Frontman Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural Jr. is celebrating his 30th anniversary with a tour and a new album, Lay Your Burden Down. The friendly hotpot Dural stirs up is comprised of equal doses accordion-driven Zydeco and Famous Flames-style guitar flash, underscored by a dark roux of heady funk. Call it Zydeco of the crunk variety: loud, proud, and with no standing around allowed. One thing to know about a Buckwheat show: If the 61-year-old, pompadoured former funk progenitor is feeling it—and he gets the sense that you are too—shows can extend deep into the night. If the calliope ain’t a cookin’, you might get four songs in 45 minutes and a pleasant “See y’all next time ’round.” To these ears, it sometimes works better in such smaller doses, but then again, I feel the same way about gumbo.
Thu., Aug. 27, 8 p.m., 2009
