Stomping 2010 - 2

Two more days spent around the Lafayette/Baton Rouge area picking up on some good music. On Saturday we went to a little festival in Arnoudville and then on to the Baton Rouge Blues Festival. First act we saw was Ruthie Foster, a youngish singer with a powerful voice who mixed up blues, gospel and quite a bit of pop/folk material. Enjoyable but not really my taste. The next act was Tony Joe White, whose deep voice and hypnotic beat on self penned numbers such as Polk Salad Annie, Steamy Windows and Rainy Night in Georgia were a delight. Very laid back and mellow. Finally there was Chris Thomas King, son of Tabby Thomas, who is now an actor as well as a pretty good blues singer.
Next day the weather was hot and sunny so after a leisurely morning by the hotel pool we took a walk into Lafayette for a couple of acts at the festival there. D L Menard is 78 years old but still the king of Cajun and his nasal vocal delivery is still effective. He was followed by Nathan and the Zydeci Cha Chas, a proficient but rather unexceptional local band. After a delicious meal at Landry's restaurant a group of us went on to the Atchafalaya Club at Fishermans Wharf in Henderson where we were among the youngest there - despite having an average age of over 60 - among a group of locals enjoying Kenny and the Heartbreakers, a group that first recorded in the 50s. They did a 4 hour set without a break covering every musical style. It was a throwback to an earlier age, but very enjoyable.
Now it's off to New Orleans - more later.