Gothic Theatre

Buckwheat Zydeco

Artist Website

Of course in Louisiana, the place Buckwheat Zydeco calls home, people always let the good times roll. Now the group that’s been called “the world’s greatest party band” has more to celebrate: the eagerly anticipated June 7 release of Jackpot!, Buckwheat Zydeco’s first new studio album since 1997’s acclaimed Trouble. One of the nation’s great road warriors takes off again for a tour that will lead Buckwheat Zydeco all over the country – and will feature new material from Jackpot!, which will be released on Buck’s own label, Tomorrow Recordings.

One exciting, fresh aspect of the new album will be the increasing presence of Buck’s amazing skills on the mighty Hammond B-3 organ. Of course the accordion is still Buck’s axe of choice here, but the organ only brings him closer to his roots – as he first gained renown playing the Hammond in zydeco king Clifton Chenier’s legendary Red Hot Louisiana Band. There will be much more about Jackpot! as a major national promotional campaign kicks off later this spring.

This will build upon recent exciting appearances on the Weekend Today Show and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, CNN at the Monterey Jazz Festival, an Emmy win, Buckwheat Zydeco’s first-ever live album: Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live, and a sampler CD, Buckwheat Zydeco & Co.: Tomorrow’s Zydeco, showcasing the amazing talent to be found on Tomorrow Recordings.

Tomorrow Recordings is creating and promoting zydeco music that remains true to its roots while sounding as approachable and compelling as anything in contemporary music. The results so far are highlighted on Buckwheat Zydeco & Co.: Tomorrow’s Zydeco. The critics have formed an enthusiastic second line behind the label’s efforts.

Tomorrow Recordings was launched in 1998 by Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Jr. and long time manager/co-producer Ted Fox, as Buckwheat Zydeco was about to celebrate its 20th anniversary. After 15 albums on seven different labels, the group decided it was time to do it for themselves, release all Buckwheat Zydeco material on their own label, and carefully seek out other artists who fit with Tomorrow Recordings’ musical philosophy.

In addition to accolades for Buck and the artists on his label, Buckwheat Zydeco won a 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition / Direction / Lyrics (Sports) for the CBS show Pistol Pete: The Life and Times of Pete Maravich, which used five songs from the band’s acclaimed album, Trouble. This was the band’s first Emmy.

Blues Access, in a cover story and lead review, said Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live! “captures Buckwheat Zydeco in his undeniable element, performing live in front of the home folks. The good-natured energy that literally pops off of this disc immediately makes you wish you had been at El Sid O’s last Thanksgiving to witness the show in person. But you’ll be glad to have this document of the event that catches not only every feel-good note but the essential ‘vibe’ of the evening as well … it’s impossible to resist being caught up in the sheer sense of fun and release that Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live! draws you into.”

A whole new audience was exposed to the excitement of Buckwheat Zydeco as his song “What You Gonna Do?” from Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live! served as the theme music for the 10th anniversary season of Comic View, BET’s #1-rated series. Each show opened and every commercial break returned with the Comic View dancers and the whole audience boogieing away to Buckwheat’s music as the appropriate funky Louisiana atmosphere is created for Comic View’s “Pardi Gras” theme.

From the powerhouse dance floor boogie of “What You Gonna Do?” to the majestic soul of Dural’s brilliant reading of “Beast of Burden,” the band does it all over the course of this nearly 73-minute live disc. The group even revisits their inventive reworking of Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans” and Dural’s reggae-tinged zyde-soul anthem “Make A Change” over the course of the 9 track outing.

“This is how it’s done right here in southwest Louisiana,” Buckwheat says just before the band launches into the buoyant “Hard to Stop.” The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and numerous other publications have called Buckwheat Zydeco “one of the best party bands in America,” and now music fans need venture no farther than their CD players to find out what all the fuss is about.

Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live! showcases the show-stopping dynamics that have turned countless curious listeners and concertgoers into full-fledged zydeco fanatics over the years. This is also the disc the converted have been waiting for, as it captures Buck’s irresistible personality, bottling the between-song patter, soaring solos and horn-driven workouts that are this live act’s trademarks.

With the release of Buckwheat Zydeco: Down Home Live!, Dural says he’s achieved a life-long goal. “This record captures us doing what we do best in the place we love the most.”