"Stop The Clock Western Swing Cowboy Jazz Band" Swings 'n Sways

Stop The Clock Western Swing Cowboy Jazz Band
Feed and Seed
106 North Grant Street
Lafayette, Louisiana
March 2, 2014
6:00-9:00 PM

A 9 Piece All-Star band with 2 female vocalists
Charlene Howard (vocals), Kelly Feehan (vocals), Kurt Boudreaux (behind Kelly, keyboard), Kenny Menard (fiddle), Lee Tedrow (guitar), Buck Buckelew (fiddle), Wayne Le Blanc (drums), David Greely (fiddle), Gary Newman (upright bass), Ted Broussard (guitar), Joe Rogers (steel guitar)
The two regular guitar players are Sam Broussard and Gary Granger.

Yet another reason to head to Lafayette, Louisiana...a cowboy jazz band playing classic Western Swing tunes from Bob Wills, Cindy Walker, Spade Cooley, Fats Waller, Hank Thompson, Ray Price, and Patsy Cline, among others. A collection of musicians and vocalists got together a few months ago to play this fabulous music the first Sunday every month. Whoooeeee, are they fun!

Stop The Clock indeed. They stop you in your tracks with infectious, playful, dance your boots off tunes from the golden age of western swing, which, in a music-crazy city like Lafayette, will never feel dated.

I doubt that they play together any more than this one Sunday a month but muscians of this caliber figure out how to play together - and with pizazz - in a hurry. They take their solos, adding onto whatever the guy before just played, and add their own touch, often making the others chuckle and grin. If you're a dancer, this band holds up to the best cajun, zydeco, or honky tonk bands in town (heck, some of the musicians on stage play with those bands).

Let me tell you. This band swings big time and it’s been duly noted around here. Only six months since inception, they’ve been asked to open this year’s Festival International de Louisiane, a premier festival drawing bands from all over the world. Impressive.

 

Gary Newman, the man who wound up Stop The Clock Cowboy Jazz Band

“I came up with the name because I wanted something to indicate that there is timeless music out there that needs to be played and enjoyed. Fortunately, we live in Lafayette, where the people really appreciate and know how to enjoy good music. And we enjoy playing it too! It seems like it's catching on, as each gig draws more and more people,” chief clock winder Gary Newman says.

Newman’s inspirations for STC are Asleep At The Wheel, who’s been at it for a long time and The Time Jumpers. “They’re the best band out there, top of the line Nashville musicians and friends of mine,” Newman says.

"...People who come to the Feed and Seed to listen and dance to our music help to create a magical, wonderful scene from the past. Kind of like we stopped the clock somewhere around 1949."

These guys have pedigrees. They’re members of Mamou Playboys, Nouveau String Band, Traiteurs, Louisiana Purchase Bluegrass, The Gary Granger Project/ODYSSSEY, The Twangsters Union, among others. Western Swing wouldn't have the same twang without a steel guitar, Joe Rogers makes the most of his solos.

Buck Buckelew (fiddle) does most of the song introductions. They play for a solid three hours with one 20-minute break.  A free bowl of jambalaya comes with a $10 admission charge. C’mon, what a deal.

Tonight is the biggest crowd in the bands history since September, pretty amazing considering this is Mardi Gras week and there are a ton of other places people could be going tonight. Great energy.

Vocalist Kelly Feehan, the daughter of Kenny Menard (guitar/vocals), has never sung on stage before last September. “I never sang before except in church. My dad asked if I wanted to join the band. He thought a younger crowd would like the music and having a younger singer would be a drawing card,” Kelly says.

My guess is that after STC hits the stage at the Festival International de Louisiane the younger dance crowd will find them. Kelly can belt or croon - she's a great addition to the band. Good idea, Kenny!

Holy smoke, I just realize that Charlene Howard is singing with Kelly. I'd heard she sings with TK Hulin and had been looking to find them play. She has great pipes, can cover everything from R&B to Soul to Country to Swing. It would have been great had I captured a video of "Sweet Memories" she sang with Kelly and Kenny, sweet harmonies.

Stop The Clock can raise the roof when they get crankin' it up. I  believe the  Feed and Seed building was a former granary and suppy depot - a perfect venue for a Western Swing Band! That's David Greely taking a solo. Greely, Sam Broussard, Kurt Boudreaux, and Charlene Howard are established single acts.

Ted Broussard takes a solo; Kenny Menard and Buck Buckelew sing. Lafayette is a music-loving town, people here know good music when they hear it, whether it's Cajun, or zydeco, or now, Western swing.


Wayne Le Blanc (drums) and Kurt Boudreaux (keyboard) out of view behind the front line, add two powerful elements to the sound. Gary Newman anchors the beat on his stand-up bass.

Kurt has a fan club. “Kurt Boudreaux is the best keyboard player in the world,” a fellow standing behind me says as I shoot video. A minute after that, Kurt calls out a rumba for the second to last song of the night. I put down my camera, find a fabulous partner, and bust all the rumba moves I learned in my sessions at my local Fred Astaire Dance Studio. People applaud after we finish. Kurt’s playful rendition kept me right on the beat.

Not only does this band make fabulous music, but they have fun doing it... just look at 'em.

VIDEOS (Recorded on litle digital camera, don't do justice to the band's or singer's fine sound)
Shame On You
Honeysuckle Rose
There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Blues For Dixie 
Waltz Across Texas 

PARTIAL SET LIST (not in order)
Sugar moon
Outskirts of town
Honeysuckle Rose
Route 66
Milk Cow Blues
Shame On You
Right or wrong
Blues for Dixie
Smile - Charlie Chaplin
Sweet Memories
Crazy
Waltz across Texas
Bottle Baby Boogie
There Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Crazy
Autumn Leaves
My Blue Heaven

 Photos and Videos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.

Comments

[Wayne LeBlanc]

Thanks so much for the kind words regarding our band, I am glad you enjoyed yourself.

Hope we get to see you again soon!

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Stop The Clock has a unique niche in Lafayette's rich and varied music scene. It must be a challenge for you on the drums to keep the right touch for each of the solos. It certainly looked like you all were having a grand time. I'm certain I'll be back for more.

[Mark Weisz]

Dear Paul, I'm always a sucker for a pedal steel. Similar in concept, this is almost 40 years old-- Hillybilly Jazz 1975:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hillbilly-jazz/id2565726

Vassar Clements on violin and vocals. David Bromberg on guitar and maybe pedal steel.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Dear Mark,
Great link to Hillbilly Jazz! I'll bet the farm that some of the Stop The Clock Cowboy Western Swing Cowboy Jazz Band members know about this band. The notes with this link say..."Improvisation is a high priority on Hillbilly Jazz, and a love of improvisation is one thing that jazz, bluegrass, and Western swing players have in common."
The STC players thrive on improvising. I'll ask them about Hillbilly Jazz. Thanks for adding to my music education.

[May Louise White]

Once again you "nailed it" with this piece on "Stop the Clock"!!!!!! This group has become one of my favorite bands!

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Wow I can see why they're on your hit parade. I had a hard time making videos and taking photos when I really wanted to be dancing. I'd love to hit one of their concerts again soon, got to time my visit for the first Sunday of the month!
Thanks for weighing in:)

[Gary Newman]

I sure do remember this album. I was a big fan of Vassar Clements, as well as David Bromberg and was fortunate to do a few shows with both of them back in the mid 70's when I was with a Cajun band called Coteau. They were both very nice people and had a great sound.
Have you checked out the Time Jumpers yet? They are the best!
Paul, thanks again for all of the kind words and support. Let's keep in touch.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Hi Gary,
I wouldn't have known about Hillbilly Jazz but for the comment of one of my followers (above). The 1975 album is lively. This music seems sort of timeless to me.

I just checked the Time Jumpers website. Quite a distinguished group indeed. I guess this is what you had in mind when you put Stop The Clock together.

What I think you have in common with the Time Jumpers is that you connect with a wide range of discerning dancers and listeners, people who enjoy live music played with a high level of skill and enthusiasm. And people don't have to hike to 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville to listen to it. There's nothing like STC that I know of in Louisiana so you seem to have a unique niche there.
BTW just found "Highly Seasoned Cajun Music" by Coteau on Amazon. Some of the original members including Michael Doucet got together and recorded this in 1997, around twenty years after the original Coteau Band that never released an album disbanded.

[Gary Newman]

Paul,
You are right on all accounts. Coteau was formed in the mid 70s and had a successful run of about 3 years. Nick Spitzer of "American Routes" described us as the Grateful Dead of Cajun music. We were one of the first to try to get the attention of Cajun music to the younger generation. With twin electric guitars, accordion, fiddle, and a strong rhythm section, we would play traditional Cajun tunes with long jams between the lead instruments.
After the band broke up, Michael Doucet (our fiddle player) went on to form Beausoliel and I went to Nashville to help form my Dad's band, Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country.
Both bands are still performing today.
Take care and keep in touch.
Happy Trails,

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr. aka pt at large]

Gary, Wow. This is fascinating, adds to my understanding of how music, in this case, Cajun, evolves. A Lafayette friend introduced me to Raoul Breaux, host of Blues Box on KRVS, during the show at Feed and Seed. He mentioned that your dad had several hits on the country charts. I just found http://jimmycnewman.net/about.html and see that he charted 33 songs on the Billboard Country Charts between 1954-1970 and still performs on The Grand Ole Opry. And Michael Doucet has had success with Beausoliel. Amazing. Clearly your dad's career had an impact on your own. You must be happy to see younger bands like Feufollet forming that are doing what your dad intended with Coteau: bringing in a new generation of listeners to Cajun music. With your permission, I'd like to share this terrific series of email conversations on my blog. Thanks a ton for replying.

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Paul,
Sure, you can use some of my emails. If you check S.T.C.'s Facebook page you will find a link to an interview I did on KRVS. It was on Cheryl Castille's "The Exchange" and we talked about an hour on my musical career. I did touch on the subjects you mentioned below.
Yes, of course Dad's career has an impact on my musical career. And yes, it is good to see that Cajun music continues to be appreciated and performed at a high level by young groups like Feufollet.
One thing you need to know is that Dad was not involved with the formation of Coteau. His band, Cajun Country was formed after Coteau disbanded.
Thanks for the support.

[JOHN L HEBERT]

FANTASTIC INDIVIDUALS THAT MAKE GREAT WESTERN SWING MUSIC. THIS GROUP HAS IT ALL. PLAN TO BE WHEREEVER THEY PLAY. MUSIC YOU WILL WANT TO HEAR OVER AND OVER.STOP THE CLOCK IS IT !!!!!!!!

[Jean Boyd]

Hi! My name is Jean Boyd.
I am a professor of Music History at Baylor University. I am also the author of 3 books on western swing.
I am working on my 4th book, and I just this minute discovered this band...I would love to interview them for my new book. The fourth book deals with the spread of western swing far outside of Texas and Oklahoma, and although Louisiana is not far, it is still not Texas of Oklahoma. I would love to hear the band play a normal gig and then interview them.