The Machine’s Pump Volume 27 – #9 – September 2024

How’s everyone doing? Tensions are a little high, huh? I think we all feel sorta trapped, with our lives in someone else’s hands, and potentially less control over our future and a reality of dwindling freedoms. Some of the anxiety is due to those doing “God’s work.” That’s dark stuff. Taliban dark! And seeing so many Christians duped into acting so anti-Jesus, in the name of Jesus, should be comical. But it’s not. One gets the feeling, as well, those folks would be happy to do away with all music except for Modern Country, Contemporary Christian, and Kidd Rock. Lee Greenwood fits two of those categories. That qualifies him to be a partner in a scheme to sell cheap Bibles for a lot of money to gullible angry Americans. “Praise The Lord!” Damn, it’s embarrassing to be human sometime. But it’s probably just me. I’ll tell you what is hilarious, though. Why are the super Christians so pistol-packing scared all the time when their savior and leader told them to chill out and be examples of happiness and contentment, due to their steadfast faith? They’re all going to heaven, right? So, why are they so worked up about the stupid stuff happening on Earth? Maybe they’re all just constantly scared and insecure because things change and evolution happens. And angry that others, who are just trying to enjoy living, are not constantly scared and insecure. We’ll see what happens, huh?

Not speaking of anything along those lines, Brave Combo, once again finds itself right in the middle of polka season and most of the events are the Oktoberfest variety. They are popping up all over these days, especially in smaller cities and towns. We dig of the smaller ones quite a bit. Simple fun. The really big ones, which are usually located in larger cities, have been around for years, if not decades. Many of the big Oktoberfests strive to create a carnival/theme park feel, with lots of nonstop noise and goofiness and resemble, more and more, giant hectic sports bars, full of big-screen TVs and young frat boys. Unfortunately, once it gets dark, those polka parties turn into no more than a bunch of drunks, yelling and screaming. This is unique to the big-ass Oktoberfests, compared to the smaller ones or, say, a Polish-American polka festival or a Czech-American polka festival, or whatever else. Music is definitely the headliner at any other polka-geared gathering, but at the big Oktoberfests, beer is the absolutely the headliner. The bands tell you to drink, the hosts tell you to drink, the announcers tell you to drink and there are games, like the one which involves holding a full stein of beer straight out. And, oddly enough, there’s generally, not much dance space, encouraging the audience to stay seated and drink, unless they’re enticed into some group experience like “The Chicken Dance.” One more thing, most of the really big Oktoberfests are now city-run or corporate affairs, where bands are considered just vendors and the contracts are insane. Did you know if a stage light or something falls on one of us, while we’re performing, we can’t hold the promoters or the city or anyone at that end responsible. Contracts state as much. Bands must buy their own insurance now for almost any large-scale concert. Just thought you might like that little glimpse into the fabulous world of modern entertainment. And one unfortunate thing which does, unjustifiably, continue to hang around the neck of German-heritage celebrations, like Oktoberfests, is the that ol’ pesky Hitler connection. In fact, all polka music, to some degree battles that misconception. Of course, this isn’t fair. We’ve never seen anything racist at any polka festival. None-the-less, I often wonder if there can ever be a polka get-together that is not attached to some sort of cultural/heritage thing. I’m always there, no matter what it is, just for the music. Not even the comradery. I don’t eat meat and might drink a maximum of two beers during a 3-hour show. As well, Brave Combo won’t dress up in “appropriate” costumes at any of these things. That’s our way of drawing attention back to the music. A little protest, perhaps. I think it’s great if someone wants to honor their ancestors on occasion and pretend they’re in the “old country,” but that’s not why I’m there. Unfortunately, most of the general public can’t separate polka from heritage celebrations and that keeps the myriad polka styles in a sort of tribal pride trap. That attitude provides for a once-a-year party, but keeps polka music strictly outside the realm of pop/mainstream music the rest of the year. Those who protect the music too much wind up strangling it, over and over. This has all been, and continues to be, an interesting challenge; one that has felt very lonely, at times, as we’ve tried to liberate polka music from the chains of culture and novelty. Whatever, I know what’s real for me and that’s what I’ve always tried to project and interpret, for the audience; how polka music sounds to my ears and brain. And, as a band, Brave Combo can only play with passion and conviction. That’s all we know. It’s pointless, otherwise, and we truly believe in the power of music and the concept of music for music’s sake. Forget the bratwurst, bacon-laden sauerkraut, craft brews, grandparents’ clothes and, for sure, big tvs showing football or sports highlights. I’m not against any of that, except the meat, of course. I just don’t want those “attachments” to define or get in the way of the music. Does this make any sense? Maybe not. As I said, it’s a lonely struggle.

But, in this never-perfect world, Brave Combo looks at any opportunity to play as a chance to inflict our warped view of organized sound on those who already get it and the unsuspecting, alike. The band sounds fantastic right now, if we do say so ourselves. We’ve been rehearsing a lot and, in my humble opinion, our vibe is rocking. New, fresh songs, as well as beloved BC standards. Anywhere we are invited to play is important to us because it’s our chance to spread the word, whatever that is. So please check our itinerary and make your plans to join our struggle and show up, wherever we are attempting to influence the narrative. You will have a blast and, go away, changed for the better. Or not. At the very least, you may go away happy…because you’re not us! Ha-ha! Let’s polka!

Right in the middle of this polka madness is the spectacular Denton Arts and Jazz Festival. We play on Sunday, October 6th. It’s an annual homecoming for many long-time Brave Combo fans and worth a trip to the town where we were born. But do not move here! When the festival is over you have to go home. Denton reminds me of a disturbed fire ant mound these days. And with that closing thought, I’ll say adios, for now.