Archive for January, 2011

C.J. Chenier (plus Monsieur Guillaume) at Callahan’s, January 30

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Aiyeeee!!!! If you don’t get enough zydeco dancing to C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band at CMU’s “A Night of Louisiana” on Saturday night, head on over to Auburn Hills, MI, on Sunday, January 30 when C.J. plays at Callahan’s Music Hall. Callahan’s is at 2105 South Boulevard, and their phone is 248-858-9508. Callahan’s is billing this as a “Mardi Gras Tune Up Party.”

Doors open at 6:30 pm, tix are $13 to $15 (not sure of what the difference is), and show time is 8:00 pm.

As a special bonus, the local Detroit-area band Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats open for monsieur Chenier. The Hepcats take the stage at 8 pm, so don’t be late!

A Night of Louisiana at Central Michigan University, January 29

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Hé toi! This Saturday, January 29 marks the 20th Anniversary of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI’s “A Night of Louisiana.” CMU always has a Cajun and a zydeco band to celebrate the “night.” This year they’ve got C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band (zydeco) and the Lost Bayou Ramblers (Cajun) to play for your dancing pleasure.

It’s $20 admission, doors open at 6 pm, show starts at 7 pm, and tickets are available at the door. You can pre-order a Cajun dinner for $9.95. The event is in Finch Fieldhouse on the CMU campus. BTW, there is a large dance floor! (Obviously, it’s in the fieldhouse!)

In case you don’t know, C.J. Chenier (extra points for anyone who knows what the “C.J.” stands for without having to look it up) is one of the top zydeco performers of the modern time. He’s following in the footsteps of his father, Clifton, who was known as the “King of Zydeco.” C.J. started playing saxophone in his father’s band in the early 1980s, then took over on the accordion when Clifton’s health started to fail.

The Lost Bayou Ramblers are a bunch of young guys from Louisiana who sound like an old-timey Cajun band from 50 or more years ago. They play straight, traditional Cajun music.

The bottom line is, if you can’t dance to either of these bands, you’re either really, really drunk, or really, really dead!

Creole du Nord at Passport Restaurant, Ann Arbor, January 23

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

I just received an email from Mark Palms of Creole du Nord. His band (Creole du Nord) is playing at the Passport Restaurant and Lounge at 3776 S. State St. in Arbor, MI, on Sunday, January 23. Go and check it out! This is what the email said:

COME DANCE TO THE HAPPIEST MUSIC ON EARTH with “Mark Palms & Creole du Nord”! CAJUN, ZYDECO, SWING, LINE DANCE w/instruction. SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 (6-8pm) at the Passport Restaurant & Lounge, 3776 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48108.

Fun! Fun! Fun! Great exercise! Make new friends! Singles welcome! All ages welcome! “I’ve never danced before” welcome!

I must confess to never having been to the Passport Restaurant, but from their web page it looks like they specialize in international cuisine. It also appears they’re trying to have some regular dance events. So go and check it out and send me a report on the event! (I’m still under the weather and so won’t be able to attend.)

Also, just to mark your calendars, Creole du Nord is playing at The Ark in Ann Arbor on Friday, February 25.

Cracklin at the Black Sheep Tavern in Manchester, January 15

Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

Hey folks, head on over to the Black Sheep Tavern in Manchester, Michigan, this Saturday, January 15 when local Cajun band Cracklin plays live for the tavern’s “Louisiana Dinner Night.” The event is from 6:30 to 10:00 pm. There is no cover charge (yay!) and no dance floor (boo!), although there will be Cajun food and music (both yay!)

The Black Sheep Tavern is at 115 E. Main St. in Manchester. Find it on an online map.

Actually, no dance floor is not too bad for me at this time as I have a surgically-repaired foot that is still not ready for dancing. That’s also why I haven’t been too inspired to post on this blog for more than a month!

And this is from the Cracklin web page:

Cracklin Cajun Band Just talked to the chef the Black Sheep. The menu for the Louisiana Dinner this Saturday night is: Gumbo with gulf shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken; red beans and rice, southern catfish, cajun grouper, blackened chicken, frog legs, bread pudding and pecan pie (along with their regular menu) Passe moi donc le riz et gombo!

Bon appetit!