Dwayne Dopsie & Zydeco Hellraisers

Dwayne Rubin is one of the three musical sons of Alton Rubin, better known as Rockin' Dopsie, who was among a handful of seminal instigators of the raucous, blues-based, southwest Louisiana phenomenon known as zydeco. Dwayne started playing with his dad before his age hit two digits, and now, at the ripe old age of 29, wields a wicked accordion like his father, and leads one of the premier zydeco bands in the Pelican State. The composer of all the songs on the Hellraisers' last album, Traveling Man (Sound of New Orleans), Dwayne still subscribes to lacing his zydeco with a massive dose of traditional blues. But he also follows the contemporary penchant for cranking things up with some rock adrenalin. The Hellraisers are whiplash tight, especially saxophonist Curnis Andrus and guitarist Chad Welling, who both wail behind Dwayne's squawking squeezebox and soulful vocals. The Hellraisers were one of the few zydeco bands based in New Orleans before Katrina, but Lafayette native Dwayne has since relocated the band to Baton Rouge.
Sat., March 29, 9 p.m., 2008