Zachary Richard : “Snake Bite Love”/<i> A&M;</i>

Early in his career, Zachary Richard (pronounced ree-SHARD) was dubbed the “Cajun Mick Jagger”--his flamboyant, swaggering performance style helped him make him the first person to ever look sexy playing an accordion. Now, he displays ambitions of being the Cajun Tennessee Williams, digging into the endlessly rich culture of the Louisiana territory where he was raised to evoke characters (“Come On, Sheila”), places (“Dancing at Double D’s”) and situations (the title tune) that probably couldn’t exist anywhere else. The music blends traditional Cajun with Petty-like heartland rock; Richard is best when rocking hardest (“Zydeco Jump”). In one particularly skillful juxtaposition, he laments a vanishing way of life (“Sunset on Louisianne”), then elicits the indefatigable spirit of Acadiana (“Crawfish”), reminding us that whatever else happens in that corner of the world, the Cajuns will always find reason to party come Saturday night.