What Is Zydeco?
Back in the early 1950's, traditional Cajun and Creole music collided with the rocking Rhythm and Blues sounds that were sweeping the country, and a new style of music emerged. It was christened Zydeco, from a song popularized by Zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier. The Zydeco we hear in Louisiana today is a popular and exciting dance music that owes much to Chenier and his contemporaries.
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs bring the exuberant sounds of the steamy bayous of southwestern Louisiana to the hills of New England. The Zydeco Hogs cook up a spicy musical gumbo that combines the traditional sounds of the button accordion and washboard with a driving, syncopated beat.
Recent Hogs Sightings!
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have appeared at the prestigious Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, RI, the huge annual Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman, NY, the annual Cajun/Zydeco Music and Arts Festival in Moodus, CT, the annual Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT, the Roaring Brook Folk Concert series in Canton CT, , the Levitt Pavilion For The Performing Arts in Westport, CT, AutumnFest at NYU's Greenwich Village campus in NYC, and the 9th Annual Fort Lauderdale Cajun/Zydeco Crawfish Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Zydeco Hogs have opened shows for C.J Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, Rosie Ledet, The Zydeco Sweetheart, Geno Delafose & The French Rockin' Boogie, Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners, Zydeco Force, Roy Carrier & The Nightrockers, and Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Cha's. The Hogs have also been called on to back Louisiana artists visiting the Northeast. Artists who The Hogs have backed up include Corey Ledet, Dexter Ardoin, Andre Thierry and Willis Prudhomme. The Zydeco Hogs appeared at New England's first Zydeco dance of the 21st century in January 2000, and have played at regularly scheduled dances in Arlington MA, Wethersfield CT, Ossining NY, Philadelphia PA and Rochester NY, and have also appeared at many town-sponsored Summer Concerts throughout CT and MA.
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Who Are These Guys?
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs hail from the Hartford, CT area.
Popular roots music DJ and drummer River City Slim, the host of The Pine Grove Blues on WWUH, provides the beat. He has played drums behind Louisiana legends Willis Prudhomme, Sheryl Cormier, D.L. Menard, Dexter Ardoin and Jesse Lege. He has played with several Northeast Cajun and Zydeco bands -- Backroad Zydeco, Bayou Brethren, Dirty Rice, Krewe de Roux and has also performed on rubboard and harmonica with Slippery Sneakers, The Zydeco Zombies and The Zydecats.
Blind Mark Thompson, noted traditional accordion player, handles the squeeze box chores. He has jammed with the best at folk and roots music festivals throughout New England, being spotted onstage with such Louisiana luminaries as the Basin Brothers and D.L. Menard.
Guitar sensation Toad Eckert provides the melodic counterpoint to the accordion while jacking the energy level up a notch or two. Equally adept at churning rhythms and soaring leads, Toad also contributes his distinctive vocals to several songs.
The newest Hog, bassist and vocalist Andy Karlok has held down the bottom for some of the best Blues and R&B bands in the Northeast, including a two-year stint with Blues legend Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson. During this time, Andy appeared on Luther’s M.C. Records release "Live At The Rynborn". His most recent gig before joining The Hogs was an extended run with Dr. Ya Ya’s Gumbo Party, a New England band that specializes in New Orleans-style R&B and funk.
Rockin' Robin Bean's rubboard syncopations and occasional flights of furious fiddling rounds out the rhythm section. Robin's let-the-good-times-roll stage presence brings things to another level, and he adds great harmony vocals to many tunes.
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Upcoming Appearances
For the full 2009 schedule, go here.
Summer is here, and The Hogs plan to keep the good times rollin' as the Rockin' The Zydeco World Tour continues!
Saturday, July 4...8:00 PM...Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, Westport, CT Southern New England's premier outdoor performing arts facility welcomes River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs back for another FREE rockin' Zydeco Dance Party! Located on the banks of the Saugatuck River in downtown Westport, the Levitt Pavilion has one of the coolest outdoor concert series you're likely to find anywhere, and it's all FREE! Call 203-226-7600 for info or directions.
Saturday, July 11...12:00 Noon...Paulie's NOLA Jazz & Blues Festival, Worcester, MA River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs return to Worcester as part of an all day Louisiana-themed event. The Hogs will be kicking the festivities off at noon, so don't be late! Other acts appearing include the Hurricane Horns, the Chris Fitz Band and Lisa Marie & All Shook Up. The party takes place rain or shine at 226 Chandler Street in Worcester, with plenty of parking across the street at the Keystone Plaza. Bring a lawn chair and your dancing shoes! For more info, e-Mail Paulie.
Saturday, July 11...8:00 PM...Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton, Easthampton, MA PACE is the Northampton area's coolest progressive performing arts venue. The Zydeco Hogs were here in January, and it's a fabulous room for Zydeco -- nice stage & sound, and a huge wooden dance floor. And it's Air-Conditioned! Plus the front part of the place is a small cafe that has food, desserts, coffee and beer! PACE is located at 41 Union Street in Easthampton. Call 413-527-3700 for directions or info.
Wednesday, July 22...6:30 PM...Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT Enjoy an evening of FREE music on the North Lawn of the famous Rose Garden in West Hartford's Elizabeth Park. In case of rain, the show moves indoors to the auditorium in the Elizabeth Park Pond House. For directions or more info, call 860-231-8823.
Saturday, July 25...1:00 PM...Arn & Gerry's Cajun/Zydeco Danceathon, Deutscher Club, Clark, NJ The Danceathon has found a new and better location this year. The Deutscher Club has an outdoor pavilion with weather-safe roll down sides, a wood dance floor, stage, covered picnic tables, along with real bathrooms and an outdoor picnic grove. River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs will be there along with several Louisiana bands TBA. Gates open at 11:30; music starts at 1 PM. The club is located at 787 Featherbed Lane in Clark, NJ. Call 732-271-0459 for more info or directions.
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New Zydeco Hogs CD!
The third CD from River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs is available now! Visit our Music Page to order either the brand new release Rockin' The Zydeco World, or Big Fun On The Hog Farm, the second CD by The Hogs. Sorry, but the first CD High On The Hog is still out of print.
For credit card orders, visit IndepenDisc for a secure, online transaction. IndepenDisc also carries recordings from many other 'unsigned' bands from around the country. Our latest CD is also available at CD Baby, the online source for independent music from around the world.
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Zydeco Hogs T-Shirts!
The official Zydeco Hogs T-Shirts are here! To order yours, check out our T-Shirt Page.
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Get the Zydeco Hogs' Electronic Press Kit!
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have a new electronic press kit. It is available by clicking this link: The Zydeco Hogs' EPK
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Here's a sample from our Photo Gallery:
Andy and Slim onstage at the Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, RI - August 30, 2008.
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