That's a great question. On one hand, I'm happy for any Cajun or Zydeco band that can achieve some commercial success. Matte has definitely accomplished that.
As for the music, it's catchy - very simple - but catchy. It's party music...that's probably all the band intended it to be.
On the other hand, where the music falls short for me is the raunchy content. I can't (won't) play it around my kids or family. If people unfamiliar with genre come to associate TM & TZKP's music with all Cajun or Zydeco, then I'm not sure that's a positive thing. It's certainly not an accurate association.
TM & TZKP's music is yet another evolution of Zydeco. Personally, I'm not thrilled with the direction where they're headed.
For what it's worth, I've worked with TM & TZKP at a southwest Louisiana festival a couple of times. They have always been friendly, polite, and professional.
I remember reading somewhere that Leo Soileau got criticized after recording "Demain, C'est pas Dimanche" , by the local priest, for the implicit sinfulness of the lyrics. Sounds like Travis has some roots there somewhere.
Definitely party music geared for, say, a college crowd. What they do lyricly has been done in just about every genre. I remember Dirty Water, Louie Lousie, and a slew of others being banned from the radio, and of course, seem tame day today's 'standards'. What I find more interesting, though, is the mixing of styles. A lot of times, it falls on its face, but givien time, sometimes it works. After all, the accorion was the cajun interloper way back when. I'm sure that when country, honky tonk, swing influences were first introduced, it was received with frowns and sometimes distain for going outside the tradition. It's a circular arguement that really can't be answered. Time and susstainability is probably the only test.
Unfortunately, for people like the Kingpins, while they are around you've got the lovers and the haters. It reminds me of a long time ago, a band I had a close assosiation with. Most people hated them. Three of the guys are dead now, and I still laugh out loud when I hear their music used in comercials. All of a suden, they're geniouses. But back in the day, they where scrounging to get laudramat money.
Steve
Re: Re: Re: Travis Matte and Zydeco's new direction
Travis and I are friends, he's my biggest influence musically, but that aside...
Travis is a genius -- musically and in a marketing sense. He also writes songs that have such an enormous hook in them that they just won't be denied. Talk about smart... writing a tune about LSU kickin' butt is one of those things that has been under everyone's nose and he took that idea and ran with it. He makes it all look and sound so easy. Very clever, indeed.
Who doesn't like a little humor in the mix? If you're playing the clubs, you notice things like thongs and butt-shakin' -- perfect fodder to sing about as well as generate a dancefloor that will do just *that*.
His vocals are smooth and pleasing; let's face it, if you don't have tight and pleasant vox, your audience won't care about your accordion deftness and you won't build a following.
Travis and his band are the first band of their "kind". Much like Toups invented zydecajun, Travis has invented a form of new-school zydeco with "white guy" influences and attitude.
Zydeco is a legitimate genre of music, but it is Creole music. There's a lot of roadblocks for a white band to be performing zydeco. Conversely, can you imagine a Creole band billing themselves as a Cajun act? It's a tough world, especially in s.LA.
Luckily, zydeco has enough outside influences thrown into the pot to be workable for artists from other origins and backgrounds. It's a lot harder to be Cajun when you aren't a dyed-in-the-wool Cajun.
You'll note that most of Travis' fans are primarily white 20-somethins' and have an expendable income. The irony is, most of them, 3 years ago probably didn't think much about zydeco. Likewise, you won't find the same crowd at a Chris Ardoin show cheering Travis on. I hear the same barbs thrown at Travis as I do at Horace Trahan. "Why would a talented, nice guy like that halt his progress and play simple ol' zydeco?" My response to that is, look at his attendance records. He's breaking them at every venue he plays at -- not just his, but the VENUE's record. A few weeks ago, the Henderson fire marshall had to shut him down at Pat's. I seriously doubt he'd be pulling the audience if he was still playing fiddle for Jason Frey.
So, proof is in the rice an' gravy... zydeco was (and still is) a niche waiting to be exploited -- even by non-Creoles alike. The trick is, to accept the fact that it is WAY harder to play than some people think it is.
Travis' new CD (not the Christmas disc) should be released any day. On it, there's a ballad titled, "A Night To Remember", which is Travis' favorite cut. Look for it -- s'gone be good!
Re: Re: Re: Re: Travis Matte and Zydeco's new direction
I agree with the fact that he is THE band for my age group (20 somethings). Creatively speaking, he is a genius. He takes a tune, adds some funny lyrics to it, and has an instant success. My wife loves him and it has really got her into the cajun scene a lot more. She still loves Steve Riley, but when Travis is around, we have to go listen to him. His first zydeco CD, dis aintcha momma's zydeco, was great. I loved his renditions of Lacassine special and Kaplan Waltz (mix). As I said earlier, he isn't my favorite, but if just a few kids can get interested in the music and pick it up, Travis will have made a huge impact on our culture. Just imagine if Belton Richard had sung about Santa Claus not having draws...lol. Would have been great.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Travis Matte and Zydeco's new direction
Well said Rick and I couldn't agree more. Zydeco sounds so easy until you try to do it and put a band together! Travis has gotten a whole new group of young people getting out and supporting cajun accordion music. We boomers sure aint gonna be around forever so unless new people come in to the mix the music won't survive or grow. I say thanks Travis (and Horace too) for doin' it. As far as some of the lyrics being a little risque, they don't even come close to "Deacon Jones"! Travis is an altar boy compared to Boozoo.
the real issue here is just being hinted at...
Go to a Travis Matte gig and there is not one, single black face in the crowd.
We used to call this co-opting back in the 60s... but some of the white motown acts were actually popular within the black community.
Zydeco has its own direction, and the direction it is taking is about J Paul, Chris Ardoin, & Keith Frank. Some younger guys like Andre are having some effect, too.
What Travis is doing is absolutely irrelevant to zydeco. He is bringing a bleached version to the white audience who normally only relate to cajun & CW. His original tunes are catchy once or twice, but they bring nothing new to the table... and you can always expect to hear iko iko at his gigs.... yawn.
Re: Re: Re: Travis Matte and Zydeco's new direction
Hmmm,
A lot of interesting points. The Cajun vs. Zydeco clash doesn't usually get much attention here.
I agree that Zydeco is difficult to pull off. Once in a while, I do one or two tunes at my shows, but it's more in the interests of showmanship than anything else. I ain't no Zydeco player and I just can't do it justice.
As for Travis Matte, he's a great box player and he's clearly wonderful at marketing himself. I don't care for the songwriting at all, but his chops are more than enough to get people interested in Cajun/Zydeco. You've gotta admire the energy he generates too.
To me, though, his music is "gateway Cajun". If you like it, it may lead to the "hard" stuff.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Travis Matte and Zydeco's new direction
I have seen alot of bands perform, and I will be the first to say that Travis M. is a proffesional. Let me tell you about the last time that I had seen a mainstream artist, he was so stoned he could barley get the words out. And you all know who I am talking about. And If you ever have the oppurtuity to talk to Travis he is a nice person, unlike alot of the other "idols" of cajun and zydeco music. Keep on, Keepin on Travis!
Incidentally, you zydeco fans may have not found these videos yet. Just go to the website above, then scroll down until you see the VIDEO chapter (middle of the page).
They are in Burgundy. It's the Saulieu festival team's website. It's not updated yet but there are a few pictures of the previous years' festival (link #2).
Travis is planning to tour -- I've been giving him some venue suggestions here in DFW, so I know a tour is impending. Whether it's a tour of the lower 48 or just the Ark-la-tex, I've not heard.
The long and short of this discussion really boils down to opinions, really. My opinion is, Travis' style is a unique approach to zydeco, and he's created his own thing with it, as well as his own audience complete with its unique demographics.
Zydeco music has experienced more revolutions in the past 20 years than any other Louisiana genre. If you compare Clifton to J. Paul, it's hard to imagine the label "zydeco" applies to both equally. It's quite amazing to see the contrast. Moreover, if you look at the tools used, the Cajun box, now, is the preferred method to the piano accordion, with the 3-row as a close second. That dynamic alone has served as a sweeping change to the zydeco sound. Of course, Boozoo had been doing this all along!
So you have to wonder about guys like Travis (and Jamie Bergeron)... are they changing the taste of Cajun music or are they spinning zydeco yet another turn? Only time will tell.
One thing is certain. Pick up any Chris Ardoin and/or J.Paul Jr. disc to unveil the course of zydeco's future. They leave everyone in the genre catching up to them.
1. If you are interested in seeing a creole/black audience. Go to a "church dance". Most of the white folks are too intimidated to go to them.
2. Most of the LA artists will not travel outside of the LA/TX area unless they have to. After a while it will happen.
Even Keith Frank is not filling the local clubs like he used to and is travelling.
I think of Travis' current music as "pop" Zydeco. It's catchy, party music. Even he will probably get tired of it and probably start composing more "interesting" stuff after a while.