the people. There are also about 10 bands, which are playing Zydeco. I believe, it's mor an accordion-rock style then Zydeco, but in this way it's more populare then Cajun. It's a better situation with more bands and festivals too in F, GB and NL.
Still developing my band in the UK "The Riding Aces" the riding refers to the three ridings (regions) of Yorkshire which comes from the Norse "thriding", we don't have horses. I've even designed a logo which has a white yorkshire rose within an ace of spade. No T shirts or gigs yet or even a guitarist- just accordion, fiddle and lots of room for improvement- some original material too. I'll post up some vids when we get somewhere with it.
Was jamming at a folk festival and have been asked to play in a band at a paid gig next week- don't know what they're called or what they play but I'll go down and see if i can't inject some cajun and creole grooves into the sound.
Also guest on blues harmonica for a band called Achin' Allover who play once a year.
Maybe when my kids grow up I'll have more time to join more bands!
Or get them to join the band.
It's really tough if you're also the designated roadie.
That's a pure ton of sound equipment lifting for 5 working bands.
If you play multiple instruments, it's hard enough to keep up with your own stuff.
After 70 years, still can't figure out how to be two places at once, even though I've come close several times.
Just never book back-to-back gigs if there is travel time in between.
Especially if you're all riding separate.
Somebody will always be late.
Then you have to bring them on like they are some kinda star who just decided to show up.
JB! Good to see that you are on the mend. I understand things got rough for a while. Just to let you know, I don't have a band, anymore. Well, I have one more gig scheduled with the band, but I primarily perform solo, now. I play mostly Folk/Americana music. I enjoy it, and it gives me the opportunity to play my original music for new audiences and at the same, I get to educate them on the differences between Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music.
I do, however, love playing Cajun music and I am available to fill in for people on guitar, bass and sometimes accordion. I get to do this pretty often with Ellis Vanicor, Chris Miller and more recently, Milfred Simon.
Thanks for the kind words, Ganey.
Yep, things definitely got pretty bad.
Lung infection is nothing to take lightly.
I was so weak I could hardly lift a guitar pick.
Back to normal now.
Those steroids have done the trick.
Just making me wackier than I was, if that's possible.
Hope you are staying booked.
JB
I've got a couple bands going, one a mixture of Cajun and piano accordion songs that I write, the other pure Cajun (or as close as this Arkansas boy can come).
I haven't been on here in a while because of all it took to get my daughter off to her first year in college way up in Poughkeepsie, New York. While we were up there, my wife and I drove around (5 states in one day, 4 of which I'd never been to!) and spent a few days in Franconia, New Hampshire. Did you know they actually have Moose crossings up there?! Lot of black bear, too, though I never saw either.
And about as soon as I got home, my wife and I got a stomach bug, so that's had me down. I've hardly felt like riding my new Trikke T12 (look it up) or playing ping-pong (which I'm much better at than Cajun accordion, though I know that's not saying a helluva lot).
Side-story: I showed up late for my flight out of Arkansas, in my gold-pinstriped seersucker jumpsuit and blue glitter nail polish on my right hand (another story) WITHOUT a picture ID. To get on the plane, I had to go through a VERY thorough search in front of about 100 curious onlookers. Tip: telling the TSA guys that they can touch you anywhere they want as much as they want actually makes them back up a little . . .
More than you ever wanted to know about my life, but there it is. Hope to be back to the Bravenet soon, and with videos!
Jamey, besides being a CA/PA player (good), a singer (very good), a pingpong player (excellent I guess), you are an amazing storyteller.
Your only problem is - I told you before - that you are way too modest. So keep wearing your jumpsuits and tell about your adventures, OT or not.
The world needs more colourful people like you! And I hope that you got rid of that bug (salmonella?) by now, and that it didn't spoil your birthday party.
Peer, thanks for the kind words, brother - life's for living! If I ever get this Skype thing going (which seems likely, now that my daughter is so far away at school), I'll have plenty of stories for you . . . I've no lack of stories; it's remembering them all that is a problem . . .
I play electric guitar, fiddle, and occasionally triple-row, and sing backup vocals, in a country band that gigs a fair amount, about 18 gigs this year. I play electric guitar, keyboards and harmonica, and sing some lead vocals and lots of backup vocals, in a classic rock-n-roll band that gigs 2-3x/yr. Plus I get calls 4-5x/yr to sit in with friends' bands for one-off gigs, like playing guitar or fiddle with Dwight's band, or playing guitar or mandolin with friends' bluegrass bands. So all in all I guess I gig about 2x/mth.