Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
at the Ecotarium
| Friday night at
the Ecotarium in Worcester, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Cha had a
capacity crowd jumping up and down and waving their arms like a bunch of banshees to that the fast and furious accordion-driven dance music of the Creole people of South Louisiana. There was no dance
floor, but the dancers packed into the small area in
front of the band with complete, passionate, abandon! It was wild! The
band was set up in a tent instead of on the Sundial Plaza because of
the threat of rain. We've had more than our share of it this
spring and summer! Fortunately, it held off until the show was over; folks sitting outside the tent were very grateful. |
left of tent |
in the tent |
right side of tent |
| This is pumped-up,
funky music - no way can anybody sit still. Parents,
grandparents, toddlers, all generations were either dancing or
tapping their feet and clapping, as if at a Cajun Festival in
Louisiana. (No crawdads, though.) A couple of teenagers kept undulating in their seats.
Musicians with Nathan Williams were brother Dennis Paul Williams
guitar, Herman "Rat" Brown drums, Paul bass, Clarence "Big" Calais
rubboard, Scott Billington harmonica. |
 |
The band's harmonica player at this gig was a local gent. Holding his own on harmonica was Acton's Scott Billington, producer of the Zydeco Cha Cha's CD,
I'm a zydeco hog. The CD was
recorded live at the Rock 'n' Bowl, a favorite Zydeco venue in New
Orleans, and can be purchased on Amazon. |
|
One of the finest dancers in and out of the
tent was this lady, Terra Friedrichs, who was two-stepping along
while selling CDs. She's also a Selectwomen in Acton, and Scott's wife. The
woman
wears many hats - wisely and proficiently!! |
 |
|
Another proficient lady, substituting for "Big"
Calais on rub board for a couple of tunes, was red-headed Zydeco
Bonny. She had no problem keeping up with Nathan's dynamic
accordion! |
 |
| It was another fun
Friday evening at the Ecotarium. If you haven't caught one yet -
there's only one left this season, July 24th, 6:30-8:30pm featuring New England's own
Cassandre McKinley. Pray for sunshine! |
BACK TO TOP |
| By Marce,
Updated July 18, 2009
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