Biography

The youngest band ever to sign to the rootsy Arhoolie label, southern Louisiana's Pine Leaf Boys don't just play Cajun music, but Louisiana music that can range from gritty Creole blues to sentimental waltzes. Members Wilson Savoy, Cedric Watson, Drew Simon, Jon Bertrand, and Blake Miller are all fluent in English and French, they all grew up playing music, and they are all multi-instrumentalists, able to swap their fiddle for an accordion or a guitar for a bass in the middle of a show. Savoy and Watson first partnered in 2004 on the album L'Autre Bord de l'Eau', cut with Bobby Michot and Louie Michot. The Pine Leaf Boys grew out of the project and were soon playing impromptu shows in parking lots and the grounds of the University of Louisiana's campus. When a decision maker at the college banned the band from playing these unauthorized shows on the school's property, the Pine Leaf Boys were in the local news, getting their name known and receiving calls for proper gigs. They recorded their debut album with every intention of releasing it themselves, so the last-minute call from Arhoolie was a huge moment for the band. Without thinking twice about signing to their favorite label, the Pine Leaf Boys were honored when Arhoolie released La Musique in early 2006. ~ David Jeffries, Rovi