Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience @ The Freight, Berkeley, CA, USA, 06/25/2025

An evening of Zydeco music at the Freight. By coincidence, Wednesday marked Clifton Chenier's centennial. The dance floor was open, which is quite unusual. The music, of course, was quite different from what the Freight usually presents, though these days they even have some reggae shows scheduled.

Terrance was joined on stage by a rhythm section, saxophone and trumpet players, and a keyboardist. The sound was very funky, with the bassist stealing the spotlight by delivering propulsive grooves. They played for nearly two hours, mixing Creole material with a varied set of covers. I had just heard the tune Bonsoir Moreau a few days earlier from Rhiannon & company, so getting it two shows in a row, wow! The band also played two Dylan songs, some traditional gospel, and New Orleans favorites. A fine show.

P.S. A few months ago the management of Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse decided to change its name to The Freight. People always called it that, yet the familiar old sign above the stage still stayed up until recently, but now it is replaced. Somehow that feels a little sad.

Set list (8:03 PM — 9:59 PM): Tomber Amour Encore (Fell in Love Again), Dog Hill, 500 Miles, Mardi Gras in the Country, Bonsoir Moreau, Gonna Take You There, Time for Me to Dance (C'est Mon Temp Pour Danse), I Shall Be Released, Back in My Baby's Arms, Uncle Bud, You Ain't Going Nowhere, You Know I Love You (T'connais Moi Te L'aime), Oh Yeh Yai, Tout Quelgu'un, Love the One You're With / You Can't Always Get What You Want, Iko Iko / When the Saints Go Marching In, Amazing Grace / Down by the Riverside (encore), Shout (encore)

( Few more pix... )