Zydeco-a-Go-Go

Artist Information

Biography

Zydeco-a-Go-Go, the Mid-Atlantic’s premier practitioners of Louisiana dance music, are bringing the zydeco party to the people. Their motto is: “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!” or “Let The Good Times Roll!” At the heart of any Zydeco-A-Go-Go song is the classic zydeco sound of accordion and frattoir (rubboard) augmented by saxophone, electric guitar, electric bass and drums. Cajun 2-steps blend with Creole zydeco and classic New Orleans rhythm & blues in a spicy gumbo of Louisiana dance music. Their performances feature lyrics sung in English, Spanish, Cajun and Creole French, set to a beat that keeps people dancing all night long.

Although based in Philadelphia, the group has garnered praise for its authentic Louisiana sound. When playing a gig at the legendary Rock & Bowl in New Orleans, they kept the crowded dance-floor busy, with lots of smiling faces everywhere. KBON, a popular radio station in Eunice, Louisiana (the heart of Cajun country) put the group's debut CD into its daily rotation. Music from that cd was used in the soundtrack for ABC News “Earth Day 2000” that was broadcast worldwide during a segment documenting the effect of global warming in Louisiana. In other parts of the nation as well as Europe the CD has found an appreciative audience on progressive radio stations. This summer their just-released cd "Let The Good Times Roll" has got everybody smiling and everybody dancing!

Founded in 1992, the all-star group boasts colorful personnel with decades of experience: bandleader Pete Gumbo, on accordion, piano, and vocals, was a founding member of underground cult legends PHILLY GUMBO, backed Jamaican toaster BIG YOUTH, Nigerian Afro-Pop recording sensations THE LIJADU SISTERS, and has played piano with such artists as SLEEPY LaBEEF, BO DIDDLEY, and New Orleans’ own CHARLES “HONEYBOY” OTIS. Guitarist Billy Baltera studied music at Boston’s Berklee School Of Music. He’s gone on to become a seasoned pro, having recorded and toured the USA and overseas for many years with Texas blues icon SONNY RHODES, soul shouter FRANKIE LEE, and R&B showman LONNIE SHIELDS. Saxophonist Carl “CC” Crabtree cut his teeth in Atlanta touring the South with novelty rock & roll prankster DARRYL RHODES, but is well-known in his hometown (Philly) having worked with many of the area’s top blues, jazz, R&B and party rock bands, including GROVER WASHINGTON JR., THE BEN VAUGHN COMBO and rhythm & blues big band THE DUKES OF DESTINY. You’ll hear CC scratching on the rubboard for Zydeco, then on New Orleans R&B or jump-blues numbers he’ll be honking and wailing on tenor sax. Drummer Bob Holden, a founding member of THE DUKES, has backed local rock heroes like ROBERT HAZARD and QUINCY as well as national recording artists such as soul-singer TERRY EVANS and roots-blues legend OTIS RUSH. Bob got his start in music as a teenager drumming behind James Brown impersonator LEON & THE WORKOUTS. On bass guitar is Jimmy Pritchard, a rock solid in-the-pocket player who has recorded and toured the USA and overseas with many great blues artists, including GEORGIE BONDS, SONNY RHODES and BIG JACK JOHNSON. Rounding out the group nicely is special-guest on-request Pamela Eshelman on rubboard and vocals.... she brings to the band a sweet & soulful voice, a swinging sense of rhythm and contagious onstage enthusiasm.

And whether they're playing a large festival or a smalltown fair, a performing arts center or a block party, a bowling alley or a swanky fundraiser gala, a back-yard BBQ or one of those non-stop everybody’s-up-and-dancin’ wedding receptions: you know it's gonna be a wild and swingin' bayou boogaloo pitch-a-wang-dang-doodle-all-night-long zydeco dance party...with everybody singing "Let The Good Times Roll!"

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contact:
petegumbo@gmail.com
215-635-9399
215-840-6882c
http://www.zydecoagogo.com
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Instrumentation

Pete Eshelman - accordion and vocals
Bob Holden - drums and vocals
CC Crabtree - tenor sax, rubboard and vocals
Billy Baltera - Electric guitar
Jimmy Pritchard - electric bass and vocals
*Pamela Eshelman - rubboard and vocals
* (special guest on request)

Discography

Zydeco Dance Party 2000
Let The Good Times Roll 2008

FESTIVALS
Bethlehem Musikfest
Philadelphia Folk Festival
Mellon Jazz Festival, Philadelphia PA
Anglesea Blues BBQ Festival, Wildwood NJ
Roots Ramble, Media PA
Poconos Garlic Festival, Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA
Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, Latrobe PA
American Music Fest, Harrisburg PA
Central PA Arts Fest, State College PA
First Nights: Binghamton NY, Montclair NJ, Doylestown PA
Great Connecticut Cajun/Zydeco Festival, Moodus CT
Snapbean Cajun/Zydeco Festival, Escoheag RI
Swamp Romp, Fraze Pavilion, Dayton OH
Mardi Gras Madness, West Palm Beach FL...


COLLEGES
Piedmont Virginia Community College, Charlottesville VA
Penn State University, State College PA
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA
Dickinson College, Carlisle PA
University Of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
Tyler School Of Art, Temple U. Elkins Park PA...

FUNDRAISERS
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
New Orleans Musicians Clinic
Why Not Me? Foundation, Fight PLGA (Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma)
Bucks-Mont Katrina Project
American Diabetes Association
American Red Cross
Special Olympics...

PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS
Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia PA
Kimmel Center, Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia Museum Of Art
Community Life Center, Niceville FL
Randolph County Community Arts Center, Elkins WV
Smyrna Opera House, Smyrna DE...

MUSIC NIGHTCLUBS
World Cafe Live, Philadelphia PA
Mermaid Inn, Philadelphia PA
Electric Factory, Philadelphia PA
Rock 'n' Bowl, New Orleans LA...

Audio

• Zydeco Sont Pas Salé
  Listen  
• Let The Good Times Roll
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• Dance All Night
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• Zydeco Groove
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• Marina
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• Goin' To The Rock 'n' Bowl
  Listen  
• Nunca Se Acaba
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Goin' To The Rock 'n' Bowl

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• "we're adding your music to our regular playlist" [+ Show ]
  

  “...Just wanted to let you know, I’ve got your CD and we’re adding some of your music to our regular...“...Just wanted to let you know, I’ve got your CD and we’re adding some of your music to our regular playlist, on rotation...it’s good stuff, I’m really, really very proud of it, good work!”
  

• "sure to get everyone out on the floor" [+ Show ]
  

  “...done with craft and danceable vitality...sound overall is tight and rhythmic...” “...upbeat dan...“...done with craft and danceable vitality...sound overall is tight and rhythmic...”
  “...upbeat dance tune appeal...sure to get everyone out on the floor...”
  “Peter Gumbo’s down home vocals give the songs an amazing appeal, along with his marvelous accordion work...the entire package is very entertaining...”
  

• "the playing is top-notch throughout...” [+ Show ]
  

  “...beefy accordion playing that recalls zydeco’s old-school...Besides staples such as Boozoo’s “Mot...“...beefy accordion playing that recalls zydeco’s old-school...Besides staples such as Boozoo’s “Motordude Special” and Leo Thomas’ “Why You Wanna Make Me Cry,” there’s a rollicking rendition of Major Handy’s “Down On The Bayou.” Saxophonist Troy Corley let’s it scream on “What’d I Say,” Ivory Joe Hunter’s “Since I Met You Baby” seduces, and overall, the playing is top-notch throughout...”
  

• "a ripping set of Cajun rhythm & blues..." [+ Show ]
  

  “Zydeco-A-Go-Go keeps the energy levels high through a ripping set of Cajun rhythm & blues, 60’s sou...“Zydeco-A-Go-Go keeps the energy levels high through a ripping set of Cajun rhythm & blues, 60’s soul, boogie-woogie and jump-blues.”

• "a damn good zydeco band..." [+ Show ]
  

  “...if you didn’t read the brief liner notes on the inside cover of this CD you would think that Zyd...“...if you didn’t read the brief liner notes on the inside cover of this CD you would think that Zydeco-A-Go-Go were native sons of the state of Louisiana and not a damn good zydeco band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...”

• "had ‘em dancing in the aisles!" [+ Show ]
  

  “hundreds of people flocked to Havanas nightclub to benefit a very worthy cause...and the popular Zy...“hundreds of people flocked to Havanas nightclub to benefit a very worthy cause...and the popular Zydeco-A-Go-Go performed to the delight of the crowd for four hours and had ‘em dancing in the aisles!”

Setlist

Hot Tamale Baby
Bon Ton Roulé
Dance All Night
Jalapena Lena
Down By The Bayou
Jambalaya
Motordude Special
Mamou Two Step
Morning Train
Goin' To The Rock & Bowl
Marina
Reno Waltz
Allons a Lafayette
Zydeco Groove
Since I Met You Baby
You Ain’t Nothin’ But Fine, Fine, Fine
Jolie Blon
Let The Good Times Roll
Zydeco Sont Pas Salé
I'm Leavin It All Up To You
Uncle Bud
Tu Les Ton Son Ton
Pine Point Trail Ride
Gimme Cornbread
Les Flammes D’Enfer
Ma ‘Tite Fille Est Gone
J’ai Passe Devant Ta Porte
Goin’ Back To Big Mamou
This Joint Is Jumpin’
Caledonia
Country Girl
Big Chief
In The Night
Iko Iko
Walking To New Orleans
Pitch A Wang Dang Doodle
See Ya Later Alligator
What’d I Say
Barefootin’
Land Of 1000 Dances
La Bamba
WoolyBully
Nunca Se Acaba
Cumbia del Amor
and lots more...

Basic Requirements

Calendar