The Pine Leaf Boys are young Cajuns who come across as old souls with deep roots in the music. The band’s three vocalists sound like authentic Cajun singers with years of experience behind them. Wilson Savoy, who does double duty on accordion and vocals, is the son of noted musicians Marc and Ann Savoy. Cedric Watson is an impassioned singer/fiddler whose style is steeped in the rich Creole repertoire. Drew Simon, the third singer and also the drummer, has performed with Acadien, while other members have been active with the New Pine Grove Boys and the Lost Bayou Ramblers.
Unlike more progressive Cajun bands, the Pine Leaf Boys don’t draw too much from non-Cajun styles, but that’s not to say they don’t bring anything new to the tradition. Some performances here emphasize the blues undercurrent found amid old-style Cajun repertoire. Only a few of the songs are well-known, most notably “Blues De Bosco”, often associated with the legendary Iry Lejeune, and “Les Barres De La Prison”, which Watson sings with the same fervor as Canray Fontenot, one of his idols.
The Pine Leaf Boys generally prefer more obscure material, such as Belton Richard’s “I’ll Have to Forget You”, or “La Belle Josette”, which comes from an old Alan Lomax recording. The group also transforms Octa Clark’s “Jamboree Waltz” into “Festival Acadien Waltz”, a fitting tribute to Lafayette’s annual festival.
