WRISTY BUSINESS
They'll remind you of the popular flexible bangles sometimes called "Whispers" bracelets - but they won't set you back near as much. These bangles, available at Jewelie's Fashion Jewelry and Apparel on Rena Drive, come in groups of four, gold or silver tone, and sell for $18.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Written by The Independent Staff
WRISTY BUSINESS
They'll remind you of the popular flexible bangles sometimes called "Whispers" bracelets - but they won't set you back near as much. These bangles, available at Jewelie's Fashion Jewelry and Apparel on Rena Drive, come in groups of four, gold or silver tone, and sell for $18. They look great stacked on your wrist in groups of eight or 12 (gold and silver combos also work well) so opt for a second set, and you'll get it half off. Stamped with the words, "Love, Faith, Hope" with sparkling white or iridescent stones, these lightweight bangles, which are actually made of four strands of super-thin wire, are not only great for Christmas but also make terrific inexpensive bridesmaids gifts. Call Jewelie at 984-8009. - Leslie Turk
À LA VIEILLE MODE
From the first few bars of The LakeSide Gamblers' new record, La Valse d'Hommage, we see where they're going: old school. The band - Gary Arsement on accordion/vocals, Clint Ward on fiddle and Mitch Simon on guitar/vocals - takes its name from its home base in Lake Charles, and the musicians take their sound from the vintage Cajun music that predates World War II and electrification; no electric bass, peddle steel or drums here - just spare, bare and beautiful acoustic music, unadorned and unabashed. The playing is lively and deft, and despite the album's title - valse is French for waltz - the trio gives as much quarter to the two step, and they mix it up, too, with a pleasantly surprising and thoroughly Cajun-fied version of Hank Williams' "Jambalaya" and a yearning Appalachian waltz recast as a tribute to Jean Lafitte's unrequited love. (That is SO Lake Charles!). Arsement has performed with the Basin Brothers and Balfa Toujours, but says The LakeSide Gamblers "have had great difficulty breaking into the Lafayette music scene." That's a pity. These guys need to be heard. La Valse d'Hommage is available for $14.99 through the band's website, LakeSideGamblers.com, and individual tracks can be downloaded - .99 cents apiece - through iTunes. - Walter Pierce
ZYDECO HALL OF FAME
The Grammys recently announced that Clifton Chenier's classic 1976 album, Bogalusa Boogie, will be among its Hall of Fame record inductees in 2011. The album, recorded at Studio In The Country in Bogaulsa, features one of Chenier's finest backing bands, including brother Cleveland Chenier on rubboard, John Hart on sax and Paul Senegal on guitar. And for all of you still stuck in the '70s to the point where you listen to your '70s LPs the way they were originally intended, you can find original vinyl pressings of Bogalusa Boogie, as well as other classic rock, blues and zydeco albums, at Vic LeBlanc's record booth at the Jockey Lot market at 3011 NW Evangeline Thruway (next to Hub City Ford). This weekend, LeBlanc will be out at his booth Friday for a special Christmas Eve sales day and then again on Sunday, Dec. 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Generally, he sets up shop each Saturday and Sunday at the Jockey Lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Nathan Stubbs