Beausoleil

Photo by Jay West

Beausoleil

After this breathtaking performance, it's no wonder Lafayette, La's BeauSoleil is considered the pre-eminent Cajun band of our day. Their extraordinary musicianship combined with an ability to spice their traditional sound with other forms of music make for an innovative and rare combination. The fact that they accomplish it with propulsive energy that forces the audience to move, and sing mostly in French, makes it even more remarkable. There was more than enough chanky-chank to please everyone, and the assembled rumbled and shook despite the fact that the atmosphere under the WaMu tent felt like a sauna. "It's not just hot," exclaimed fiddler/singer Michael Doucet. "It's hot hot!" They then ventured into a Bo Diddley beat for a medley of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" and "Iko Iko" that raising the temperature further. Closing the set was an explosion of twin fiddle and a lightning-quick solo from guitarist David Doucet, topped by a wide grin and a "Yee Haa!" from brother Michael that said it all.