Where Y’AT Magazine
New Orleans, LA - April 2003
by Dan Gilbert

The Red Stick Ramblers

Faithful readers of this magazine may recall that a few years back yours truly penned a feature on this Baton Rouge string band, ranting and raving about how nobody “got it” like they did. The occasion of the article was the release of their debut CD. Well, there hasn’t been any new product since then (they just finished recording their latest last week and are currently “negotiating” its release), but there has certainly been some progress. While they were fantastic to begin with, now they’ve reached a level that can hardly be expressed in mere words. Playing a blend of traditional Cajun, Western Swing, honky-tonk country, gypsy jazz and the occasional country blues, there is absolutely nothing about this band that needs to change; they’re truly perfect in every way. I can’t remember when the last time I said – or even thought – that about any current band playing anything resembling string band music, but it’s been at least since the Dave & Deke Combo last scorched the earth.

Twin fiddles are out front courtesy of Joel Savoy and brilliant vocalist Linzay Young, while guitarist Chaz Justus wails away on his late ‘30s arch-top in a slightly distorted trashy jazz style that immediately brings to mind Eldon Shamblin of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys. Upright bassist Ricky Dees and drummer Glen Fields drive the proceedings with the kind of grooves that made this music the forerunner of rock ‘n’ roll in every way, while Josh Caffery’s mandolin playing adds an air of the Appalachians to the distinctly Gulf Coast-styled proceedings. No question about it, Harry Choates, Cliff Bruner, Link Davis, Memphis Minnie and Lightnin’ Hopkins are all smiling down from heaven, and their disparate spirits dwell at every Ramblers performance.