The Zydeco Road: The Road Stops Here

FROM LONG ISLAND TO LOUISIANA … WITH LOVE

LIL’ ANNE and HOT CAYENNE

THE DOC MARSHALLS

RIVER CITY SLIM and THE ZYDECO HOGS

Inter-Media Arts Center, Huntington, New York Saturday, October 15, 2005

(click here for a PDF of the poster)

By K-Paule Pachter

Just like most people in the world, I watched Hurricane Katrina destroy parts of the Gulf Coast in late August 2005 and was saddened by the devastation and the aftermath of the storm. Although I felt a sense of loss for the people of Mississippi and Alabama the scene of devastation in the City of New Orleans particularly struck me. Many of the streets that were flooded are streets that I walked through during my visits to the Crescent City. The faces of the people carrying their possessions moved me. The tears of the children, the photos of the pets left behind and the endless discussion of the dead impacted me significantly. New Orleans is not my second home, nor do I consider myself to be an expert on the City or its culture. But through my work with ZydecoRoad.com I’ve made many friends and acquaintances who either live or work in New Orleans and who are part of the New Orleans music industry. It is an industry that has been extremely generous to me and very appreciative of the efforts that Richard Arfin and I put fourth each month to promote their music. It is an industry that has added tremendous legitimacy to our fan-based website turning it into a respected electronic publication valued by artists and fans alike.

Within hours of the first reports and photos of the devastation from New Orleans I began to receive emails in response to my inquiries from people like Irma Thomas, Joe Krown, Gary Edwards, Banu Gibson, Alexandra Scott and others. Each email assuring me that, people were coping and safe, but that instruments, furniture and homes were lost. They also told me that many careers were being compromised by the loss of venues that local artists had regularly performed in and lives were being uprooted by people having to relocate to new communities in order to live with friends and families. The more I read in my emails and the more I watched the images unfold on national television I knew that I wanted to help. I felt that I had to help.

I knew that through my work on Zydecoroad.com I had the contacts to try and do something on a bigger scale to raise some money to assist in the relief efforts, especially for my friends in New Orleans. The first person I thought of was my friend Michael Rothbard, Executive Director of the Inter-Media Arts \Center in Huntington, Long Island. The IMAC Theater has always been a venue where Louisiana artists come to perform in when they’re in the New York metropolitan area. The IMAC is also a not-for-profit organization and who better to understand the importance of raising money for people in need. After some thought and consideration, Michael Rothbard and his Board of Directors agreed to join me in producing what we billed as: “From Long Island to Louisiana with Love.”

The only prerequisite that Michael gave me was that we do this benefit right, and that the monies raised be donated to Long Island organizations that were participating in the relief efforts in the gulf coast region. We agreed on three Long Island based organizations: Habitat for Humanity; the American Red Cross; and North Shore Animal League. The IMAC Theater was going to provide the venue, sound, staff and publicity and I was responsible for lining up the talent.

When it comes to talent, there was no shortage of artists who were interested in donating their time and talents to this event. So many great regional and national artists responded to my initial email, including Alexandra Scott of New Orleans who had just relocated to New York after loosing nearly everything in the floods. After considering all of our options, Michael and I decided that the evening should consist of Zydeco and Cajun music because that’s what ZydecoRoad.com is primarily about and the music would lend itself to a party atmosphere. Almost immediately, three of our most popular regional acts came forward to lend a hand: River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs; The Doc Marshalls; and Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne. All of them ready to donate their time, travel to Long Island at their own expense, and ready to help out the people of New Orleans.

In addition to the music, Michael and I also wanted to create a Creole Food Court in the lobby of the theater, where the audience could purchase food for an additional price as a way of raising even more money. A call was put out and we immediately secured the generous cooperation of three of Long Island’s best Creole eateries: Yazoo City in Lindenhurst; R.S. Jones in North Merrick; and The Bayou in North Bellmore.

Each of these restaurants donated food for 200 people and brought their staff along to serve it up. It addition, they provided the food backstage for the artists. The only problem we encountered was that the food ran out in less than 45 minutes. With only a few weeks to plan this event and after sending out a special mailing, we sold out 625 seats in less than 3 weeks. What Michael and I didn’t anticipate was that all 625 people would want to eat or reach down into their wallets to contribute to every aspect of this event, including buying up nearly all of the artists’ merchandise. CDs and t-shirts were flying off the shelves. At each intermission the audience would come out to the merchandise table and purchase souvenirs of this very special event.

The audience was extremely generous and in a real mood to party and lend a hand. They lined up outside the theater early and they just kept coming. And in return for their support, we had three acts ready to put on one hell of a show. As the house lights dimmed we presented a six-minute slide presentation set to music that depicted scenes from Hurricane Katrina. The images were donated by Newsday and set to Bo Dollis’ rendition of Randy Newman’s composition of, “Louisiana.” The presentation was emotional and clearly set the tone. Michael went out on stage to explain how this benefit was put together and then he introduced me.

Together, we thanked everyone involved. The members of the IMAC Board, their donors, the restaurants, local printers, decorating companies, the audio visual company that set up our big screen, the three charities that were about to receive the net proceeds, and of course the audience that packed the house. Then as he would rarely do, Michael turned the show over to me. For those of you that have never been to the Inter-Media Arts Center it is truly one of Long Island’s premier concert halls and Michael Rothbard and his staff are some of the most seasoned professionals in the business. For this well-respected master of the house to turn his stage over to me meant a great deal. In return, I was going to deliver the goods.

First up and opening the show was Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne. One of the northeast’s most successful Zydeco acts, Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne continue to headline every music festival and dance club in the region. They have a tremendous following of loyal fans and they never disappoint their audience with their outrageous renditions of classic tunes by Beau Jocque, Boozoo Chavis and other Zydeco legends.

Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne had the audience on their feet almost immediately and at times up on the stage dancing to songs like “Party Going On,” “Mardi Gras Blues” and “Jack Rabbit.” Midway through their set Anne invited me out on stage to join Phil Sanguedolce on the rubboard. The audience couldn’t get enough of their music in their 45 minute set. So many, hit the lobby after the set to buy up Anne’s fashionable t-shirts and the band’s CD.

After an outrageous set by Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne we switched from Zydeco to Cajun and Country and introduced The Doc Marshalls. This New York City based band took command of both the stage and the audience and delivered an incredible set of Cajun classics and originals. The Doc’s set the mood with their great Cajun sound and heavy use of the fiddle, upright bass and Nick Beaudoing’s mastery of the four button accordion and French language.

The Doc Marshall’s performed many tracks from their exceptional CD, “No Kind of Life” including “N’Oublie-Moi Pas” and “Bon a Rien.” Like Lil’ Anne and Hot Cayenne, The Doc Marshalls received a well deserved standing ovation.

To close out the show we selected River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs. The Hogs are New England’s premier zydeco party band. From the moment they hit the stage The Hogs were bringing the house down. Delivering a barrage of great renditions on songs like “Round Em Up,” “Allons Danser” and “Tee Black,” which are all featured on their latest CD “Rockin’ The Zydeco World,” The Hogs showed the audience why they’re one of Long Island’s favorite zydeco bands.

As they’ve done so many times before on Long Island, River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs gave Long Island a hefty slab of greasy zydeco with a side of rockin' Cajun, and concluded a most successful evening for Hurricane Katrina relief.

After the food was eaten and the authentic New Orleans Hurricanes were drank the audience still stayed around to buy CDs and contribute to the three charities that were in attendance. After the stage lights were turned off and the equipment was packed up we closed out the event by raising $23,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Nassau and Suffolk County, the American Red Cross of Nassau and Suffolk County, and the North Shore Animal League.

Thank you to everyone that contributed to the success of the evening. New Orleans, the artists and the people of Louisiana and the other gulf region states still need our help. Please log onto our homepage and contribute to a charity of your choice.

We greatly appreciate your support and encouragement of The Zydeco Road. Working together, we can enhance the recognition that Zydeco music and its artists so greatly deserve on Long Island and within the Metro New York area.

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