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The New Riverside Ramblers, a superb five piece local Cajun band, have been playing together for 15 years at dances, festivals, parties and special events. Their spirited Cajun French sound draws inspiration from south Louisiana. You can bet people who attend their performances are primed for dancing or the very least tapping their feet. Our host/accordionist Chouinard suggested that “the Catholic Church came up with Lent to partly save on food. . . [For our] local Scandinavian culture to have a proper Mardi Gras, we look to the Mississippi.” Tonight we looked to the Ramblers and were rewarded in spades.

A good polka sound relies heavily on the accordion mixed with fiddle. Guitar, drums and bass lend drive. The first cut “Danse du Mardi Gras” had it all. Eric Mohring, the band’s lead singer offered fluently gritty French vocals while Bob Nelson played a mean Cajun accordion. Karen Kleinspehn on guitar, SJA’s own Doug Lohman(right) on bass and Paul Loughridge on drums supplied the rhythm section with rock solid support.

Joe Falcon and Cleoma Breaux’s 1928 recording “Allons a Lafayette,” (Let’s Go to Lafayette) considered to be the first genuine Cajun song written, had Mohring singing some English lyrics while playing his violin. Chouinard offered extra accordion and Lohman impressed strumming some zippy bass.

Introducing the waltz “Jolie Blonde” (Pretty Blonde) another Breaux composition made famous in the late 1940’s by Harry Choates, Mohring confessed, “This is not concert hall music as a rule,” and Chouinard quipped, “like this [space] is a church?” Singing in sensuous French, Mohring crooned about a pretty blonde who left her Cajun lover for someone else. About a dozen couples from the audience began waltzing on the side lines.

More insight into the origins of tonight’s music come online from Ville Platte Cajun Music Jolie Blonde: “Cajun music was born in this part of Cajun country, southwest Louisiana. It was brought to this area by French settlers and influenced by other immigrants who came at a later date. One of those groups, the Germans, came in the late 1800’s. They introduced the diatonic accordion which became an essential instrument of the Cajun Band. The Germans adapted the life styles, language and culture of the French. To see how the French played a great part in Cajun music, all you have to do is read the names of all these old Cajun songs.”

Mohring offered a history lesson regarding how French folk settled in Louisiana. In 1609 French settlers ended up in New Brunswick and remained for 150 years. By 1755, the British kicked them out, some went to Red Lake Falls, MN, mused Mohring, but many relocated to Louisiana. Mohring in gritty, but rich baritone French, sung and played violin on “1755,” a song about the great dislocation of French settlers. Nelson, beautifully accompanied with melodious old accordion.

In discussing the fiddle, Mohring suggested that “older style Cajun music was fiddle music. Accordions are good things but they kind of drown out the fiddle.” Hearing that, Chouinard turned and promptly walked off the stage. Dryly, Mohring replied, “Sometimes history is cruel.” An engaging instrumental duet “Dance Carre/Valse a Two Temps” between Mohring on fiddle and Nelson gingerly tinkling a triangle, made play for some sprightly waltzing from 18 couples from the audience. They gladly continued, serenaded by the Ramblers rendition of “Balfa Waltz.”

Chouinard, over his mock indignation, returned to inquire to Mohring, “A word in the defense of the accordion,” in which the fiddle player replied, “Accordion could really drive you to dance and stand up to humidity.” Nelson followed offering a dandy accordion solo “Crooked Little Waltz.” Upon completion, regarding Nelson’s original Cajun accordion, Chouinard noted, “That is one loud little box. Gets the job done despite the obfuscation of the rest of the band.”

Country and Western music put down roots in Cajun music. Hank Williams 1952 hit “Jambalaya” received a rousing sing along treatment from the audience as The Ramblers mightily brought to life this old chestnut. Mohring wailed the familiar lyrics: “Goodbye Joe, We gotta go, Me oh my oh!” Dancing couples swinged, the crowd chimed in tune and, son of a gun we sure had big fun on The Ramblers’ bayou.

Mohring sung a folksy French version of Doug Kershaw’s signature tune “Diggy Diggy Lo” and to complete the first half of the concert, The Ramblers went all out with “Bosco Stomp,” a rocking Cajun dance hall favorite.

Hospitality offered beer, soda, nuts and crackers during intermission and for the second half of the evening; several rows of seats were removed making way for a dance floor in the SJA gym. In hind sight, a majority of the chairs should’ve been cleared to make room for 80% of the audience decided to dance.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Dance instructions were generously and patiently offered by guitarist Karen Kleinspehn. She taught a Cajun style of waltzing emphasizing through the back beats in a measure a Cajun drag where one’s first step is larger than the two that follow. Going counter clockwise, the couples were instructed by Kleinspehn to waltz around in this designated circle. Variations of a fox trot or two-step soon followed. The second half of the evening danced itself away as the Ramblers merrily played a fine repertoire of their Cajun music.

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!