Mardi Gras at Magoons
‘Missourah’ Mudbugs to bring Cajun music to St. Joseph
by Sylvia Anderson
Friday, February 6, 2009

Do you have a craving for jambalaya and some Mardis Gras mambo? Gather up your beads and head over to Magoons on Saturday night. Magoons owner Barry Woodhull plans to turn his downtown deli into the Big Easy for the evening by bringing in the Cajun band The “Missourah” Mudbugs while serving up some of the Louisiana’s favorite dishes.

You’ll be able to feast on jambalaya, red beans and rice and maybe crawfish if Woodhull can figure out a setup. (Mudbug is what Cajuns call crayfish or crawfish). And to get the party in high gear, Woodhull also will be serving Breezers.

“They’re made with all kinds of rum,” he says. “But I don’t recommend more than one.”

The “Missourah” Mudbugs’ Burle Bezet is a native of Louisiana and got his band together about seven years ago. He now lives in Cameron, Mo., but his Cajun/zydeco band plays the music of the swamp land, and audiences in Missouri seem to love it, Bezet says.

“It’s high-energy dance music,” he says, “with a tinge of soul to it and a little bit of country. It’s like a gumbo with everything in it.”

The seven-piece band also gives you something to look at. In addition to the usual guitar and drums, The “Missourah” Mudbugs have a rub board, a saxophone, a harmonica, a piano and a Cajun accordion. Bezet is the lead singer and guitarist. His wife, Karen, plays the rub board.

Son Brandon, known as “Brother Bean,” is their sound man.

The remaining members are all local musicians. St. Joseph resident Kenny Engum, known as “Cord man,” plays the guitar. Airen “Catfish” Heldenbrand, from Winston, Mo., is the bass man. The drummer is Russell Brunk, from Cameron, Mo. The piano man is Mark “Moon Shine” Morris of Savannah, Mo. And on the sax is “Never Wrong” Steve Wright, from Faucett, Mo.

This will be the first time for the band at Magoons.

“We’ve been hearing about it and can’t wait to get there,” Bezet says. “It will be a lot of fun.”

The band is scheduled to play from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. And if that’s not enough zydeco for you, the band’s CDs will be available for sale.