Riffs, Roams and Raves:
Riffs: Chansons et Soûlards The distinctive sound of Louisiana-style dancehall music with its rich patois of electric violin, accordion, acoustic bass, drums and guitar will rouse your emotions and set your feet to the “fais do do.”
The Austin-based band “Chansons et Soûlards” revives this style of music from Southern Louisiana for transplanted Cajuns lonely for the sound of “home.”
Literally translated as “Songs and Drunks,” the band produced an album in 2017 called “The Good, The Bad & The Couyon.”
A polite translation of “couyon” might be loser or fool, but don’t be fooled by the casual way the band pokes fun at themselves.
Their emotive vocals, the tight marriage of their violin and accordion and solid backing from the rhythm section will fill you with a good and passionate longing for love and home, even if you’re not Cajun.
Their fast two-step tunes are irresistible, as is the distinctive wail of their ballads – all in French. A great cut, “La Valse De Balfa” – the Balfa Waltz – is a particularly pleasing example of the genre.
Chasons et Soûlards recently played for GumboFest in Wimberley. In addition to the gumbo and crawfish circuit, they have had standing gigs at the Continental Club, the White Horse and other Austin icons. Sometimes they perform as a trio or a six-piece band. Their album can be downloaded from Apple music.
Roams: A Hometown Ramble Usually, this part of my column is reserved for exploring nearby towns. Instead of seeking what lay on the other side of the fence, I dedicated myself to enjoying one day in the life of Wimberley.
It started with a climb up Old Baldy for a sunrise view of the Wimberley Valley. As I completed my ascent, I felt a fresh appreciation for the Wimberley Valley laid out in front of me. Even a brief glimpse of the natural world has powers to heal and center the mind.
I followed that with early morning coffee at Fair Dinkum, the coffee shop that opens their doors at 7 a.m. for undercaffeinated citizens in search of their morning boost.
From there, I visited the Budaful Hiker for information on guided weekend hikes posted on their blackboard. I ended up buying hiking socks and a shirt perfect for the summer ahead.
From there, I drove out to the Jacob’s Well Nature Center to spend Earth Day with the Hays County Master Gardeners. I toured their demonstration gardens and greenhouse and spent an hour trading tips about everything from pests to peat moss. Wimberley is fortunate to have professionals dedicated to keeping us in a balanced and fair coexistence with other living things.
Next on my list was the Pie Social, hosted by the Wimberley Institute of Cultures. Three one-dollar tickets later, I came away with a delicious slice of tollhouse pie made by volunteers who want to keep the cultures of Wimberley alive and relatable.
At Treasures on 12, the thrift store that benefits the good work of the Wimberley Adoption Group and Rescue (WAG), I purchased a used, all-clad Stainless steel stock pot. A bargain at $25, it will live a new life in my kitchen where soup is a prized entree. WAG is another grass roots organization with impressively dedicated volunteers who understand the importance of what they do.
I picked up lunchto- go and as I was driving past the Chapel in the Hills, their bells began chiming a noonday hymn. On a whim I stopped and ate my lunch to the sound of the bells in their parking lot under the shade of lovely old oak trees.
The GumboFest beckoned, and I spent a perfect spring afternoon listening to dance music dished up by Chansons et Soûlards and sampling gumbo.
I watched as families, some with their dogs, splashed in the swimming hole at Cypress Falls, where GumboFest was held. The proceeds from the event went to My Neighbors Keeper, an organization in Wimberley that gives immediate relief to victims of natural disasters.
From there, I drove to the Sixth Annual Whiskey Festival at Star Ranch off Hamilton Pool Road. Thirty-five distillers showcased their whiskies on Star Ranch’s Main Street, a film set of vintage buildings, saloons, homes and stores. Gentlemen of the heman variety – muscled, resolute and used to challenges – bellied up to generous samples of whiskey, cigars and brisket.
According to a Star Ranch staff member, the last production filmed at Star Ranch was “Fear the Walking Dead.” A sequel to “The Walking Dead,” it is a zombie apocalypse series produced by AMC. It happens that two members of Chansons et Soûlards, the band that performed earlier at GumboFest, work in the tv and film industry. Lead guitarist of the group, Nevada Newman landed a role in “Fear the Walking Dead” as a professional zombie walker that was filmed – wait for it – right here at Star Ranch.
Whiskey brings out the cosmic conspiracist in me. In my ramble today, I felt the presence of elegant connections everywhere I went. Such is the joy of the small town.
Rave: Earth Breeze Detergent Sheets In searching for one thing I can do this year to contribute to the sustainability of our planet, I came across a company called Earth Breeze. They learned that more than 700,000 single-use plastic jugs were discarded in oceans and landfills every year. Laundry detergent jugs are one of the leading contributors to the problem. From this information, the company worked to find a way to deliver laundry detergent to customers and found that laundry sheets were the perfect minimum-impact product.
The detergent resembles dryer sheets but are thicker and completely biodegradable. They are plastic free, easy on sensitive skin, cruelty free, and effective on stains and odors. A month’s supply of 30 sheets comes in a slim package and costs about $12. I saved 40% by ordering a year’s supply in advance. The product has received five-star reviews from more than 40,000 people. It is a pleasure to support innovators who are pursuing a better vision for our planet. For more information, visit earthbreeze.com.