Photo credit: Michael Weintrob
If Terrance Simien ever doesn’t smile, might something be really wrong? Even during sound check for the first of two performances with his Zydeco Experience band at Cathedral Square’s Bastille Days festivities last Friday, Simien grinned so widely that it was as if the weight of the world’s happiness was on his shoulders, and it was nothing for him to bear that load.
More than once during his and his five band mates’ performance did Simien declare that he was glad to be in Milwaukee—considering how often he has played Bastille Days, Summerfest and Shank Hall over the past 20 years or so, it’s not as if he doesn’t have an abiding appreciation from the city.
The traditionally jaunty, already imminently danceable Cajun music Simien makes is modern but still rootsy, with the infusion of pop, country, R&B and reggae that would likely be enough to make Zydeco Experience welcome most anywhere, practically bringing the party wherever they go. But when the occasion has even tangential affiliation with Simen’s French heritage as it did this evening, there may be an even more rarefied gleam in his eye. Doubtless he would have tossed at least as many sets of gleaming faux metallic beads, for which at least one woman dancing with friends at the lip of the stage looked to be on the verge of baring her breasts in stereotypical Mardi Gras fashion in order to score a necklace, regardless the occasion.
Zydeco Experience extended their jamming to allow Simien to toss out the goodies. But even then, they maintained lively, intricate grooves that didn’t become oppressively hypnotic. The band extended their instrumental segments during the couple of instances where their leader put down his festively designed button box accordions, or vest frottoir (rub board), to show off one of his Grammy trophies. If such displays were at all born of egotism, it seems they’re also boats of cultural pride, as if it’s his way to proclaim how he has abetted his Acadian culture in penetrating the mainstream.
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Their set may not have been at all out of the ordinary for Simien and his road warriors, but that’s not to say it was without surprises and affecting moments. A bit of Jackson Five interpolated into one original, “Short’nin’ Bread” sneaking into another, a tribute to a band member who had died a few years ago (Simien maintained his perma-smile as he described how his friend went to sleep one night went to bed alive and “woke up in the spirit world”). They honored an audience member’s request, too, assaying Gale Garnett’s bittersweet 1964 pop folk hit “We’ll Sing In The Sunshine” with the same glee that marked everything from “Zydeco Boogaloo” and a Meters medley to their closing mash-up of “When The Saints Go Marching In” and “Iko Iko,” the latter including time for the bassist, guitarist, drummer, keyboardist and saxophonist to shine in brief solos.
One can reasonably assume Simien and the Zydeco Experience will return to Milwaukee soon. It’s also a pretty sure bet that, regardless the venue, they will bring a lively, multicultural party in tow.
