What Is Zydeco?
Back in the early 1950's, traditional Cajun and Creole music collided with the rocking Rhythm and Blues sounds that were sweeping the country, and a new style of music emerged. It was christened Zydeco, from a song popularized by Zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier. The Zydeco we hear in Louisiana today is a popular and exciting dance music that owes much to Chenier and his contemporaries.
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs bring the exuberant sounds of the steamy bayous of southwestern Louisiana to the hills of New England. The Zydeco Hogs cook up a spicy musical gumbo that combines the traditional sounds of the button accordion and washboard with a driving, syncopated beat.
Recent Hogs Sightings!
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have appeared at the prestigious Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, RI, the huge annual Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA, the Great Blue Heron Festival in Sherman, NY, the annual Cajun/Zydeco Music and Arts Festival in Moodus, CT, the annual Daffodil Festival at Hubbard Park in Meriden, CT, the Roaring Brook Folk Concert series in Canton CT, , the Levitt Pavilion For The Performing Arts in Westport, CT, AutumnFest at NYU's Greenwich Village campus in NYC, and the 9th Annual Fort Lauderdale Cajun/Zydeco Crawfish Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The Zydeco Hogs have opened shows for C.J Chenier & The Red Hot Louisiana Band, Rosie Ledet, The Zydeco Sweetheart, Geno Delafose & The French Rockin' Boogie, Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners, Zydeco Force, Roy Carrier & The Nightrockers, and Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Cha's. The Hogs have also been called on to back Louisiana artists visiting the Northeast. Artists who The Hogs have backed up include Corey Ledet, Dexter Ardoin, Andre Thierry and Willis Prudhomme. The Zydeco Hogs appeared at New England's first Zydeco dance of the 21st century in January 2000, and have played at regularly scheduled dances in Arlington MA, Wethersfield CT, Ossining NY, Philadelphia PA and Rochester NY, and have also appeared at many town-sponsored Summer Concerts throughout CT and MA.
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Who Are These Guys?
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs hail from the Hartford, CT area.
Popular roots music DJ and drummer River City Slim, the host of The Pine Grove Blues on WWUH, provides the beat. He has played drums behind Louisiana legends Willis Prudhomme, Sheryl Cormier, D.L. Menard, Dexter Ardoin and Jesse Lege. He has played with several Northeast Cajun and Zydeco bands -- Backroad Zydeco, Bayou Brethren, Dirty Rice, Krewe de Roux and has also performed on rubboard and harmonica with Slippery Sneakers, The Zydeco Zombies and The Zydecats.
Blind Mark Thompson, noted traditional accordion player, handles the squeeze box chores. He has jammed with the best at folk and roots music festivals throughout New England, being spotted onstage with such Louisiana luminaries as the Basin Brothers and D.L. Menard.
Guitar sensation Toad Eckert provides the melodic counterpoint to the accordion while jacking the energy level up a notch or two. Equally adept at churning rhythms and soaring leads, Toad also contributes his distinctive vocals to several songs.
The newest Hog, bassist and vocalist Andy Karlok has held down the bottom for some of the best Blues and R&B bands in the Northeast, including a two-year stint with Blues legend Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson. During this time, Andy appeared on Luther’s M.C. Records release "Live At The Rynborn". His most recent gig before joining The Hogs was an extended run with Dr. Ya Ya’s Gumbo Party, a New England band that specializes in New Orleans-style R&B and funk.
Rockin' Robin Bean's rubboard syncopations and occasional flights of furious fiddling rounds out the rhythm section. Robin's let-the-good-times-roll stage presence brings things to another level, and he adds great harmony vocals to many tunes.
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Upcoming Appearances
For the full 2010 schedule, go here.
As Summer turns to Fall, The Hogs will still be heating things up as the 2010 It's Hot In Here Tour rolls into your town!
Saturday, August 28...9:00 PM...Black Eyed Sally's BBQ & Blues, Hartford, CT It's Mardi Gras madness at Hartford's Home of the Blues when River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs come by for a Louisiana-style Zydeco party! Sally's has the best Southern-style food in the area. Combine that with smokin' Zydeco dance grooves and you'll think you've left Hartford behind for the Bayou Country! Black Eyed Sally's is located at 350 Asylum Street in downtown Hartford. Call 860-278-7427 for info, dinner reservations or directions.
Saturday, September 11...9:00 PM...Maple Tree Cafe, Simsbury, CT With an expanded dance floor and an expanded menu, the fully renovated Maple Tree Cafe is the premier music club in CT's Farmington Valley. The Hogs are back to rock The Maple Tree with a real Louisiana-style Zydeco dance party! Don't forget that the Maple Tree is a full service restaurant with a fabulous outdoor dining area -- come have dinner before the show. The Maple Tree is located at 781 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. For directions or info, call 860-651-1297.
Thursday, September 16...7:30 PM...Third Thursday Street Festival, Main Street, Willimantic, CT Three blocks of downtown Willimantic will be closed off for this FREE event! The festival features multiple stages and a great assortment of food vendors. The Hogs haven't been here for a while, but the last time everybody was dancin' in the street! Come join us for a last blast of outdoor summer fun -- it's FREE! For directions or more info, call 860-450-0918.
Friday, September 17...8:00 PM...Hudson Valley Community Dance, White Eagle Hall, Kingston, NY The Hudson Valley Community Dance welcomes The Zydeco Hogs back to the central Hudson Valley. This will be The Hogs' fourth appearance at the Hudson Valley Cajun/Zydeco series. Come on out and let's show Kingston that The Hogs know how to have a real Louisiana-style Zydeco dance party! The dance is held at the White Eagle Hall, located at 487 Delaware Ave in Kingston NY. For directions or info, call 845-255-7061.
Sunday, September 19...2:00 PM...Bishop's Castle, Exeter, RI Another great Bishop's Castle house party! Joining us for an afternoon of hot Zydeco and kickin' two steps will be Girl Howdy, New England's great honky-tonk band. Potluck dinner, so bring some food to share; Brian will fire up the grill for those who bring 'grill-ables'. Bishops Castle is located on Austin Farm at 199 Austin Farm Road in Exeter. Come join us for one more last blast of outdoor summer fun! For more info, e-mail Brian.
Saturday, September 25...8:00 PM...Sneekers Cafe, Groton, CT Sneekers melds together the neighborhood bar with amazing food and great live music with NO COVER, and has been doing it for 25 years! The Hogs have had a blast every time we've been to Sneekers, and are pleased to be invited back. There will be Cajun specials on the menu along with all of the regular favorites, so come have dinner before the show. Please note the early (for a club) start time! Sneekers is located at 568 Poquonnock Road in Groton. For directions, reservations or info, call 860-445-1967.
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New Zydeco Hogs CD!
The fourth CD from River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs is available now! Visit our Music Page to order either the brand new release It's Hot In Here, or Rockin' The Zydeco World, the third CD by The Hogs.
For credit card orders, visit CD Baby for a secure, online transaction. CD Baby is the online source for independent music from around the world.
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Zydeco Hogs T-Shirts!
The official Zydeco Hogs T-Shirts are here! To order yours, check out our T-Shirt Page.
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Get the Zydeco Hogs' Electronic Press Kit!
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have a new electronic press kit. It is available by clicking this link: The Zydeco Hogs' EPK
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Here's a sample from our Photo Gallery:
Andy and Slim onstage at the Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, RI - August 30, 2008.
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