I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans [Live]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
There have always been two camps in the zydeco world of South Louisiana. The "song" camp takes its cue from Clifton Chenier, who used his big piano accordion and broad harmonic palette to develop distinct songs. The "riff" camp draws its lessons from Boozoo Chavis, who uses his small button accordion and hypnotic two-bar themes to create hypnotic dance rhythms. The differences are analogous to those between, say, T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters, or Sam Cooke and James Brown. The "riff" school has dominated the Gulf Coast dance halls in recent years, but the "song" school still thrives in the music of C.J. Chenier (Clifton's son) and Nathan Williams. This album from Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, I'm a Zydeco Hog, includes two Clifton Chenier compositions and 11 Williams originals in the same style and with the same high standards.

The album was recorded live at the Rock'n'Bowl, a second-floor bowling alley above a giant Thrift City in the Mid-City section of New Orleans. The bowling goes on while Louisiana's best bands play at one end of the broad walkway. Usually it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The combination of balls rolling down the lanes, musicians scraping rubboards and squeezing accordions, and dancers making the old wooden floors bend creates a dizzying atmosphere that is peculiarly Louisianan.

Producer Scott Billington has captured that fizzy excitement on this joyful recording, which is the best possible introduction to Williams's music. Two of the most infectious numbers, "Zydeco Hog" and "Everything on the Hog," are variations on Chenier's classic "I'm a Hog for You" and a reflection of the music's rural roots. Several songs are sung in the ancient Creole dialect, and several more are interrupted by Williams's shouts of encouragement to the dancers. When they respond in kind, the energy level of the music seems to rise another notch. --Geoffrey Himes

I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans,Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas,Rounder / Pgd,Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans,Pop,Swamp Pop,World Music,Zydeco
I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Everything on this Hog is Good! - Nathan, Live! at his best.
I'm a Zydeco Hog: Live at the Rock 'N' Bowl, New Orleans
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

ZydecoZydeco | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
Cajun & CreoleCajun & Creole | Cajun & Zydeco | Regional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | International | Styles | Music
Rounder RecordsRounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000000315
Release Date: 1997-08-05

Tracks:

  1. Tante Rosa
  2. Hey Bebe
  3. Grand Prix (What A Price I Had To Pay)
  4. Tout Partout
  5. Josephine Ce Pas Ma Femme
  6. Zydeco Hog
  7. Slow Horse And Fast Women
  8. Oh Yie Yie (Mon Coeur Fais Mal)
  9. El Sid O's Zydeco Boogaloo
  10. Everything On The Hog
  11. Stomp Down Zydeco
  12. Why You Wanna Make Poor Cha Cha Cry?
  13. You Got Me Baby Now You Don't
  14. Zydeco Road

Amazon.com

There have always been two camps in the zydeco world of South Louisiana. The "song" camp takes its cue from Clifton Chenier, who used his big piano accordion and broad harmonic palette to develop distinct songs. The "riff" camp draws its lessons from Boozoo Chavis, who uses his small button accordion and hypnotic two-bar themes to create hypnotic dance rhythms. The differences are analogous to those between, say, T-Bone Walker and Muddy Waters, or Sam Cooke and James Brown. The "riff" school has dominated the Gulf Coast dance halls in recent years, but the "song" school still thrives in the music of C.J. Chenier (Clifton's son) and Nathan Williams. This album from Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas, I'm a Zydeco Hog, includes two Clifton Chenier compositions and 11 Williams originals in the same style and with the same high standards.

The album was recorded live at the Rock'n'Bowl, a second-floor bowling alley above a giant Thrift City in the Mid-City section of New Orleans. The bowling goes on while Louisiana's best bands play at one end of the broad walkway. Usually it's so quiet you can hear a pin drop. The combination of balls rolling down the lanes, musicians scraping rubboards and squeezing accordions, and dancers making the old wooden floors bend creates a dizzying atmosphere that is peculiarly Louisianan.

Producer Scott Billington has captured that fizzy excitement on this joyful recording, which is the best possible introduction to Williams's music. Two of the most infectious numbers, "Zydeco Hog" and "Everything on the Hog," are variations on Chenier's classic "I'm a Hog for You" and a reflection of the music's rural roots. Several songs are sung in the ancient Creole dialect, and several more are interrupted by Williams's shouts of encouragement to the dancers. When they respond in kind, the energy level of the music seems to rise another notch. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Everything on this Hog is Good! - Nathan, Live! at his best........1999-11-26

Nathan Williams and The Zydeco Cha Chas are probably one of Lousiana's most underated Zydeco performers. For more than a dozen years this act has been churning out high energy zydeco music laced with the blues, reggae, classic creole and just plain and simple rock 'n' roll. "I'm a Zydeco Hog" recorded live at New Orleans' Mid City Lanes "Rock'n'Bowl" in 1997 is one of the best live Zydeco recordings I've recently heard. The late Beau Jocque Live! was good. Keith Frank Live! is fine too. But Nathan and The Zydeco Cha Chas Live! is an experience. This CD captures all the excitement that was in the air during this exceptional "Rock'n'Bowl" performance. There are classic Zydeco sounds here too, including "Zydeco Hog", "Why You Wanna Make Poor Cha Cha Cry?", and the hard driving "El Sid O's Zydeco Boogaloo." Everytime Nathan Williams shouts "Etwal" (The stars are surely shining tonight) you know something special is about to happen. Close your eyes on this one and you're transported right onto the dance floor of the Mid City Lanes with all the excitement that is Nathan Live! Once you pick this one up, your gonna want more from this premier party band. So go ahead and explore two other Nathan CDs: "Steady Rock" and "Your Mama Don't Know." But first, "take your shoes off" and dance to the sounds of Nathan and The Zydeco Cha Chas Live at the "Rock'n'Bowl."

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