Posts Tagged ‘C.J. Chenier’

Low turnout for C.J. Chenier in Ann Arbor

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

C.J. Chenier played the Dream Nite Club in Ann Arbor, MI, on Saturday, February 26, and sadly there wasn’t much of a crowd there to enjoy his music. I was honored that my band, Maison Bleue, got to play a 30-minute opening set before C.J. went on stage with his band, and it was nice to hear that C.J.’s rubboard player, Clifford Alexander, really liked our set!

C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band

5/6 of the Red Hot Louisiana Band at the Dream Nite Club: Mike Morris, Tim Betts, C.J. Chenier, Clifford Alexander, Glen Griffin (photo by Jeff Boerger)

The Dream Nite Club is set up nicely for dancing–it just needed some more zydeco dancers to crowd the floor! At least everyone who was there looked like they were passing a good time.

C.J. Chenier & Clifford Alexander

C.J. Chenier & Clifford Alexander at the Dream Nite Club (photo by Jeff Boerger)

C.J. Chenier

C.J. Chenier at the Dream Nite Club (photo by Jeff Boerger)

Anyway, the Dream Nite Club is hosting a Mardi Gras party on Friday, March 4, with local band Creole du Nord. Y’all should go and check that out.

Update: Maison Bleue’s frottoirist, Mary, got to play a couple of tunes with the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Thanks to MB’s guitarist Kip Godwin for the cellphone picture of Mary on stage with CJ.

Red Hot Louisiana Band with guest frottoirist Mary

Maison Bleue's frottoirist Mary rubs along with the Red Hot Louisiana Band (photo by Kip Godwin)

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Buckwheat Zydeco, C.J. Chenier in Ann Arbor, February 16, 26

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

Heeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyy, Baby! The next week or so is a good time to listen to zydeco music in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area, as Buckwheat Zydeco and C.J. Chenier (more about C.J. in just a bit) both visit tree-town.

Buckwheat Zydeco - Lay Your Burden Down

Buckwheat Zydeco - Lay Your Burden Down - Grammy winner!

Stanley “Buckwheat Zydeco” Dural, Jr., plays The Ark in A2 (that’s slang for Ann Arbor, for those who may not know) on Wednesday, February 16. Doors open at 7:30, showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are $20. As far as I can recall, this is the first time The Ark has hosted a zydeco act, although they have had Cajun music acts previously. BTW, The Ark is at 316 S. Main St. in A2. Info: 734-761-1800/734-761-1451.

Mr. Dural has been playing zydeco music for a long time. I have several of his zydeco LPs (i.e., old-fashioned vinyl records) from the late 1970s/early 1980s. He recently won a Grammy in the “Best Cajun/Zydeco Music Album” category for his latest recording, “Lay Your Burden Down.”

Mardi Gras beads divider line

On February 26, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band come to Ann Arbor to play at the Dream Nite Club, 314 S. Fourth Ave.

C.J. Chenier at Dream Nite Club flyer

C.J. Chenier at Dream Nite Club

Doors open at the Dream Nite Club at 8:30 pm on February 26, show starts at 9:30 pm with local band Maison Bleue playing a 30-minute set, followed by C.J. Chenier. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Info: 734-222-4522.

Mardi Gras beads divider line

Creole du Nord also plays The Ark on February 25, but that’s for another post.

Trivia question: Besides both playing piano-key zydeco accordion, both Buckwheat Zydeco and C.J. Chenier have something in common. They both played in the same zydeco band with a famous zydeco headliner, although in different years. Whose band was that? (Answer later.)

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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!

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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!

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C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band at Callahan’s in Auburn Hills

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Hé toi! C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band play at Callahan’s Bar & Grill, 2105 South Blvd, Auburn Hills, MI, this Thursday, September 16.
Local band Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats open for C.J. starting at 8:00 pm. For any nostalgia freaks out there, Callahan’s is in the building that was formerly Chuck’s on the Boulevard, a place where you could get some tasty Creole cooking. $10 at the door, although I heard a rumor they may have cut the price to $5. Call 248-858-9508 for more info.

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