True Man Posse

Creole reggae band returns for Friday gig after long absence

by Dominick Cross

LAFAYETTE, La. — The last public performance of Creole reggae band, True Man Posse, was at the 2013 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

“That was the last one we did together,” said Walter Thibeaux, of True Man Posse. “We never quit, it’s just we had to take a break.”

For those who are counting, that was 10 years ago and some 133 miles east of here.

Well, as of 2 p.m. March 8, in 69 hours and maybe a couple of miles north of Lafayette, True Man Posse can be heard, Friday, March 10, at Da Zydeco Shack, 4451 NW Evangeline Thruway in Carencro.

There’s a $10 cover. Doors open 6 p.m.; showtime 9 p.m.

Thibeaux said folks can expect, “Real good music, good vibes.”

The band consists of Thibeaux, guitar/vocals; Russell Cormier, guitar/vocals; Terry Broussard, percussion; and Wayne Curtis, keyboard.

True Man Posse released a 12-song recording, Creole Reggae, in 2002 with Rick Lagneaux running the boards and featured Dickie Landry on sax. Keep an ear out for music from the CD, some covers, and new songs.

“It’s conscience music, you know what I’m saying?“

Walter Thibeaux

“We’ve got a lot of other new stuff we haven’t recorded we’re going to play live,” said Thibeaux.

Thibeaux has played reggae for at least 25 years, kicking off with Ras Cloud & the Sons of Selassie I before forming True Man Posse.

“I just kept it going,” he said.

The band’s name is actually a play on the area of town the members came from.

“True Man Posse started out from a little area in Lafayette called Truman,” said Thibeaux. “It’s a little neighborhood and most of the guys were living in that neighborhood when I formed the group.”

And that was on the cusp of the 21st Century.

“It was 1999, 2000 — somewhere around there,” Thibeaux said. “It’s been a while.”

So why reggae in an area of South Louisiana mostly known for Cajun, zydeco and Creole music?

“Reggae is good and strong except for around here,” said Thibeaux, matter-of-factly. “Seems like we’re the only reggae band in town. We’re in zydeco country.”

Still, that hasn’t hindered Thibeaux or the band from its mission of sorts.

“What it is is the lyrics and, you know, the good vibes of the music,” he said. “It’s conscience music, you know what I’m saying?

“It just speaks about reality and it’s one of the ways of expressing myself about what I see going on,” he said. “I put it in my music, which is reggae, but Creole reggae.”

The Creole can be heard in the music.

“It’s got a little Creole flavor in it if you listen to the rhythm real good,” said Thibeaux. “And I blow a harmonica, too, so that’s kind of bringing a little flavor there.

“And what makes it more Creole is that we’re all Creole, you know know what I’m saying. Snap beans and rice and okra gumbo,” he said. “So I stick to my roots and plus the roots from Jamaica (reggae’s birth place).

“Reggae is the same beat of you heart,” said Thibeaux. “It’s the music of life, I call it.”