Southern Louisiana’s Pine Leaf Boys earned the distinction of being the youngest act ever to join the roots-focused Arhoolie roster. Rather than confining themselves to Cajun repertoire alone, the group delivers a wide slice of Louisiana sounds that stretches from rough Creole blues to tender waltzes. Wilson Savoy, Cedric Watson, Drew Simon, Jon Bertrand, and Blake Miller all speak both English and French, all began performing as children, and all handle multiple instruments, freely trading fiddle for accordion or guitar for bass during a single set. Savoy and Watson first joined forces in 2004 on the album L'Autre Bord de l'Eau', recorded with Bobby Michot and Louie Michot; the Pine Leaf Boys formed directly from that session and began giving impromptu performances in parking lots and on the University of Louisiana campus. When an administrator barred the unauthorized shows, the resulting local news coverage brought the band wider recognition and steady offers for official engagements. The musicians had already tracked their debut with plans to issue it themselves, so the eleventh-hour invitation from Arhoolie arrived as a major breakthrough. They signed without hesitation to the label they most admired, and Arhoolie released La Musique in early 2006.
