Volume 17 – #10 – October 2014

When Our first drummer, Lisa (formerly, Dave) Cameron decided to leave Brave Combo in 1983 to move to Austin and join Roky Erickson’s new band, my friend, Steve Carter, suggested we check out the enthusiastic kid playing with the local fusion band, Unicorn (I’m pretty sure that was the band). His name was, and still is, Mitch Marine. I sorta remember his audition. He was really loud and crisp and precise. He had a lot of snap and confidence. Within the year, our first horn player, Tim, decided to leave to become the new laser guy at a planetarium in Houston. That’s when Jeff came on board. A year later, Lyle, our first bassist, got serious about life and Bubba Hernandez joined the band. This line-up became, for many fans, the REAL Brave Combo. And the four of us did a lot of everything. The mid-1980s to the mid-1990s were pretty magical. So much stuff happened. We started a 20-year relationship with Rounder Records, played (and drove) all over the USA again and again, got lots of major media attention, made our first trips to Europe, became minor stars in Japan and, generally, did all the things an up-and-coming underground band might do. When Mitch left in 1993 (or was it ’94?), the sound and, to some degree, focus of the band changed forever. The age of the four-piece, bombastic, constantly fast and loud Combo was over. Bubba continued with us for another ten years, before succumbing to the get-me-out-of-here syndrome, during which time we broke into the hard-core polka world, won two Grammys, toured like crazy, and heard our music pop up everywhere, it seemed. Bubba said adios in 2004 (or was it 2005?) to start a band, Los Super Vatos, with one of the members of the massively popular Tejano group, La Mafia. He later formed Polka Freakout with accordion wizard, Alex Meixner, which produced a Grammy-nominated album. These days, Bubba splits his time between music and massage, since becoming a registered therapist. I have to say, I did not see that career move coming, although he and I did talk about neck, shoulder and back pain a lot while we were rocking the polka together. And, as many of you know, Mitch has gone on to play with myriad artists, including Terence Simeon, Tripping Daisy, Billy Goat, Smash Mouth, Andy Timmons, Jack Ingram (as bassist) and Dwight Yoakum, with whom he continues to fly “private jet style” to this day. The reason I’m taking you on this walk down memory lane is that, as part of our on-going recognition of Brave Combo’s 35th year, Mitch, Bubba, Jeff and I will be reuniting for three special shows in December, specifically the 18th (Denton), 19th (Dallas) and 20th (Ft. Worth). We will be playing all the old hits, the way we used to play them, I guess. Make your plans now! Think about the deep grooves, the sexy vocals, the sparkling harmonies, the break-neck tempos and, of course, the witty banter! This is guaranteed fun! For the four of us, at least! I plan to do a lot of laughing.

Speaking of Brave Combo, did you know we have a new live album out? It’s called LIVE AT BLOB’S PARK and it’s a very good documentation of what one might hear at a current Brave Combo show. The old German dance hall at Blob’s Park (between Baltimore and Washington D.C.) was torn down a few months ago and we were one of the last bands to perform on its groovy stage before it was leveled. Anyway, we will be having a big ol’ album release party at Fred’s, in Ft. Worth, on Friday, November 7 and will be selling the brand new, securely shrink-wrapped, compact discs for a special “let’s party” price. Ft. Worth is a good town. Come and check it out and end your fantastic day of sight-seeing with a down-home Brave Combo dance concert. You know, kick back. Then get up and dance a little. Then kick back again and drag yourself up to dance again Then kick back again, and so on.

Chardon Polka Band and Brave Combo

Speaking of new recordings, something even fresher than LIVE AT BLOB’S PARK is in the works and should be ready for human consumption by the holidays. It’s all mastered and sequenced and wrapped up in a cozy blanket. Artwork is next. The still untitled album is a strange collection of fourteen songs, nine of which are original compositions. I would say the word “variety” applies here. Surprised? Excited?

While we were at the Tulsa Oktoberfest, we got to meet and hang out with members of the Ohio group, The Chardon Polka Band. They are the stars of a soon-to-premier reality show about life with a family polka band. We wish them (and polka) all the best as they begin what is bound to be a bizarre journey. I don’t know the show’s title, yet, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find, once it starts airing.

Bacon, the Pig

A pig, named Bacon, often rooted around the yard at Echolab, the studio in Argyle, Texas, where we just recorded the new album. He would trot over to me when I called his name. Here’s a picture of me scratching his head.

Well, there you have it; another fun-and-fact-filled edition of The Machine’s Pump. You can take a deep breath now. Stay vigilant. Keep your eyes open for ISIS and Ebola, of course. Don’t let your guard down for even a second. Hell, an ISIS from Ebola might just move in next door if you’re not careful. It’s probably best to spray your yard with garlic dressing and stay inside for awhile. That way you don’t have to worry about your car’s air bag canister showering you with shrapnel or other people texting while they’re driving. And, by the way, look out for Americans with guns, while you’re avoiding other bad stuff. Party!