Smart Bets: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas

Posted on by Edwin Arnaudin

Hailing from southern Louisiana, songwriter and accordion player Nathan Williams brings the fast dance music of zydeco to the masses alongside musicians from his talented family. Joining him onstage are his brother Dennis Paul Williams on jazz-influenced guitar, son Nathan Williams Jr. on keyboard and cousin Mark Williams on rubboard. And though not related by blood, the rhythm section of Paul “Not the Actor” Newman (bass) and Herman “Rat” Brown (drums) feels like part of the family. Also key to the ensemble’s success behind the scenes is Nathan Sr.’s oldest brother and the band’s manager, Sid “El Sid O” Williams, who also plays accordion on the side. Together, they form Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, and they’ll head to The Orange Peel on Saturday, May 18, for a 7:30 p.m. dance party. $18 advance/$20 day of show. theorangepeel.net. Photo by Joe Del Tufo

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Edwin Arnaudin
Edwin Arnaudin is a staff writer for Mountain Xpress. He also reviews films for ashevillemovies.com and is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association (SEFCA) and North Carolina Film Critics Association (NCFCA). Follow me @EdwinArnaudin
View all posts by Edwin Arnaudin →

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.