Texas has always had an affinity for the indigenous French music of its Louisiana neighbor. Southeast Texas became a cultural stronghold when Cajuns migrated there for better economic opportunities, and variations of the Cajun national anthem, “Jolie Blonde,” were recorded by countless Lone Star crooners including Moon Mullican and even a young Waylon Jennings. Fiddle swing king Harry Choates died tragically in an Austin jail, so it shouldn’t be a total surprise when a Cajun band occasionally pops up in the Texas heartland, as in the case of Charles Thibodeaux and the Austin Cajun Aces.

Originally from Beaumont, Thibodeaux prefers to keep his music traditional with a trio made up of Thibodeaux on the box, fiddler Peter Schwarz, formerly of Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, and rhythm guitarist Steve Doerr of the roots-rocking LeRoi Brothers. As Thibodeaux and Schwarz weave gloriously in and out of melody lines, Doerr is their glue with his insatiable, string-snapping rhythms that can only be delivered with finger-clamping, string-muting barre chords.

What makes this traditional fare truly special is the thoughtful homage paid to Andrew Cormier, the Southeast Texas bandleader whose popularity rivaled Joe Bonsall in the ’60s and ’70s. “Two-Step de Andrew Cormier” paints a joyous social scene, referencing the Port Arthur dance hall the Rodair Club, where Cormier performed. “Kaplan Waltz” extends the tribute by featuring Cormier vocalist Dallas Roy, who popularized the classic. No over-the-top, flashy rock star stuff here but then again, it doesn’t have to be. This is as real as it gets.