Travel to the Bayou with Little Red and the Renegades

Pepper your weekend with a little Cajun spice! D.C.'s hottest Zydeco band will perform at  amphitheater tonight as part of the Spotlight by Starlight summer concert series. Little Red and the Renegades have performed at the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian Institution, South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Tex. and in music clubs from Manhattan to Texas. Little Red (Tom Corradino) has shared the stage with blues and roots acts including Buckwheat Zydeco, Dr. John, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters.

Learn more about tonight's performance in this Q&A with Corradino. 

What can local concertgoers expect from your performance this evening?

Since we're only playing for an hour, I won't be bringing a piano, so no New Orleans R&B this gig. We'll play a mix of accordion music, mostly Zydeco, and most of it dance music. When I first started playing in D.C., I learned that it's hard to get people here to let go, so you've got to bring the party with you. We want the audience to have as much fun as we do. So, the short answer is we'll be playing good time dance music.

How has your style evolved over the years? Is there one particular element of Zydeco or Nawlins-style music that you are exploring at the moment?

My parents listened to all kinds of music from classical to country, and when I started playing, that's what I played – all kinds of music. When we moved to Harrisburg, PA in the early 60's, I heard a lot more contemporary black music than I had heard before, so I started to play that. At Syracuse University, all the party bands were mixed – blacks and whites, and you had to play rock and soul. I also played with Latin musicians from New York and Panama.

In New Orleans, I'd go see Professor Longhair at night, then go to the 501 Club (which later became Tipitina's) the next day and try to play what he played for the dock workers. In D.C., I learned about rockabilly in Tex Rubinowitz's band at the same time I was playing with Les Pachas, a Haitian Compas band, and we had started Little Red and the Renegades. I listen to a lot of different roots music and it all comes out in what we play. This is D.C. Zydeco.  

You’ve performed at some of D.C.’s best venues. What do you think of the music scene in the city?

D.C. gets a bad rap, but it has a very diverse music scene. It seems to be known mostly for rockabilly/country/hot guitar guys and the punk scene, but if you look around there's a wealth of different music. There are places that have Latin music, go-go, polka, Haitian, Ethiopian, not to mention blues and roots. The clubs here are constantly changing, just like anyplace else, but there's a ton of live music. Some of the best musicians I've played with are here. More roots clubs, like the Bayou on Penn and Hill Country Barbeque are opening, which is great for us.  

Of all the musicians you’ve collaborated and/or performed with, who has inspired you the most? Did anyone in particular make a significant impact on you as a Zydeco musician?

As far as Zydeco, my biggest influences are Clifton Chenier, Rockin' Dupsie, Boozoo Chavis and Beau Jocque. I never played with them, but I met them all. I like Colombian and Mexican accordionists too, like Lisandro Meza and Celso Pina. Of people I've played with, the biggest influences are my family: my mom, my Uncle Chris, Tex Rubinowitz and Harry Rado.

Tell me a little bit about the Renegades, your current band. How long have you been playing together? 

Harry Rado (guitar) and I started playing together in the 60's. We started Little Red & the Renegades about 1983. Dave Petersen (bass) joined us in the late 80's. Jon Danforth (drums) has played with us for maybe 15 years and steady for the last 10 or so. Carol Arthur (steel drum/pan) has been with us full time for about five years, but played with us many times before. Allen Rado (guitar) is Harry's son. He's been full-time for two years. I love this band. Not only do we enjoy playing together, we are all good friends.

Why is your nickname Little Red?

I had a crush on a Mohawk girl when I was growing up. Her brothers used to call me Little Red.

Click here for more information on Little Red and the Renegades. 

Friday, July 29, 7:30 p.m.; Free
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA; (703) 324-SHOW