April 25 - Backwards

With company in town, the zydeco breakfast & Fred's seem the logical place to start, but, just for a change, let's do it backwards!! We get to Fred's in Mamou about 9am -- not bad considering it's an hour's drive. Even at this time of day (we usually get there about noon) the place is packed and Tante Sue is handing out the Cinnamon Schnapps and playing her T-shirt with the accordion picture. See Tante Sue here --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kEMD802IYE The MC is reading the local paper into the microphone in French (after all, it IS a radio show) including the grocery ads. The accordion player is young, and good, and, do tell, a Huval (large family? lots of musicians? remember?). I figure this might be my one and only time to have alcohol before 10am (since I am now a mature adult, finally) so I belly up to the bar and order a daiquiri. OK, it's a daiquiri wine cooler, but it still has some kinda booze in it.

Then it's off to the Savoy Music Store to catch the regular Sat. morning Cajun Jam. It's closed? Awww! Later we get the story. Ann & Marc Savoy have a gig at Jazz Fest at 2pm in New Orleans. They rented a luxury travel van and loaded all their regular jam attendees, carting them to New Orleans for the day. When it is time for their performance, they bring ALL the jam members up on the stage and their "act" is to feature the local musicians who show up regularly at the store. What a fantastic time they must have had. The people who come to the jam are regular folk - farmers, tradesmen, young, old, male, female, mostly local but travelers who play are always welcome. Today they play for the world!!

Oh well, there's always breakfast at Cafe des Amis with zydeco dancing before, during & after. Back to Breaux Bridge we go. Getting there after 11am there is no cover charge, but we still have to wait for a table. That's OK - there's dancing while we wait. Our disappointment comes when we are seated, the band is packed and gone and we discover it's lunch menu only :( Shrimp Kidder, anyone? Hard to be disappointed when the food is this yummy. Eat, dance, sleep - time for a nap. That's Life in Louisiana.