The Machine’s Pump Volume 19 – #8 – August 2016

So, my friend, Larry King (the radio DJ, not the suspenders model), sent me an email with a YouTube link. I clicked on it and there was a clip from the old TV show, CHEERS. All the regular folks were sitting around the bar when suddenly Brave Combo’s “Vampire Twist” came roaring out of the jukebox. Here, you can see/hear it for yourself.  It turns out, when this episode went to DVD in 2008, the production company, apparently, could not secure the use of “The Monster Mash,” which was in the original airing of the show. Somehow, our song, from the album, HOLIDAYS, made it’s way to the show’s music licensing department and the rest is history, I guess. The weirdest aspect of this is that none of us Combo members remembers anything about this happening eight years ago. HOLIDAYS was released on both Rounder and our own label, Dentone, a couple of years before the CHEERS DVD came out. Since I am also the composer of “Vampire Twist,” I’m particularly interested in figuring out what happened. Such is the life of a band at our level; just famous enough to be heard beyond what we know, but totally unable to stay on top of it and protect our unique artistic property. It can be really frustrating at times, but our resources are pretty limited. It’s possible that this is on the up-and-up and we just all forgot or the report was buried in a confusing royalty statement, but it seems unlikely that this wouldn’t ring a bell for anyone. Whatever, I’ll just add this to my list of strange Brave Combo occurrences and look forward to what tomorrow brings.

Brave Combo’s big summer vacation is coming to a close as the polkas of Autumn beckon. In the next two months we’ll be playing so many polkas you’ll actually be able to see notes bouncing in the air above the band. Colorful ones! Of course, this nine-week exercise in musical excessive behavior always begins with The Levitt Pavilion, in Arlington, Texas (Friday, September 2), followed by two days at Westfest (Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4). For the Labor Day love-ins we’ll be joined by the one and only (drum roll and cymbal crash) Jeffrey Barnes, which means Brave Combo will be making a lot of kick-ass sounds. We may space out and turn into something you’ve never experienced before. Or not. Either way, we’ll be entertaining . . . I hope.

Once that first blast of September is behind us, we shift our focus to Oktoberfest-mania until November shows up. If you live anywhere in or near Texas, you needn’t deprive yourself of the power of polka for the next several weeks. Check our itinerary. Then show up, rev up and have fun. Even in these insanely troubled times, it can be done. So look at your calendar and make your plans.

Well, it’s about to be official; my induction into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame. I guess I do talk about polkas quite a bit, huh? I wonder what I would have done the last 37 years if I hadn’t stumbled onto all of those enticing budget-priced record albums in that Woolworth department store? We’ll never know, cause I did. Unfortunately, my obligation to perform at Westfest (in West, Texas) will prevent me from attending the IPA Convention and awards banquet, in Buffalo, New York on Labor Day Weekend. However, my good friend, Randy Koslosky, from the fantastic Polish-American bands, Energy and Henny and the Versa-Js will introduce me and Brave Combo’s trusted assistant, Lori Young, will accept the award and speak on my behalf. So it’s nice to know I’m well-covered and I assume they will both say something nice about me. I understand that right after leaving the convention, Lori and her husband Paul will be driving their brand new car straight to Niagara Falls for a second honeymoon or a time-share seminar or something like that.

Once upon a time, Denton was a sleepy, somewhat lonely little outpost, protecting the northern border of the DFW Metroplex from invading Oklahomans. We Dentonites would make regular shopping and cultural excursions into Dallas or Fort Worth, but mainly we wanted to be left alone. That’s why we were where we were; away from the hustle and bustle our friends to the south had to endure. Denton was always an escape from that big city stuff, which allowed us to be different. It was like we could just make up our own rules about everything, especially music and art. I liked it that Brave Combo was from nowhere, especially nowhere cool. But time can’t be stopped and change is inevitable. A few years ago Denton suddenly started getting national and international attention for being a groovy oasis of great musical talent. Even the Dallas and Ft. Worth newspapers and street zines began to credit the Denton music scene with being the most influential in all of North Texas. Now the “hipsters” have taken over. In fact, the musicians in one of the town’s most popular and far-reaching bands, Midlake, have now transformed themselves into successful local entrepreneurs, opening trendy dining and drinking spots all over downtown. The whole point of our city center has become a non-stop topic of debate, as gentrification gobbles up authenticity everywhere one looks. Even a movie star has relocated to Denton because the town’s buzz is so strong. But, ironically, as one music venue after another bites the dust, the reason for all of the noise is starting to fade. In some ways we’re not so special. Groovy little art and music scenes are popping up in every town these days. Lots of musicians and lots more wannabes go with every territory. Everyone’s got something to say, so why not say it with melody and rhythm. Jeez! We’re trapped in a damn epidemic of self-expression and no relief is in sight. But that’s okay because, as it turns out, I don’t own the world and, believe it or not, I may not be the smartest person who ever lived. So I can’t really tell others how to spend their time or how to think. And I don’t really want that kind of control. I just want to be able to drive from my house to my office, and then find a convenient parking space, without having to endure so many obstacles (construction, traffic, bicycles, Pokemon players, giant carnivorous worms with teeth, black holes, etc.). To be fair, there’s not much traffic congestion after 2 AM, so why should any of this matter to me?

Let me leave you with one of my favorite things right now. It’s a song by Romanian singer, Mirela Petrean called, “Am Plecat Candva Pe Jos.” It’s a little long and there are a few rough music edits, but I can’t stop listening to it. Click and dig! And then get on with enjoying your life. Hope to see your happy polka faces soon!