CajuNation

Go to CajuNation's Official Web Site for the latest band membership and other information that has changed since LSUE's page was posted. CajuNation also has a MySpace page.

CajuNation features Johnny Dwyer, the guitarist and vocalist for six years with Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns. Dwyer, who lives in Maurice and owns JD’s Meat Market, has been a musician since he was a teenager. With his son, Christopher, another veteran of the Kickin’ Cajuns, he has formed his own band, CajuNation, a group that performs Cajun rock, traditional Cajun, zydeco, blues, and other Louisiana music.

Joining Johnny Dwyer on guitar and vocals and Christopher Dwyer on drums and vocals are Seth Guidry on accordion and vocals; Leonard Olivier on lead guitar and vocals;  Mike Cecil on bass guitar; and Craig Deroche on rubboard.

Their first CD, swampilicious, was produced in 2006 by Rick Lagneaux and juicy pear productions. 

Seth Guidry sings Fred Charlie’s “Les larmes dans tes yeux,” which he also previously recorded with the band Louisiana Nights. Guidry, who was still a teenager when he joined CajuNation, has been playing since he was eight years old. Other French songs are “Bayou Noir” and a version of "Bosco Stomp” that features guitar solos along with the accordion.

Zydeco cuts include covers of Chris Ardoin’s “Save the Last Dance,” Clifton Chenier’s “Party Down,” and two Curley Taylor songs, “She’s a Liar” and “Zydeco Trouble.”  “Warm and Tender Love,” which features nice background vocals along with Dwyer’s lead, was previously recorded by Percy Sledge and Buckwheat Zydeco, among others.

Original songs by Johnny Dwyer include “One and Only" (written with Leonard Olivier), “What You See (Is What You Get),” and “Bad Luck and Troubles.”

The song that probably has received the most radio play is Waylon Thibodeaux’s “My Baby Don’t Wear No Pants,” a bouncy invitation to abandon inhibitions.

For more information, including booking contacts, go to the Official CajuNation Web Site or to the band's Myspace page.

Photos taken in 2007 at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival and in 2006 at Blackham Coliseum during a summer church benefit festival. Johnny Dwyer is shown at top. Leonard Olivier is the other guitarist. Seth Guidry is at left.

Posted 7-24-07.

All photographs and text by David Simpson.

Return to the Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Music Home Page.