"Zyde-WHAT?" is the response that most people in the Lancaster area give when asked about the eclectic music known as zydeco. Drawing from a wide range of cultural influences, the feisty zydeco beat has roots in Louisiana and Texas, in rock 'n' roll and in swing. Greg "The Snakeman" Troiano and the Alligator Zydeco Band have emerged in the area and are enjoying growing popularity thanks to their unique and upbeat live performances.

The band features Troiano on lead vocals (both in English and French) and accordion; Monty Cullum on guitar and vocals; Benny "G" on bass; and Dave Beaver on drums. Troiano's daughter, Laura, who turned 12 in August, joins the band on washboard and Cajun triangle. "She's not a cute prop, either. She's probably the best rub-board player north of Louisiana," her father says proudly.

Although the Alligator Zydeco Band was formed just a few years ago, Troiano has been a fan of the style since 1985, when he saw Queen Ida perform at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Inspired by the celebratory music, he developed a passion for zydeco that has grown over the years. "The reason I love zydeco so much is that it is representative of every style of music I've ever liked. It's got a positive, upbeat kind of feel to it," Troiano explains.

He does admit, however, that members of the band spend a lot of time explaining zydeco to interested but confused audience members. As a musical genre, it began in the Creole communities of Southwest Louisiana as early as the 1930s. Zydeco contains elements of Cajun French and African-American music, as well as Mexican, rhythm and blues, Texas swing, and even good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. The group came together during Mardi Gras 1995, when Dave, Benny and Monty met up with Greg after creative differences in their respective bands left them searching for like-P5=minded musicians. Troiano calls his three band mates "the soul" of the group. "Benny is a great bassist, and Dave lays down a great dance beat. The guys harmonize together really well," he says. Cullum has been with Greg for five years with two different bands, adding his guitar leads and strong rhythms to live shows.

Troiano, who is also a jewelry maker, has seen zydeco grow in popularity over the past few years. However, the Alligator Zydeco Band is one of only two such bands in their homebase of the Philadelphia area and there are no other such musicians in the group's six-state playing circuit. The band's appeal is greatest in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, and they have noticed a greater following in Maryland, which Troiano calls "the hotbed of zydeco activity for the East Coast."

At a live performance, audiences can expect to be treated to a variety of Louisiana sounds, from Cajun two-steps to slow waltzes to "N'awlins" rhythm and blues. The members of the band call their shows a "musical gumbo," with the intention of using zydeco to get the crowd dancing. "That's what this music is all about," says Troiano. "It's danceable. It is a celebration of life, and it is about groovin' and dancing." And for those who may not know how to two-step? "We usually offer short dance lessons before a lot of club performances," Troiano responds.

The Alligator Zydeco Band plays mostly covers during a show, with a few originals mixed in. They feature updated versions of songs by Louisiana artists such as Queen Ida, Roy Carrier and Zachary Richards. In order to broaden their appeal, the band has also included covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival and Bob Dylan classics in their playlist. The reason that the Alligator Zydeco Band has emerged as a sought-after booking in local nightspots such as the Pequea Tavern and McFly's, is their universal appeal as a "good time" performer. "It [zydeco] usually makes people happy. It transcends all ages, from children to old folks," Troiano says. "Even the young Gothic people, with spiky green hair and black nails, they all get up and dance to this music, too."

In the past, zydeco music was mostly regional, virtually unknown in some parts of the country. It has become more popular after people heard its infectious beat at folk festivals across the United States. "Now, people who want to party and have a good time are listening to zydeco," Troiano says.

As the spokesman for the band, "The Snakeman" is often asked a barrage of questions. Some of them are directed toward his unique nickname. Before he was converted to zydeco, Troiano played with the local bluegrass band Chickory. As the harmonica player for the group, Troiano called himself "The Moanin' Snake." The one remaining legacy from his days in that band is the occasional addition of harmonica accompaniments during performances. He is also often asked to explain the origin of his band's name. Troiano has said that he noticed alligator symbols were prominent in many zydeco festivals. When he was forming the band, he did some research and found that there were no other groups using the word "alligator" in their names.

The Alligator Zydeco Band has staked its territory, from Baltimore to Long Island, from class reunions to international folk festivals. They have opened for the internationally known Buckwheat Zydeco, the Drifters and the Coasters. The band opened for C.J. Chenier at the Mayfair Festival of the Arts in Allentown in May. And if there is a standard that zydeco bands are measured by in the tri-state area, it would be playing for the Allons Danser, a Philadelphia Cajun dance society. The Alligator Zydeco Band is one of the few non-Louisiana bands to have performed at their dances. "We have played for them 12 timesÐmore than any other band that they've had," Troiano says. Back in July the band was also selected, along with some of the most famous zydeco acts in the country, to perform at the 1998 Gumbo Jam, the largest zydeco festival on the East Coast. In addition, seven of their songs were broadcast live on Y100 FM during the Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras Party in Philadelphia.

The Alligator Zydeco Band released a CD in 1996, titled Return of the Snake. However, Troiano admits that he prefers performing live over recording in a studio. "You have to come see us live to get the full effect," he says. "The difference is indescribable. Demo tapes are fine; I've sold them with no problems. But the energy at a show is amazing." Troiano truly loves performing, as anyone who has been to a show can tell you. "I think it has to do with what zydeco means to me. It gets back to growing up with rock 'n' roll. I've played bluegrass. I've played swing. I've played all different types of music. It has a mix of every kind of music I've ever heard. There is something for everyone in this music."