Waylon Thibodeaux

Here We Go Again

Rabadash Records

Waylon Thibodeaux was born on the Louisiana Bayou. A native of Houma, Louisiana he started as a drummer until he heard fiddlers Johnny Gimble and Stephan Grappelli. He began studying the violin at the age of eight and won the Louisiana State Fiddling Championship when he was sixteen. He began playing on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street when he was thirteen. Thibodeaux is also a member of the Voice of The Wetlands All-Stars, a super-group advocating awareness of the eroding wetlands, comprised of Louisiana’s best including fellow Houma native Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Cyril Neville.

Thibodeaux released his debut album “Live From The Cajun Festival” in 1993. This is his tenth album overall and third for John Autin’s Rabadash Records. Thibodeaux states “It’s a mixture, Cajun but not too traditional, it’s Zydeco with a pinch of New Orleans’ sound, a small pinch of South Louisiana Swamp Pop, a taste of Country and a little Rock n’ Roll that’s sure to get you on your feet and dancing.” If Thibodeaux talks like a chef that’s because he has a secret gumbo recipe and compares cooking with being a bandleader.

“Here We Go Again” was recorded by producer/keyboardist Autin at his studios in New Orleans and features Thibodeaux, fiddle and vocals; harmonica and accordion ace Johnny Sansone, guitarist Josh Garrett, and bassist Benny Turner.  Included are four additional guitarists, four bassists and three drummers.

Five originals are included. Opening with the title track, the liner notes tell us, Thibodeaux plays a white custom made electric fiddle made by Sal DiGerano of Metairie, La. Also from him are “I’m Stuck with The Blues Again”; “Our Life’s Another Old Blues Song”; “Don’t You Make Me Put My Fiddle Down” featuring Thibodeaux utilizing an effects pedal; and “Smoke Signals”.

Since Thibodeaux has been entertaining on Bourbon Street since he was a youngster he knows the power of a good cover and has an appreciation for all that is Louisiana. “Fail, Fail, Fail” was written by the late Lafayette based David Egan, who sadly passed in 2016, and was first recorded by him on his 2003 album “Twenty Years of Trouble”, it doesn’t get blusier than this. Also covered is “When Love Comes Back” from Thibodeaux’s friend Doc Heart; The “River Boat Song” written and recorded by J.J. Cale in 1989 and featuring Thibodeaux imitating a riverboat steam whistle; “Way Down South” from Edgar Winter recorded in 1993; and Willie Nelson’s country standard “Funny How Time Slips Away” first recorded in 1985 as a duet with Faron Young and featuring Johnny Gimble on violin. Stylistically Thibodeaux makes these his own.

This is a fun outing from Louisiana’s best rockin’ fiddler since Doug Kershaw. Better check out Waylon Thibodeaux.

Richard Ludmerer