Thanks for the props, BJ -- I love to write and I type fast! I can be verbose, according to recipients of my emails.

Finding a drummer for zydeco (old or new school) is tough -- REALLY tough -- if you're not down in the Golden Triangle. I've had a heck of a time over the years here in the DFW area. Nine times outta ten, I've had to "make my own." You might try finding an existing band that you like and asking them if you can swing by their next rehearsal. Make sure you ask what brand of beer they like.

Well, that's just one way. Another is to peruse the bulletin boards at your local music shop, i.e., Guitar Center, etc. Also, you might try one of the on-line musician boards -- I've had some moderate success on musicians.net.

The bottom line is, find a drummer that is not shy about hitting the skins with some power. Zydeco is dance music, and the drums are crucial; just as crucial as the bass. That's what gets the audience on their feet. Attempting to use a country western drummer has been disappointing in my experience. I know there's some top-notch c&w drummers out there, but the one's I've auditioned never hit hard enough -- I guess they do something like "cocktail country."

My suggestion is to find a pop-rock drummer. My drummer, Champagne Johnny, came from that background and I've never been disappointed. He's the best drummer I've ever played with. I met him back in '96 when he was in a rock cover band. Cover band drummers are a good choice since they can pick-up a variety of styles quickly. And what cover band drummer wouldn't want to break out of that mold and do something different, eh?! Even if they are zydeco covers, it sure beats Mustang Sally and Freebird anyday!

Good luck Brutha John,

R!CK

rock drummers should be able to handle the
'hit it hard' part

you just have to convince them not to play
a million fills and flourishes

and that there is a subtlety to the timing

the answer to 'is this a shuffle or a straight?'
isn;t always black and white

sometimes it;s just flat 'wrong' but sounds great
the drummer will be straight and the
lead [accordion or vocal] will be
stretched and shuffling all over the place

keith frank 'creole music' [the song]
from the 'masked band' cd, is a good example of this


wle.

Thanks Rick and Larry - that's all very sound advice for which I'm grateful.

Seems to me that, while you can play Cajun on your own ( box or fiddle ) and only need the backing of a good rhythm guitarist to entertain an audience, or even dancers, Zydeco is totally different, in that you need to be a band. So my own enthusiasm is not enough - I need like minded musicians to even get off the ground.

Going back to Ska, Rick - after I'd read your explanation, I was trying to remember what The Specials sounded like - kind of picturing sax players on - stage antics ( Madness were a visually entertaining band, and I imagine the rest could not help jigging about on stage ). A tune came into my head which I knew wasn't from those bands - must be something in my own collection. Found it on a compilation I was given. Beau Jocque - Pop That Coochie. Which neatly illustrates the Ska/Zydeco similarity. ( Well, it seemed so to me - whaddya think? )

BJ

Pop that Coochie is definitely a different groove -- a little slower rhythm than a lot of other zydeco. It has more of that line-dance groove. I could see a ska band picking up on that tune and squirting a little octane in it, while distilling Beau's simple, punchy riffs into a horn section. Gah'dang that would be purdy cool! Pshaw! Yeah-ah! "Attention all ska bands, attention all ska bands... Pop That Coochie, would ya!?"

Ha! Like they are even reading this post! LOL!

As far as entertaining folks using a bare-boned zydeco strategy, i.e., no electric band. If you ask me, it has all the rhythm necessary to be as acoustic as you want, "front porch-style" bay-bay! Heard it done that way many times. An acoustic guitar makes it just as nice as a Cajun jam. Percussion instruments work well acousically too, but I wouldn't recommend the frottoir with metal strikers -- plastic Lexan spoons do the trick there, and having someone beating on an upside-down cardboard box with some metal spoons will add a nice rhythm, too. Seen it done in full effect, right in my own kitchen -- on both a Cajun box and a triple-row. Talk about fun!

Good stuff, BJ...

R!CK

Rick - I never cease to be amazed at the bottomless reservoir of info and tricks we can all pick up on this board. The stuff about acoustic zydeco is very valuable and has me looking at it a different way.
What are Lexan spoons? Just the white plastic canteen type spoons? or something else? I know the whole gist of your post is improvisation, but just thought I'd ask!

Glad you liked the Pop That Coochie suggestion.

Going to see Leon Chavis next weekend. You know him? What dya reckon to him? What relation to Boozoo, if any, is he?

BJ

lexan plastic spoons indeed a quiet form to be sure... AH Fiddle Sticks!

Who here has ever seen or heard of fiddle Sticks??

Great expression as a saying.... but, fiddle sticks do exist for real, though perhaps rarely used.

Yeah, Nonc- I've seen fiddle sticks on a couple of occasions. Can't remember who. One might have been a Dutch or French band.

But I still don't know what Lexan spoons are. Are they those joined together cheating spoons?

BJ

Just looked back and Rick said plastic Lexan spoons - so I'm none the wiser.

The New Riverside Ramblers, our CFMA Award Winning Cajun band in the Twin Cities, plays a song where the drummer uses fiddlesticks, two thin sticks, played against the fiddle as the fiddle player plays a song. It's a percussion thing. Really does exist.

leon chavis is the son of joe chavis,
who was boozoo's brother.

about acoustic zydeco, go for it,
but to me, that music is about a
full electric band pulling
together like 5 locomotives hauling
a floor full of dancers to
nirvana


'lexan' usually refers to
plexiglas [in the UK]

wle.

You can purchase a lexan (allegedly "unbreakable" plastic) cutlery set at your local camping gear outfitter. BTW, I've managed to break 'em. It's tough, but it CAN be done! They are usually sold in a set (fork, spoon and knife), but it's the spoons that are best to use on a frottoir -- in a low-volume setting. Whether that's acoustic or just, let's say, the "dinner" portion of a private party gig. When they're done eatin', ya crank up the PA and switch to the paint can openers!

The plasticware is also great in rehearsal. I rehearse with a drummer that has electronic drums (for rehearsals only) and my rubboard player will use the lexan spoons on the rubboard so we don't squint as much!

S'all good...

R!CK

Thanks Guys -that's cleared up all my loose ends. Now I can sleep at night!

Joe Chavis will be backing Leon this weekend. The rest of the band are some very competent Brits - yes, there are some! Actually, I do the bass player a dis-service. I think it'll be Vera van Heeringen, from the Netherlands.

Leon is doing the accordion workshop.

Can't wait!

BJ

Getting back to the reggae discusion for a minute, I saw Horace Trahan last year at the Blue Moon saloon for Mardi Gras and they did a few reggae tunes which I thought were awsome. They really had the place jammin and the political basis on some were right on. It may have been a turn off for some, expecting different Horace style , but I thought it was great to have in the set. I would consider buying an album with some of that on it if he would put it out.