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.