Living in Sin with Treater

Going with the words from a popular Swamp Pop song, if loving Treater is a sin, then people in Louisiana, Minnesota and as far away as South Korea will forever live in sin.

Although Treater has been performing for more than 30 years, it is a band that has become more than just the music it performs. It is part of south Louisiana’s culture.

The band consists of Calvin Parfait Jr. (guitar, Cajun accordion, band leader), Charlie Duthu (lead vocals, washboards), Alvin Parfait (drums), Esther Billiot (keyboard, vocals) and Troy Billiot (bass, vocals), recently returned from performing in Minnesota.

The band brought more than just a combination of Cajun, Zydeco, swamp pop and blues to the North Star State. They also brought south Louisiana’s culture in the form of food, dancing and even Mardi Gras.

The band has made many trips to Minnesota. They plan to journey back to Grand Porter, Minn., in the near future for their 16th year of performing on the Chippewa Indian reservation.

When Treater goes to Minnesota, they literally bring about 100 float rider costumes with them and put on a float-less Mardi Gras in Grand Porter.

Band members toss out beads and stuffed animals to the eager crowds that gather, crowds that would never have a Mardi Gras if not for Treater.

And on its most recent trip, they brought a Cajun dance troupe along.

This last time the group went up, 40 feet had been added to the tent, but the crowd still filled it up to see them perform.

“We’re the only ones that keep on going back,” said Duthu.

The washboard player used to play drum. The two are similar, he explained, in the sense both require a good feel for rhythm.

He prefers spoons to scratch his washboard, but has also seen other performers use a variety of instruments to scratch, including eggbeaters and paint can openers.

Treater didn’t always play Cajun, Zydeco, swamp pop and blues. There was a time when the Tri-parish favorite performed songs from Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top.

“When we were younger, we played a lot of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Calvin. “We used to do all of that. I don’t know if we could probably pull it off now. We’d have to rehearse it.”

“Every once in a while we break out an Ozzy Osbourne song or something. It depends on the venue, you know,” said Duthu.

The band has performed four times at the Moondance Jam – a classic rock music outdoor festival held each July in Walker, Minn.

It is the largest classic rock festival in the nation and has featured some very recognizable performers like Heart, Poison, Tesla, Alice Cooper, the Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Bothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Ted Nugent and many more.

“We were one of the only Louisiana bands that got invited to go,” said Calvin.

The band has also toured U.S. military bases in South Korea three times.

They went for the 4th of July in 2001 and spent 21 days in the country moving from the DMZ to the Sea of Japan and back.

Treater returned in 2002 for the 4th and spent 25 days performing.

“It was an experience,” said Duthu. “To be in South Korea with the U.S. Army and seeing what the American soldier goes through, it makes you respect American soldiers.”

And they played a New Year’s Eve party for the top brass in South Korea.

Lieutenant General Russel Honore commanded the Joint Task Force Katrina responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for Katrina-affected areas. And he is a Treater fan.

He facilitated the group’s trips to South Korea.

After more than 30 years Treater has enough history to easily fill a book or two or three. And even though Calvin is 51, Treater will likely be around for a long time to come.

“As long as I can do it (perform), I can do it,” said Calvin.

All the band members are related to each other in some way.

Duthu and Calvin’s grandmothers were sisters, making them cousins of a sort.

Esther (“Lady Esther the Queen of the Bayou”) is Calvin’s sister, making Troy his brother-in-law. And, of course, Alvin on drums is Calvin’s brother.

Treater defines itself as an all- American Indian band and claims the heritage of the Houma tribe.

They take their name from their “Traiteur” ancestors, who “treated” people with the power of faith and prayer. And they feel their music can make people forget their problems for a while and pass a good time.

The band members have supported themselves and their families solely through playing their music for decades.

“We’re probably one of the few bands in the area that makes a living playing music,” said Duthu.

“We grew up from the bayou, so we know how to survive.

Duthu and Calvin shared advice to some of the younger artists out there struggling to make it.

“When we talk to young people, we tell them not to get discouraged, because a lot of times people are going to say you can’t make a living playing music,” said Duthu.

“We were told the same thing,” said Calvin.

“It all depends on what you’re going to play,” said Duthu. “You got to play for the people. If you’re going to play for yourself, you’re going to play in your bedroom all the time. If you want to play, you got to play what the people want. It works for us.”

Treater will perform at the upcoming Grand Bois Intertribal Powwow on Friday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the Grand Bois Park/Campground at 470 Bourg-Larose Highway (Highway 24) in Bourg.

Living in Sin with Treater