Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys – “Tante Lily”
SXSW 2020 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6
Pairs Well With…Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Dewey Balfa, Donna the Buffalo
I have seen this band more than twenty-five times. I confess I went through a serious Cajun dancing phase some years ago. So, first a quick primer about the genre. Although Cajun and Zydeco music originated in Southern Louisiana, Cajun music sprung from white Acadian descendants whereas Zydeco evolved out of the black Creole culture. Cajun music features the button accordion, fiddle, triangle, guitar (and sometimes pedal steel, bass or drums). Zydeco is faster, sweatier, and centers around a (generally) bigger accordion and rub board, along with guitar, electric bass and drums.
Steve Riley broke out as a 19-year old accordion prodigy and he toured with the legendary Dewey Balfa. But after achieving success at Cajun festivals, roadhouses, and American Legion Posts (shout out to the one in East Providence, RI) playing traditional two-steps and waltzes, Riley introduced elements of rock, the livelier sister zydeco, and new instruments such as saxophone and piano, into his repertoire. A few traditionalists were appalled but many new fans replaced them, and last year, the band issued “30 Years Live” to celebrate the band’s longevity. The record features traditional Cajun tunes as well as the breadth Riley’s current sound. For example, “Tante Lily” melds Cajun rhythm with the blues and “Sea of Love” is an all-out country Western ballad. Riley and his band play at Antones @ 10:20 pm on a loaded Louisiana showcase (along with Michael Docet and Chubby Carrier). We closed out our Southbye a few years at the Louisiana showcase at Antones with a lot of swaying and foot-tapping. So, I am likely to notch my twenty-sixth show with Steve Riley this year. SXSW doesn’t have to be all about music discovery, right? Oh, and I’ll be glad to give you (and your partner) a quick lesson in the Cajun Two-Step, Jitterbug, and Waltz if you join us. (David Zlotnick)