1956
Nash Rambler Wagon
The
Pittsfield Ramblers
Cajun and zydeco
classics -- plus a smidge of swamp
pop, rhythm &
blues, and the occasional Nirvana
cover. All
wrapped up in our patented electro-
acoustic
in-the-pocket groove.TM
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
USA
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Keep up with all the Cajun & zydeco music, dance, & local events @ Allons Danser!
The Ramblers deliver! With a mix of wonderful harmonies,
vocals that resonate with the French lyrical sounds of Cajun festivals and bals
de maison, and instrumentation that keeps dancers
dancing and the house rocking, this group of Ann Arbor musicians makes you want
to cash in the frequent flyer miles and head straight to Louisiana . . . except
you don't need to since they are right here in southeast
Michigan! Whether in a dance hall
or an open-air event, The Pittsfield Ramblers give it their all and bring Cajun
music alive.
Charles J. Stivale, Professor of
French, Wayne State University. Author of Disenchanting Les Bons Temps: Identity and Authenticity in Cajun Music and Dance (Duke
University Press, 2002).
Contact Information
E-mail to
http://www.pittsfieldramblers.2ya.com
734 426-2265
Instruments and Players
Dan DeSena -- drums, keyboards, percussion, and harmony vocals. Multi-instrumental percussionist, member of the Ann Arbor Symphony, appearances with Los Gatos (Ann Arbor Latin jazz combo) and other ensembles. Staff member, Michigan Marching Band. Doctoral graduate of the University of Michigan in percussion performance, former director of the U-M Caribbean Ensemble.
Bill Farmer -- acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, bass guitar, banjo, harmony vocals. Veteran of the Raisin Pickers (Manchester bluegrass band), Cocodrie (Lansing Cajun band), and various other band and recording projects in Michigan and Colorado.
Nadine Hubbs -- lead French vocals, bass guitar, button accordion. Faculty member in the University of Michigan School of Music, performance studies at the Royal Belgian Conservatory in Brussels and the University of Michigan. Veteran of the Clubhouse Band (Ann Arbor Cajun band).
Mike Morrison -- drums, percussion, and harmony vocals. Multi-instrumental percussionist, teaching affiliations with Saline and Plymouth-Canton High Schools. Graduate of the University of Michigan in percussion performance.
Martin Topliss -- lead English vocals, fiddle, auxiliary percussion. Veteran of The Eight (Lansing rock band), the Ann Arbor Irish Ensemble, and the Clubhouse Band.
Now Playing
The Ramblers' Dance Party
Dates TBA: The Pittsfield Ramblers will host their own Louisiana-style fais do-do (that's Cajun for "dance
party") at the legendary Pittsfield Union Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road (see map). One hour before the band takes the stage, the ever-popular Allons
Danser! provide fun and easy
lessons in the basic steps -- like the Cajun one-step, two-step and waltz --
and when you're ready, they can get you going with the zydeco and the Cajun
jitterbug, too! Between sets, you can refuel your dancin' machine with
refreshments in the genuine church-supper ambience of the Grange Hall basement.
For other local Cajun
and zydeco goings-on visit Allons Danser!
SHOW BUSINESS
The Pittsfield Ramblers
are happy to be part of the indie film New Age Coondog. Set in the Northern Michigan woods, the movie focuses on the joys
and trials of Coondog, a beer-drinking, deer-hunting, good-ol' backwoods
boy on a crystal-toting, incense-burning, New Age journey of self-discovery. Coondog
features the Ramblers in a soundtrack written especially for the film --
including the catchy title-track
single "New Age Coondog"!
Photos: McKenzie
Instrument by Martin Accordions, Scott, LA
Allons danser (Let's Dance) . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in French
Another Lonely Night (Un Autre soir
ennuyant) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in French
The Back Door (La Porte d'en arriere)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English + French
Bayou Pon Pon Special. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in
French
Cajun Stripper. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fiddle
tune
La Danse de Mardi Gras. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in French
Diggy Liggy Lo. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in
English
Les Haricots sont pas sales (Ain't
No Salt in the Green Beans). . . . . . . in French
High Point Two-Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in
French
Iko Iko. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
in English
J'ai ete-z-au bal (I Went to the
Dance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in French
Jambalaya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in
English
Johnny Can't Dance. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . accordion tune
Millie's Two-Step. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . instrumental
My Toot Toot. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in
English
My True Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in French
Parlez-nous a boire (Speak to Us of
Drinking [and not of Marriage]) . . . in
French
Poor Hobo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in
French
Port Arthur Blues. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in
French
La Robe de Rosalie (Rosalie's Dress) .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . fiddle tune
Watch That
Dog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . in English
Ton Papa m'a jete dehors (Your Daddy Put Me Out) . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . in French
USS Zydecoldsmobile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in English
Watermelon Reel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .fiddle tune
CAJUN WALTZES
Convict Waltz (Valse de quatre-vingt-dix-neuf ans) . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . in French
Grand Basile.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . in French
Grand Mamou. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in French
J'ai passe
devant ta porte (I Passed by Your Door) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . in
French
Jolie blonde
(Pretty Blonde) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .in French
Reno Waltz . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .in French
'Tits yeux
noirs (Little Black Eyes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .in French
Valse de Balfa
(Balfa Waltz) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . in French
SWAMP POP, RHYTHM & BLUES, JUG BAND, NIRVANA COVERS, ETC.
Concrete and Barbed Wire
Heart of Stone
Mona
New Age Koondog
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Suzie Q
You Can't Catch Me
AND MORE . . .
Last
revised:
25 January 2006
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