The Acadian Lafayette, LA, Blair Dahl, January 2008
Many of you have seen the movie “Ratatouille” and even though this story is about a band, I want to take a moment to reflect on this movie. The rat, towards the end of the movie, makes ratatouille, a peasant dish, an unusual choice to make for a famous food critic who is dining in the restaurant that night. However, when the food critic tastes the dish, he immediately remembers his childhood; the present ceases to exist for him and his soul warms with the memory of his youth and the simplicity of food (and life) back then. His transport is instant.
And, while we all have certain foods that do the same thing to us, we also know that music can transport us just as easily. Hence, my point; the Lost Bayou Ramblers can transport you to the most wonderful place. They, with one song, can send you to the heart of Cajun culture. If you don’t know Cajun French, you probably won’t understand the words, but that is not necessary, you will feel something bigger than words… it is a rhythm of life, that famous “joie de vivre”. If you’re listening to the band in a dance hall, you’d better dance or move over because everyone in there is in that same magical place as you, and they want to dance there, smile there, laugh there, and let that Cajun rhythm wash over them.
And the musicians who decide on the Grammy nominees apparently agree with me. The Lost Bayou Ramblers have been nominated for their CD “Live At The Blue Moon” in the new Cajun/Zydeco category added this year. In a field of 7, the Lost Bayou Ramblers are one of 6 nominees from Louisiana. This is a point Louis Michot made reference to repeatedly in our interview the day after the nominees’ names were released. Louis Michot is the lead singer/ fiddle player for the band. He discussed his earlier reservations about the new category. On one hand, making the new category brought Cajun/Zydeco musicians out of the folk category so they don’t “have to compete with icons like Bob Dylan,” but he was worried the nominations would not go to true local musicians. For Louis, the music is “inseparable from the culture” and a “by-product of the culture.” Louis couldn’t be more pleased that 6 out of 7 of the nominations are from Louisiana.
And one listen will convince anyone why the nomination is deserved. The Lost Bayou Ramblers, like the ratatouille, will transport you to another place and time. Their music is the true representation of Cajun musical heritage. Listening will bring to mind images of a rabble of Cajuns gathering on the shore of a bayou for some hand-fishing, good eating, a drink or two, and a night by the bonfire dancing. It is the music of belonging, and when a true Cajun hears it, he or she feels immediately a part of something bigger, and anyone else feels welcome.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers are six in number and all band members boast a rich musical history. Louis and Andre Michot trained from birth under their father and uncles, “Les Frères Michot.” They “grew up as the rhythm section.” Louis then moved on to fiddle and vocals. Andre perfected accordion playing. And, one time, before a gig, Andre was bitten by a cat, and couldn’t play the accordion. However, in true Cajun spirit, he picked up the lap steel and played on.
Oscar Courville has been around since before the band. He is the “heartbeat of the band” and developed the habit of standing to play the drums when he and Louis played in the streets of New Orleans. He was called “Drum” in high school, and being an overachiever (Louis’ words), is the only band member with a “real” job.
Cavan Caruth’s presence with the band is an interesting story. Cavan is from Texas, and is a blue-blooded honky-tonk man. A long time ago, a couple of the guys from Lost Bayou Ramblers helped Cavan out with his gig. The result was so good that they worked out a double-bill deal. Little Enos and the Bayou Bandits would play you a round of country music, then the name of the band would change to Lost Bayou Ramblers (not the musicians, mind you), and you would dance the rest of the night to Cajun swing.
Alan Lafleur joined the band one night when the Lost Bayou Rambler's bass player missed the gig. Alan was doing sound at the Blue Moon for the show, and he agreed to fill in. Louis notes, “It’s so rare to find a stand-up bass player, so it was great when Alan joined.”
Matt Doucet, fiddle player, is one of the founders with Andre and Louis. He left for awhile to go to Maine to learn how to make fiddles, and now he makes them here in Acadiana.
You may have heard of the band as “The Mello Joy Boys.” They had an agreement to promote (and welcome back) the re-production of Mello Joy coffee. The coffee was popular in the 30’s before it was bought out. For the last year, playing around Acadiana, the Mello Joy Boys went about playing one of their specialties, Cajun swing. Louis tells me that, in the 30’s, Harry Choates took “Jolie Blonde” to #4 on the national charts….. in French! This Cajun National Anthem happens to be Louis’ favorite song. He calls it by its original name, “Ma Blonde de Parti” and is partial to the version done by the Breaux Brothers. “It’s the way they play it. It brings me back to a whole different life. I can just see the wagons as they pass.” He refers to, of course, the settling of Acadiana, and how the Acadian French culture brought it’s magic to our area.
The band has a CD out as the Mello Joy Boys as well as several as the Lost Bayou Ramblers. A new CD “Vermillionaire” is just finished and is due out soon. If you would like to sample Lost Bayou Rambler’s fare, let me direct you find their rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In” on the internet (Google it). As you listen, remember this story about the song: my response to this version of the song was very emotional. I almost cried it touched me so. The melody is what I describe as haunting. Louis told me how the band had been up in Chicago for the Folks and Roots Festival. One of the organizers decided to make a songbook with lyrics and a cd. He asked LBR to contribute. At the studio, LBR was asked to look at a list of songs. The one they recognized was the one they played. They had never played “When the Saints Go Marching In.” before. Truly, I kid you not…. Never before practiced, played, sung or hummed. They had no idea they were being videoed as well, and they let it loose with the grandeur the song deserves. The song was put on the cd “as-is”… it made the cut, the very first time.
Their previous cds are the same way. Amazingly, the first cut makes it. This is true for the Grammy-nominated cd as well. The musicianship is beyond explanation. Louis couldn’t hide his excitement about the new CD because it will be all analog (remember that word?) and will have that warmth the music deserves.
Louis uses the term “philosophy of simplicity” to describe their music, what they play and what they learned before. “We grew up as the rhythm section (for Les Frères Michot) which set our music rhythmically. We’re not doing it for money. We take it as it comes, nice and easy. We do what we want to do, what we like.” And, it is with the upmost respect for Cajun culture that the Lost Bayou Ramblers do what they do so well. I never dreamed, that of all the places I could live, Arnaudville, Louisiana happens to be where I first heard this band, first stared in awe as dancers pulled me into another time, first began to understand the people I live amongst and how precious this music is, and first appreciated the talent of transporting a listener with a simple tune like the chef who can turn a peasant dish to a memory.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers will be off the month of January, but will be appearing at NU NU’s Café in Arnaudville on February 1 and at the Blue Moon Cafe on February 2nd. Then, watch for their acceptance speech at the Grammy’s on February 10! Go to www.lostbayouramblers.com for all the info you need on this fabulous band.
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