Volume 4 – #12 – December 2001

I used to go to my Grandmother’s house almost every weekday afternoon when I was in grade school and early junior high. Sometimes I would go for lunch, too, and she would cook something for me to eat. One of my favorite dishes was potato pancakes, made from leftover mashed potatoes. They weren’t like the heavy, deep-fried German or Czech style. They were lightly pan-fried and still seemed like mashed potatoes on the inside. I loved ’em. Normally they accompanied some meat, like skillet steak. And I probably drank a Dr. Pepper with it. But, mainly, I took my lunch to school in a small brown paper bag. It was usually a cold cut sandwich and potato chips. I probably drank milk. A lot of these memories are gone, especially certain kinds of details. But some memories are indelible. I started buying 45 rpm records about the third or fourth grade and the bug bit me hard. My brother and I agreed to buy at least two records a week each. And we found places in Texarkana where you could pick up used 45s (from juke boxes) for 33 cents a piece. I would take my records to school occasionally and play DJ. I had all the hits, or at least the ones I liked. 45s turned me on. They were man’s perfect little creation. Two songs. Side A and Side B. In most cases, one side was the plug side; the important song. The other side was filler. When I was really young, I didn’t know the difference. I would listen to both sides equally. The Beatles almost always had back-to-back hits. I have so many vinyl records (45s and LPs) that if they all fell on me, it would kill me. That’s a funny thought…sort of.

RIGHT PLACE AT AN ODD TIME. Ten years ago we were in Osaka, Japan on December 7. That was the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. It felt weird. I’m not usually a particularly patriotic person, but at times, certain circumstances can bring out the homeland pride in me. Nothing over the top, really, just a unique kind of edge. A few journalists asked us what it was like being in Japan on that day, but I don’t remember what I said. I’m sure it was brilliant and appropriate. I do remember, however, a party that our promoters threw in our honor at a karaoke bar in Tokyo. We had a great time and I got an interesting gift; a wooden figure with a music box in the base that played “Anchors Aweigh.”

A lot of people have been very nice and supportive since the September 11 attacks, telling us how much our music means to them. We appreciate the encouragement our audience gives us as well. Of course, it gives us pleasure to think that we contribute positive energy to people’s lives, but it also shames me to tell you that our primary concern is our own happiness and we play music almost 100% for self gratification. We know how fortunate we are to be Brave Combo and make a living at it. So, the next time you come to one of our shows and you’re looking at us on stage, keep in mind that you/re looking at five pretty selfish guys. And I do mean “pretty.”

Speaking of how cool we are, we played a party in Boston recently for someone that works for the company that manages the band, Phish. During our last break, they (Phish) took the stage and played together for the first time in over a year. After the show Jeff and I went to Alan’s hotel room for a while. Then I went to my room and watched TV and talked on the phone. The night before, we had played in Lincoln, Nebraska and then drove to Kansas City to catch a 7 AM flight to Boston, but we made great time and got to the airport around 4 AM. So, we went to a Waffle House and played the jukebox. Waffle Houses are really bright. We decided to eat something while we listened to the jukebox. Cool as hell!

ANOTHER BEATLE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. George was the “world music” Beatle. May his strewn ashes help release him from the cycle of reincarnation?

Several people told me that the television program, ED, used our version of “The Christmas Song” in a recent episode. Rounder technically owns the rights to that particular recording and we do not have to be notified if someone is using a song from IT’S CHRISTMAS, MAN. They just work out the terms with Rounder and Rounder then pays us our portion of the usage fee. But very often we don’t know anything about what’s going on. That can be frustrating, but it’s also funny. I’m glad I think it’s funny, otherwise my perfectionist tendencies would try to figure out a way to control the situation more. And, you know, you can’t control everything. Sometimes you just have to submit to the flow and try to see the humor in it; like sitcoms. Most of the time you have to pretend they’re funny and imagine that in some upside down dimension out there, they really are funny.

JEFF’S FIRST GIG. When our first woodwind player, Tim Walsh, left the band in 1983, I couldn’t imagine how we would go on. He and I started Brave Combo and his presence defined the band as much as mine did. He stood in the middle of the stage, tall and very thin with afro-style hair, and wore groovy clothes. When he would freak out and get that polka high, we called him Timmy Hendrix. Anyway, he decided to buy a laser company and move to Houston. But Lyle Atkinson, our first bass player, knew the band could continue, so he went to Austin and found Jeff. On the way to our first gig with Jeff (a party in Dallas) we had a serious van accident and went to a hospital instead. By the way, Jeff worked out just fine.

Hey, we’re having a HOLIDAY POLKA FESTIVAL at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas on Friday, December 28. The fabulous Praha Brothers from Temple will open the show, followed by the stupendous Czech And Then Some from Ennis. Then we’ll take the stage and play even more polkas. All ages can come to this event. It’s a family affair. Bring your mean uncle and a second cousin you barely know.

Help us say goodbye to 2001 and send it a good riddance card. Poor ol’ 2001. Let’s put it out of it’s misery and try again. What do ya’ say, people of the world? On New Year’s Eve we will be at the Sokol Hall in Ft. Worth. Come on out. I think it’s okay to bring the kids to this one as well. Life is so good. So good, in fact, we’re taking January off. It’s time to reflect, relax and readjust. And just maybe I’ll look at part of this period as a vacation. I wish for every person that reads this, a holiday season that surpasses your expectations. Dwell on how good you have it. Love and peace to everyone.