Volume 3 – #3 – March 2000

Wow! Uh, don’t know what to say. Brave Combo won a Grammy for best polka album of 1999. When I started the band in 1979, I just wanted to play polkas for people that didn’t know they liked polkas. I never thought we would actually reach a legitimate level of acceptance. But I guess we did. We didn’t expect this and I still don’t know what to make of it. Basically, we got the most votes in our category. This blows my mind. I’m not big on competitions and popularity contests, but this will be a very good thing for Brave Combo. At least for a few months our profile will be much higher. I think we’ll be viewed as a band that really has it together. And since the entertainment world is all about creating and maintaining illusions, feel free to imagine how cool and on top of things we are. The only drag about this, is that we were short on time before. Now we’re totally out. The ideas and possibilities are flooding over us and the calendar is filling up fast. Speaking of calendars, I’ve noticed that there aren’t enough Saturdays in the week. Everybody’s first choice is Saturday. It’s the best day for performing. People are more likely to go out on Saturday. At one point, a Saturday in April had five possible gigs penciled in. Should we play in Tampa or St. Louis or Austin or Chicago or Taos? Oh, my God. This Grammy thing is still blowing my mind. I’m glad we won for an album named POLKASONIC, searing its way into your skull and getting under your skin like an incurable disease, permeating your moods and daily routines. The word perfectly describes how I see polka’s place in the future as the most modern, relevant, life-supporting, explosive, enlightening music on the planet. More and more musicians will want to harness the power of polka and interpret it their own way. The fact that it’s been misunderstood by the masses for so long makes this journey that much more exciting. This is so weird. As you probably know, Bubba actually attended the ceremony in Los Angeles and picked up the award for us. Below you will find a report from him. We have heard from so many friends and fans and we truly appreciate the support. Thanks for the calls and cards and emails and faxes and flowers and balloons and champagne. Okay enough about Grammy stuff and “polka is everything” stuff.

I’ll segue directly into another important matter. Take care of your pets. Jane and I are fostering a beautiful, solid black Pomeranian that she found wandering around a big parking lot. We’ve named her “Dot” for now, but she can’t stay with us forever. She’s too interested in chasing our cats. Poor Biscuits has been traumatized by Dot’s presence. Whatever, we’re used to our house being a dog and cat house, so we’ll handle it. But, please, if you have pets, be responsible. Give them attention as well as fresh food and clean water. Give them a secure, comfortable place to sleep. Don’t give them any opportunity to wander away. Of course, don’t ever dump them anywhere. They can’t take care of themselves. But they can feel fear and loneliness and hunger. And, in the words of Bob Barker, please spay and neuter. If this seems like a public service announcement, it is. Think of your pets as your totally helpless, completely dependent little friends. Love them and they’ll love you back, sort of. Our cat, Patty shows her affection by biting us . . hard. We’ve developed quick reflexes because of her. She’s getting old. We don’t know exactly how old. She just showed up at our front door about ten years ago and she was old then, and fat. Now her floppy, loose skin dangles and sways as she runs from that Pomeranian I mentioned earlier. Our two big dogs, Freckles and Dudley are from East Texas. We found them on the same road a few years apart. Freckles was living in a drainage pipe at a roadside park, trying to eat ant-covered bread slices. She was very scared and not too healthy. She had a wound on her back that took a while to heal and she has teeth and gum problems that are probably the result of puppy distemper. We spend lots of money on her periodontal needs. But she’s the most obedient of all our animals. Dudley likes to hug people and we probably don’t discourage him enough. You might not enjoy a visit to our house. Some people sneeze and rub their eyes when they come over. This is fascinating information, I know. Someday I’ll bring you up to date on our other dog, Cookie. And, if you read the newsletter regularly, you’ll remember that our other cat, Biscuits, drools.

Did I mention that we won a Grammy? We each get one. They arrive next month. I wonder what Alan will do with his? Jeff’s wife, Gina, will put the most effort in proper displaying. Danny’s mother will probably faint when she sees his.

So, it’s time to release a new album on Rounder Records. It’s called THE PROCESS and will be available March 21. This is our pop/commercial attempt. We hope you like it. We’re already playing several songs from the CD, including, “Golden Opportunity,” “Human,” “So Rich,” “Nothing Earthly” and “Denton, Texas.” We’ve also included a remix of “Why, Oh Why,” from POLKASONIC. Maybe polka can be pop. Doesn’t sound too far-fetched to me. Significant radio airplay with this would be nice. Wish us luck.

More recording news: We have finished about half of the work on our new children’s album and we’re very pleased with it so far. I hope kids like it. We didn’t use any bad words yet and there will be nothing about bodily functions on it. Man, are we radical. Also, we have recorded a tejano version of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” to be played at the Texas Ranger games and beyond. I’m not a sports fan at all, but the basic tracks on this sound great. I like it a lot. Jeff’s excited because the song is about baseball. Did you know we sponsor a little league team? More about all of these things later.

March and April find us playing many, many shows. Please check our itinerary and come out often. We’ll do our best to shake you up and freak you out, in a good way, of course. Till next month, think polka!
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Live and Freaking (at the Grammy Awards)

Hi, I guess you saw the snap shot on TV. If you didn’t, you must have sneezed. But, the fraction of a minute was a moment; loaded with disbelief, euphoria, delirium and a hell of a lot of responsibility.

No, I didn’t know or think that we were going to win. My companion said in a sing song tone, “one more page” (in reference to the program). “Don’t even…..,” I replied. “Let’s just be glad we’re together and having a good time.” Right before the polka category I felt a flinch. “Stop it!” I motioned.

“The nominees for Best Polka Album Are……………..and the Grammy goes to…………..” crumple…………crumple crumple. I rolled my eyes back in “don’t hold your breath” sort of way. Then I jumped almost as if I’d come across a rattlesnake. The program flew in the air from surprise. I ran & skipped onto the wrong side of the stage almost bumping into a backdrop at house left.

I’m sure a lot of influential people were watching this but, I was too mentally lost to care. I didn’t even realize that it was Emmylou Harris presenting the award till about a week later. Shoot, I may have even taken a photo with her backstage. So, if anyone knows her, please tell here thanks and let’s sing sometime. (And if there is a photo, I’d love a copy.)

Okay, I sort of had a couple of ideas about what I would say if there was a chance: something about the power of the groove, or the melodic & harmonic intricacies which vanished away long before the moment of impact. What came out of my mouth in the middle of euphoria & delirium, was what Carl had been saying recently on stage: “P.O.L.K.A……..polka what a beautiful word.” In summary I added, “deejays play it!” That’s just what came out naturally: loud, bold, clear and with more commitment than anything I may have ever said in my life.

Polka lovers, there was a bit of a rise in the room and a bit of attention. You could feel it. The message rang the room. It has got to be in the subconscious of everyone present. Not a big blunt image like Ricky Martin or Kid Rock, but a subtle seed. What followed was what I guess is called a “media blitz.” I went off the side towards backstage. There were about ten photos taken with who knows who. Then, they took me to a waiting room. I was trembling. They suggested having a seat on the couch and some bottled water. Good thing because, it was mentioned that there would be about 20 minutes of interviews. Oh, kitty litter, responsibility rears its ugly head. I thought they’d just whisk me out the door and back to my seat.

There were four rooms: live Internet, television, print and photo. The live Internet correspondent was very cordial and asked about the future of polka, Brave Combo, and what this meant for the category. The television folks didn’t seem as interested but, I professed anyway. Someone eventually asked a question. The press was a little more interested and asked about five or six questions. A lady from Billboard magazine followed asking questions at length while we hurried to the next room.

The photo room had bleachers about five to seven benches high with about thirty photographers. “You don’t look like you play polkas,” someone said as they flashed enough lights to intimidate Cindy Crawford.

When the interrogation was over, I immediately called the band and mentioned that I was not sure what I was saying to the media but, “congratulations anyway and see ya’ll in Omaha.” The band was obviously elated as well.

I’m not exactly sure what I said to whom in this cathartic delirium; I might feel safer to add a disclaimer. I know I talked of the validity of polka and that it is a wide open genre. When it is played with a vengeance it will rock your world. I asked that it not be misunderstood. The groove can be slow and funky at times or driving as any speed metal; and the contour of the melodic shapes-like a rollercoaster. In the hands of a skilled players it will blow your mind.

I believe I cited other polka artists, Polish, Slovenian and Mexican, and their polka power (nominees included). Adding that, Brave Combo would like to bridge the gaps between generations, between polka, pop, mainstream, rock and even within other polka styles: Polish, Czech, Slovenian, German, Tejano, Mexican, etc., etc., etc.

On the way back to my seat I was confronted by many well wishers. Many people were curious about polka music. One inquirer (a nominee) had never even heard of the word. One rapper deejay kind of guy (a total homey) shouted back the message that was delivered on stage and said he was going to look for some polka when he got back to NYC. There was even a “congratulations on your Grammy Award” from Gloria Estefan as she was passing by.

In closing, I would like to thank all that have supported us and the other nominees: Eddie, Walter, John, Jimmy and their fabulous bands. They’re incredible and understanding. And, if not for them and many others that should have a little statue as well (too many to name and I don’t want to leave anyone out), we wouldn’t be. I also would like to thank my “date”, my brother Ricky, for all his influence. (Check out the Hammond organ on “My Tears Are Nothing” on The Process.)

…………..At the nominee party, I was sitting at a table. At the table on my left was Jaime De Anda of Los Chamacos, nominated for best Tejano album. At the table on my right was Eddie Blazonczyk I called them both and said, “Eddie, this is Jaime; he plays great accordion.” “Jaime, this is Eddie; he’s the king of Chicago push polkas.” Jaime says, “I play polkas!” Eddie says, “I once did a show in D.C. with a man named Tony De La Rosa from Corpus Christi……………………….”

Not the end,

Bubba Hernandez