52 M E T R O S P I R I T M A Y 8 2 0 0 3
Music Red-Hot Louisiana Sounds From the Red Stick Ramblers
L
ouisiana six-pack the Red Stick Ramblers are the Blind Willie act described by festival promoters as “difficult to pigeonhole.” Bringing an eclectic mix of Cajun, jazz and swing to the table, the Ramblers seem to agree that it’s an accurate description. “Basically, we’re just interested in string band music and older string band music,” says Josh Caffery, who plays mandolin and guitar for the group. “The more and more we play, we become interested in different things. I think there’s commonalities in all the stuff we play. I think one thing that’s common in all the stuff we do is sort of a driving rhythm and strong melodies.” Essential in meshing everything together, says fiddler and vocalist Linzay Young, is the strength of the band’s drummer. “We have a really good drummer and rhythm section. I think that has a lot to do with it, too. Makes it cohesive,” he says. “The fiddles, you can play so many different kinds of music. When you have a bass player and drummer holding it together, it kind of gives it a cohesive feel.” The group, borne of the members’ desire to seek out others sharing an interest in the same traditional American music, formed a little over three years ago in Baton Rouge, La. They soon found themselves developing quite a following among the Louisiana State University crowd, a success that came as a surprise to some in the community. Caffery wasn’t one of them. “It was sort of new for around here,” he says. “I think that, at least in Baton Rouge, there had never been a band that had been playing traditional Cajun music or traditional strings music that had had a good college following. A lot of it is because we’re in our 20s and we do have sort of a younger following around here, young people that like the music and like to dance. I think in general, there’s a renewed interest in roots music. I guess to some degree, we’ve benefited from that.” Young attributes the Red Stick Ramblers’ success among various crowds to Cajun’s roots as good-time music. “The Cajun music is always wellreceived,” he says. “I don’t know if (audiences) have never heard Cajun
BY LISA JORDAN
“We’re playing it, we’re young, we’re having fun with it. Maybe it will bring people more into realizing that there’s this deep tradition around here that’s really cool.” - Josh Caffery music before and it’s just a natural reaction. It’s a real loose, relaxed feeling.” At a Red Stick Ramblers show, it’s not unusual to see crowds on their feet and moving to the music. At the very least, a few brave souls, as Young puts it, will be up and dancing. “There’s something about string bands that sort of gets people going,” says Caffery. “I think the sound of a lot of strings playing together and rhythm just sort of gets people moving.” “When you know people are just there to have a good time and dance – and listen to the music – it just gives it a more relaxed atmosphere. It’s a bit easier to play,” says Young. During the spring and summer months, the Ramblers spend most of their time on the festival circuit, which is set to bring them through Thomson May 17 for the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival. When The Spirit asked Caffery what he liked about playing festivals, he replied, “Festivals are more of a family environ-
ment, and I think our music appeals to a broad range of age groups. We like to think that our music is fun to listen to for everyone from 7, 8 years old to 80 or 90.” He says that, even if you haven’t been exposed to traditional American music, the tunes of the Red Stick Ramblers serve as a great introduction to those genres, particularly the music of Louisiana. “Louisiana is sort of a melting pot for music,” Caffery explains. “I think we reflect the different facets of music that’s come through here.” And native Louisianians aren’t immune to the Ramblers’ toe-tapping rhythms. “Around here, I think people are proud that the music we play, a lot of it is from right around here. So it’s like music that’s really tied to this area. It’s not something that’s manufactured. … I think people are proud of that and respond to it. I also think they have it in their blood.” “It’s good because a lot of what you hear on the radio and stuff around here
isn’t the good traditional Cajun music; it’s sort of the rocked-out stuff. I think a lot of people are maybe drawn more into the real traditional stuff,” says Caffery. “We’re playing it, we’re young, we’re having fun with it. Maybe it will bring people more into realizing that there’s this deep tradition around here that’s really cool.” The Red Stick Ramblers are just one band scheduled to entertain you at the 10th annual Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival. Magic Slim and the Teardrops, Sean Costello, Steve James, Del Rey, Neal Pattman, Mudcat and the Crosstie Walkers will also play. Gates open at noon, May 17. The festival site is located two miles north of I-20, off exit 172 in Thomson. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the gate; get them from Tix Online at www.tixonline.com or (803) 2784TIX, or from Thomson-McDuffie County Tourism, (706) 597-1000. For even more festival info, log on to www.blindwillie.com.