Volume 12 – #11 – November 2009

It appears Brave Combo’s new BFF, Bob Dylan, is actually out there helping spread the BC word. In a recent interview he devoted a few sentences to crediting us for his new recording of “Must Be Santa.” In the same interview he also recommended our version of “Hey Jude (the cha cha version we recorded with Tiny Tim). And, the coolest thing is this. When we first recorded “Must Be Santa” almost 20 years ago, we knew that it would be fantastic as a rocking polka. It had all the right elements (proper structure, built-in tensions and release, great melody, etc). And, as a polka, we figured people couldn’t resist it. Over the decades, it remains one of our most popular songs, anytime of the year. Someone requests it at almost every performance. It’s the one Christmas song that’s on our “regular” list. You ought to see our irregular list. As I was saying, the coolest thing is that it’s a polka. We inspired Mr. Bob Dylan to record a polka. Now we’re getting somewhere. Anyway, if anyone doesn’t know what I’m talking about, Bob Dylan has a new Christmas album out and he’s included a quite faithful rendition of our arrangement of “Must Be Santa” and we don’t know what to think. This is Grammy and Simpson’s caliber stuff. OK, enough horn tooting for now. I need to give Bob a call and see where we’re having lunch tomorrow. I can’t remember if the restaurant is in Moscow or Oslo.

Speaking of Christmas weirdness, our new CD, CHRISTMAS PRESENT, is out and available and everything else. It’s a full-on live throw down with all the tinsel mixed in just right. Buy it and listen to it as loudly as you can stand. Impress the neighbors. I was watching an old episode of the once-popular TV sitcom, MY THREE SONS, the other night and Robbie and Katie loved their new neighbors until the neighbors started playing the stereo too loud. Jerry Mathers (Beaver Cleaver) played the neighbor/husband and was sporting a funky-looking mustache. So there! Buy our CD and meet the neighbors.

CARL’S FANTASY TWITTER REPORT
I’m embarrassed to say this, but I don’t twitter. I’m sorry. I don’t even meet or hang out with “friends” on Facebook. Again, I am really sorry. I’m also not likely to even go to coffee shops, cause I don’t like the taste of coffee. Shamefully sorry for that one. I do often run into old friends, in person, at gigs here and there from every phase of my life and get plenty of opportunity to catch up with the world. So please don’t worry about me being out of touch. However, I certainly understand the networking potential of these social sites and encourage the world to follow our adventures. Our drummer, Arjuna, is always busy keeping the news fresh and letting tweeters know what’s up. But, if I was going to share my most mundane moments with whomever, it could only go something like this.

11:00 – WOKE UP. TOO MUCH LAWN MOWER NOISE OUTSIDE. GEEZ, IT’S 11:00 AM! WHEN DO THESE PEOPLE SLEEP?!

11:30 – I’VE TURNED ON THE COMPUTER (FANFARE) AND AM CHECKING MY EMAILS.

11:35 – EDDY, OUR 20 LB. CAT JUST JUMPED UP ON THE DESK AND I PUT HIM IN MY LAP. HE’S A BITER. LOUD PURR!
11:50 – I JUST REALIZED THAT EDDY’S PURRING HYPNOTIZED ME FOR A FEW MINUTES BUT I’M BACK NOW.

12:05 – TAKING ONE OF OUR DOGS, AUGIE, FOR A WALK.

12:10 – AUGIE IS PEEING IN THE YARD OF A NEIGHBOR’S HOUSE A FEW DOORS DOWN US. NEIGHBOR DOESN’T MIND.

12:15 – NOW HE’S PEEING IN ANOTHER LOCATION.

12:20 – BACK HOME. AUGIE IS HUNGRY. HE NEEDS TO BE CLIPPED.

12:30 – FEEDING ALL THE DOGS.

12:35 – FEEDING ALL THE CATS. STACIE IS EATING TOO FAST.

12:40 – OUR BIG OLD DOG, DUDLEY WON’T LET AUGIE EAT.

12:45 – THE MAIL’S HERE!

12:46 – ALL WE GOT WAS CATALOGS AND CHARITY REQUESTS. IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

1:00 – JANE AND I HAVE ESCAPED AND WE’RE HAVING LUNCH AT MR. CHOPSTICKS. I’M EATING TOFU IN BLACK BEAN SAUCE AND SHE’S HAVING EDAMAME WITH BROWN RICE. WE’RE DRINKING ICED TEA. THE DAY IS DOWN HILL FROM HERE.

2:00 – STILL AT LUNCH. SHOULD HAVE LEFT 15 MINUTES AGO. AFRAID TO LEAVE AND GET BUSY.

2:15 – DRIVE-THRU AT THE BANK. CALLING MY MOTHER TO WAKE HER UP. NAPPING MAKES HER CONFUSED.

2:40 – AT THE BC OFFICE, CHECKING MESSAGES. JUST TWO, AN AUTOMATED RECORDING ABOUT GOOD INSURANCE RATES AND A WOMAN WANTS TO TAKE GUITAR LESSONS.

3:00 – I’M IN LINE AT THE POST OFFICE. A FEW PEOPLE ARE SMILING AT ME.

3:30 – I’M WALKING BACK TO THE BC OFFICE TO PUT MAIL IN EVERYONE’S BOXES. JUST WAVED TO FRENCHY, THE DENTON YARD KING.

3:31 – I’M UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO THE OFFICE AND AM GOING IN.

So, how did I do? That’s a typical first five hours of the day. Was I being thorough enough? Did the 1:00 posting have too many words? Whatever, now it’s time to get back to saving the world.

My good friend and fellow noise-maker, Mike Dillon, and I are dangerously close to finishing our album. We’re gonna get airplay on country AND western radio stations, both. Just thought you should know.

Brave Combo is being consumed by the glorious sounds of season. We have several tons of holiday shows lined up and if you’re having a hard time getting in the groove, we can definitely help. So, please come out and we’ll do our thing and you do yours and one and one will equal two.