News - #5 OCTOBER, 1996

Cajun for the Grammys: Le Cajun Awards We were very pleased with the CFMA awards at Blackham Coliseum in August, picking up Best Accordionist and Best Fiddler honors. Congratulations to all the winners! Coincidently, during our performance at the Awards, members of Storyville (a great Austin, TX band featuring Double Trouble, Stevie Ray's rhythm section) were in attendance. Backstage at Grant Street that night, they complimented our show, saying we had gotten them fired up to play! Cajun for Stagefright: Peur de Bandstand There are times when the pressure gets a little intense - like in August when we preceded Celia Cruz at the Smithsonian's 150th Birthday Concert on the Washington Mall. The audience of 30,000 were chanting "Ce-lia, Ce-lia" while we were being introduced! There was nowhere to run so we gave it all we had and actually won them over (although we definitely quit on time so their idol could take the stage). Cajun for hurricane: Ouragan When we travel to the Cajun & Bluegrass festival in Escoheag, RI on Labor Day weekend, we expect an early taste of fall in the air - not a hurricane. Hurricane tracking is a normal part of Louisiana life that Edouard brought to the festival this year. Luckily we felt only the edge of the storm and flew on to our Minneapolis gig the next day after a ferocious jam with Robert Jardell and Pure Cajun. Cajun for Great Gig: Festivals Acadiens Backing up Octa Clark was a real highlight. But we should have brough him up at the end of our set instead of at the beginning. How could we possibly best Octa playing the "Back o' Town" two-step? Festivals Acadiens is more like a family reunion than a gig. It's two days of fast and furious handshaking, backslapping, hugs and kisses. It is also our best chance to play for our own neighbors and family - the folks who know Cajun music best. This year we managed to do the festival with no English songs. ÉAnd they said we couldn't do it! Cajun for Crawfish: écrevisse We got a call from Robert Duvall - well, from his people but that wouldn't rhyme. He was filming "The Apostle" in south Louisiana and wanted us to play something called "Eunice" in a scene. We figured that was either "Eunice Waltz" or "Between Eunice and Opelousas." It was the waltz he wanted. When we were finally on the set - crawfish on the table, dancers ready, Kevin's triangle tuned up, lights and camera - Robert Duvall walks over and asks, "Who's Eunice?" Cajun for Maudit: Moe-D We had a great time with all the folks down in Cameron recently. Ms. Ruby Hebert cooked a great meal, Cedric and the boys (the band "Moe-D") played some great music, and the dance drew a great crowd. The only problem was getting home through the floods and flats! Cajun for Expensive: Chere As we mentioned before, each issue of our newsletter only goes to the regions with upcoming gigs. So, what if you wanna get every newsletter? HmmÉWe haven't figured that one out yet. We do put all this info on our Internet web page (see address above). Another solution may be to collect dues to help pay postage and printing. -Sincerely, The Mamou Playboys back to news