BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

The MIM is a very special place: it’s like, in the words of Aaron Neville, the Louvre for musicians. It’s unbelievable how many instruments are collected there.   To perform at MIM is also a special deal.  The sound is really, really good, and the audiences are great.  All in all, bands are treated quite well there, and the after the show Meet and Greet with the audience is always rewarding. For someone who isn’t from the Phoenix area, it seems strange that the museum is so far out of town, but I’m told that it won’t be in the future.  The building is huge and well maintained, just like the instruments inside. We met people from Breaux Bridge and people who have been to Louisiana many times.  We also met people who have tried for years to hear the banned and were able.  I don’t think anyone was disappointed.

First show of 2018.   I decided to attemp the blog again.  Last year was a total bust, but I’ll try harder.   This year we have a new agency, The Roots Agency, so there may (or may not) be lots to write about. The Tucson show was amazing: 600+ dancing Tucsonians.  We have always had a great following in Tucson.  And the El Casino is an old friend, in terms of places we’ve played. The first time we played there, before the roof blew off, was in the late 1980s, with Canray Fontenot and Bois Sec Ardoin.  The really cool thing about the El Casino was that there was a secret bar behind the main stage.  This was our dressing room.  In the secret bar a Norteno band playing.  Also tequila shots were 25 cents.  When we got up to play, Can and Bois were pretty well lit; we found out Michael was pretty much, too.  It was a memorable set: Canray decided to sit in.  Michael slipped, fell, but never missed a beat.  It was quite a show. The ‘new’ El Casino is working on getting its old grandeur, and