River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs
New Hartford Center, Connecticut, United States | SELF
Music
Press
As soon as you say the word "Cajun," it's like you're begging for the Hogs to storm in and clean house. Drummer River City Slim leads his rowdy Hogs on a romp through traditional zydeco. It's wonderful, up-tempo dance music with quirky instrumentation (washboard, accordion, etc.). - Hartford Advocate
As soon as you say the word "Cajun," it's like you're begging for the Hogs to storm in and clean house. Drummer River City Slim leads his rowdy Hogs on a romp through traditional zydeco. It's wonderful, up-tempo dance music with quirky instrumentation (washboard, accordion, etc.). - Hartford Advocate
This motley crew of down-home lookin' fellas took the stage and boiled the place up good, turning it into a stew of dancing bodies. I only had to watch them for about 20 seconds before I knew they were the real deal. The Hogs filled the dance floor so full that people started spilling into the aisles between the tables.
What I really liked about the Zydeco Hogs was the way they divided up the responsibility for the melody in their songs. Every single person in the band sang at some point, often layering together three and four-part harmonies. When it came to melody, these guys had it in spades. - Hartford Advocate
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs perform the spirited blend of Cajun, Creole, and rhythm & blues music that is Zydeco. People come from all over New England for the soulful, pulsating, uplifting music… - Arlington Advocate
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs perform the spirited blend of Cajun, Creole, and rhythm & blues music that is Zydeco. People come from all over New England for the soulful, pulsating, uplifting music… - Arlington Advocate
When The Zydeco Hogs play the air is filled with the spirit of Louisiana French music. You feel the ragged joy of Cajun two-steps and Zydeco blues. You can almost smell the garlic and the stewing oysters, the humidity rises a few points and suddenly this isn't Connecticut anymore. - New Britain Herald
When The Zydeco Hogs play the air is filled with the spirit of Louisiana French music. You feel the ragged joy of Cajun two-steps and Zydeco blues. You can almost smell the garlic and the stewing oysters, the humidity rises a few points and suddenly this isn't Connecticut anymore. - New Britain Herald
When Robin Bean places that vest rubboard over his head and Mark Thompson straps on the squeeze box, you know it’s time to get the party started. Even the most staid of non-dancers will hit the floor to rock out to the potent Zydeco beat. - Hartford Advocate
The promo flyer proclaims 'The Zydeco Hogs pump out some of the best high-energy Louisiana-style music to be heard outside of the Bayou State.' I couldn't agree more or say it any better. They do indeed deliver the goods! This Connecticut-based band stands tall, at the head of the class on the East Coast, or for that matter, anywhere in the USA, outside of the Louisiana/Texas area. - Gary Hayman's ZydE-Zine
The promo flyer proclaims 'The Zydeco Hogs pump out some of the best high-energy Louisiana-style music to be heard outside of the Bayou State.' I couldn't agree more or say it any better. They do indeed deliver the goods! This Connecticut-based band stands tall, at the head of the class on the East Coast, or for that matter, anywhere in the USA, outside of the Louisiana/Texas area. - Gary Hayman's ZydE-Zine
For hardcore Zydeco dancers, what's not to like about "Rockin' The Zydeco World" [Hog Heaven 003]? There's a hard-driving, foot-stomping song selection... that makes it sound much like a Louisiana Zydeco jukebox. The original "Rockin' The Zydeco World" is so damn tasty, it should be imported back into Louisiana. Now that's a switcheroo. - Green Linnet Magazine, August 2006
For hardcore Zydeco dancers, what's not to like about "Rockin' The Zydeco World" [Hog Heaven 003]? There's a hard-driving, foot-stomping song selection... that makes it sound much like a Louisiana Zydeco jukebox. The original "Rockin' The Zydeco World" is so damn tasty, it should be imported back into Louisiana. Now that's a switcheroo. - Green Linnet Magazine, August 2006
There’s a reason why Connecticut-based River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs are in demand as one of the most sought after touring Zydeco acts in the Northeast. It’s because they consistently deliver a great live show... "Rockin' the Zydeco World" once again proves that River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have their fingers on the pulse of Zydeco and Cajun music. - ZydecoRoad.com
There’s a reason why Connecticut-based River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs are in demand as one of the most sought after touring Zydeco acts in the Northeast. It’s because they consistently deliver a great live show... "Rockin' the Zydeco World" once again proves that River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs have their fingers on the pulse of Zydeco and Cajun music. - ZydecoRoad.com
This motley crew of down-home lookin' fellas took the stage and boiled the place up good, turning it into a stew of dancing bodies. I only had to watch them for about 20 seconds before I knew they were the real deal. The Hogs filled the dance floor so full that people started spilling into the aisles between the tables.
What I really liked about the Zydeco Hogs was the way they divided up the responsibility for the melody in their songs. Every single person in the band sang at some point, often layering together three and four-part harmonies. When it came to melody, these guys had it in spades. - Hartford Advocate
Discography
High On The Hog - Hog Heaven 001 Released 2000 Out of Print
Big Fun On The Hog Farm - Hog Heaven 002 Released 2002
Rockin' The Zydeco World - Hog Heaven 003 Released 2005
It's Hot In Here - Hog Heaven 004 Released 2009
Both 'Big Fun' and 'Zydeco World' have received airplay at radio stations in CT, TX, AZ, CA, IL. Both received favorable, nationally published reviews in Dirty Linen magazine.
Photos
Bio
Bandleader River City Slim is a lifelong Blues fan, musician and DJ. Slim was already a Texas/Louisiana Blues and R&B fiend when he was bitten by the Zydeco bug at a performance by Terence Simien. The Zydeco Hogs reflect Slim's deep background in Gulf Coast music -- he's played behind a slew of Louisiana and Texas luminaries, including Willis Prudhomme, Corey Ledet, Jeffrey Broussard, Dexter Ardoin, D.L. Menard and others.
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.
Mark Thompson 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 duties are split between two of CT's best. Toad Eckert, our long-time brother of the road, has gone into semi-retirement. When Toad isn't jacking the energy level up a notch or two with his churning rhythms and soaring leads, we feature the newest Hog, Chris "Otis" Cross. Chris has led his own award-winning band, Otis & The Hurricanes, in the Fairfield county area for several years. He has also played in the NY-based outfit Zydegroove.
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.
River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs first came together in the cold New England winter of '98 - '99. The Hogs made a big splash at the eighth annual Folk Next Door concert at the University of Hartford in May of '99, and haven’t looked back since. The band has made appearances at music festivals up and down the East Coast, including a performance at the 9th Annual Cajun/Zydeco Crawfish Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 2001. Other major festivals The Hogs have been featured at include Musikfest in Bethehem PA, the Great Blue Heron Fest in Sherman NY, and Rhythm & Roots in Charlestown RI. The leanest, meanest Zydeco machine in the Northeast is now poised for the next step -- coming to your town to rock the party!
Band Members
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