Blues On Stage - Chubby Carrier

Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
@ Famous Dave's, March 26, 1998

"Too Hot To Handle," the name of Roy "Chubby" Carrier’s new CD recorded live in February 1998, aptly describes his high energy shows. He insists that the key to his musical success is tradition. Carrier, who turned 30 this year, is a third generation Zydeco player from southwest Louisiana who really knows how to let the good times roll. Zydeco music is characterized by highly danceable & infectious rhythms that feature the distinctive sounds of the accordion and rub board. Chubby Carrier’s style of Zydeco, although deeply rooted in the Creole culture, is not bound by that tradition.

Chubby Carrier
Famous Dave's, 3/26/98
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles.
All rights reserved

His music is on the fringes of traditional Zydeco where he continually pushes the envelope of his sound right to the edges of rock. The result is a mixture of rocking, funky blues with a swamp pop flavor. "Right now I’m trying to take my music to a different level. Times change" said Carrier. "I’m not so traditional like my family, I’m more funk Zydeco. If you hear my show it's more high energy, swamp funky music." Carrier is committed to brining this engaging music to the masses. "Zydeco will always be in my blood" he said. "I’m just trying to spread the Zydeco gospel to people."

Chubby Carrier
Photo © 1998 by Tom Asp.
All rights reserved
This was a wild show right from the start, with Carrier's 6 piece band and a strange dancer. We weren't sure what his purpose was but he seemed to be a regular member of the band. This dancer was dressed in leg tights and home made bell bottoms made out of hankerchiefs -- kind of a 1960's hippie look. The usual local "dance" suspects were also out in force. The Twin Cities has a dedicated and loyal Zydeco/Cajun dance club that always turns out in force at these shows. They were twirling, spinning, dipping and rocking to the infectious rhythms of the two step and slower waltzes.

Chubby Carrier
Photo © 1998 by Ray Stiles.
All rights reserved
So the next time you go to one of Carrier's shows be sure to bring along your dance shoes and lots of stamina because Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band will wear you out with their wild, rocking, foot stomping Zydeco music. "It’s the beat that moves the feet" said Carrier.

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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Copyright © 1998 by Ray M. Stiles
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.