Pays d’en Haut band members belt out some tunes at the Mt. Pleasant Coffee House.
More than sixty residents came to the first Coffee Shop event of the season hosted by the Mount Pleasant Women’s Institute. These monthly events held in the WI Hall in Mount Pleasant, these monthly events following a long standing local tradition established with the former “Give a Hoot Café”. Looking for a way to unite the community and raise funds for their organization, the Women’s Institute are employing their hall as a venue for local artists at any stage in their careers, and begins with an Open Mic session, followed by the featured musical talent. Jim Gleason, a performer at the September event, recalls how the early editions of these events always featured a very young Serena Ryder belting out tunes during the Open Mic sessions.
Organizers were thrilled with the crowd’s reaction to the main performers, Cajun band Pays d’en Haut (pronounced payee don oh), commenting that it was their best event yet. Two local singers opened the evening, and the crowd seemed to particularly enjoy singing along with a song by David Frank featuring Tapley ¼ Line in the lyrics.
The five member band consisted of professional musicians including guitarist Benj Rowland on accordion, Jim Gleason on upright bass, Driedger on lead vocal and guitar, Leslie McGrath on the triange (‘tit fer in the lingo) and Matt Watson on guitar. The band is fairly new, but morphed from another Cajun music band called BobCajun which performed together for many years until two members left the community.
The style of Cajun music is infectious, with a dominant beat, with melody and lyrics based on ballads of the French-speaking Acadians of Canada. That lively beat with a unique accordion front and centre brought the crowd at the hall to its feet- which was the intention of the band. This style of music is made for dancing, with basic harmonies using a limited range and very few keys. Relying on lots of staccato style notes, including lots of fiddle double stops, this traditional music has flourished since the early 1900’s and its rhythms encourage dance moves such as the waltz and two-step.
Audience members enjoyed the opportunity to participate, whether they were singing along to the chorus or showing their moves on the dance floor, demonstrating that they did not have to understand the lyrics to understand the music.
Look for another event at this popular venue coming in early November. KG
