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Geno Delafose plays Creole-inspired favorites
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Lode, Geno Delafose plays Creole-inspired favorites >>
The introduction to a brand new style of music presented itself to students around campus this past weekend as Geno Delafose and his French Rockin’ Boogie played a variety of Creole-influenced favorites.
Prior to Saturday, April 2, the term “Zydeco” was just a misunderstood obscurity and “Cajun” was just a flavoring. However, Delafose and his group decided to settle this and at the same time award new respect to the accordion. Justin Loritz, one of the many world cultures students who attended the concert as a part of the course curriculum commented, “When I first found out that we were going to be listening to the accordion, I didn’t even want to go. But, it was nothing like I expected it to be.”
What started off as a Southwestern Louisiana celebration, soon turned to a history lesson, and perhaps for the first time, students actually expressed genuine interest in a subject that few had ever even touched on. Delafose explained the difference between the Cajun accordion and the piano accordion, he identified several major influencers of Creole and described the impact of Cajun and Zydeco on American music.
In all, the group entertained the audience with 18 tunes ranging from traditional Creole played in original French, to rhythm and blues (Rolling Stones – Beast of Burden), to rock and roll, country, blues and even oldies (Sam Cooke – Wonderful World). “One thing that I definitely did not expect was the variety of music that would be played,” claimed Jacob Caverly, a first-year mechanical engineering student. “And what I did expect to hear, I didn’t expect to like.”
At first glance, the group seems a bit “less than professional,” with each member of the group dressed in old jeans and T-shirts. One of the performers went on with nothing but a beat up washboard made of corrugated steel hanging from his neck via a collar. Any doubts that the listeners may have had at the beginning, however, were quickly dispersed as the band demonstrated its unique brand of music and extraordinary energy.
For those who are still in the dark, Cajun and Zydeco are both heavily French-influenced forms of “dancing” music. The tempo almost immediately demands the accompaniment of tapping feet.
The main difference between the two genres is the traditional dance accompanying each type. A Creole dancer would take up the entire dance floor with dance steps such as the waltz or the two-step, while a Zydeco dancer would traditionally be standing in place. Few would argue against the statement that both are types of “party” music.
As the performance drew to a close, students were left with a newfound appreciation for these music types and a healthy dose of enculturation. In fact, some students were disappointed to see the concert end and were already eager to hear more. Joel Marsh, another first year student complained, “It’s as if I wasn’t even there at all,” the performance seemingly ending before being able to fully enjoy it.
Reflective of current outdoor conditions, Geno Delafose and his French Rockin’ Boogie were the perfect warm weather music to usher in the spring. The success of the performance is just one more reason for the group to “waltz” on back in the years to come.
-Brian Tyler 04/06/05 >> go there
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