Volume 6 – #4 – April 2003

Slam! Bam! Okay, let me get this straight. A couple of months ago, we (the USA) were worried about the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein was hiding in Iraq. So, with the help of England and a few other countries, we decided that it was time to invade this obvious threat and bring freedom to a suppressed people in the process. And we have proven that we can topple a much weaker regime in just a few days. This was a perfect opportunity to show any doubters the power and precision of our war technology. I think everyone in the world was at least impressed, if not eager to get back in bed with us. I’m sure every evil dictator is scared of the United States right now. Hell, everybody’s scared of the United States right now. Our soldiers fought systematically and cleanly. At least American casualties were low. Don’t get me wrong. I and everyone else on my block know that Saddam Hussein was a brutal and heartless enemy of humanity. He deserved to be dethroned, humiliated and eliminated by someone. And the videotape of jubilant Iraqis dragging that statue’s head around was pretty touching. But I will be a little uneasy until those weapons of mass destruction are found. First of all, I don’t want someone to lure me to his or her side by lying to me. That’s scary, Watergate-style conspiracy stuff. Secondly, I’m concerned that the USA will imagine sufficient reasons to invade another country. I mean, if this is the beginning of a worldwide sweep of rightness, I would like to know. It’s weird, we’re liberators and bullies at the same time. When things are this serious and affect so many lives I hope that the reasons are totally honorable. You know, I think that George Bush is probably a good person. I can’t imagine him ordering someone’s tongue cut off. But I also think that George Bush believes he’s right. And he has a lot of power. I really hope he turns to more than prayer and his advisors when the big decisions are made. What else is there, you ask? Well, perhaps one can turn to himself and examine his motives very truthfully. But what do I know? There could be some giant scorpion making it’s way to the earth’s surface and is expected to pop out at any minute. And it’s bigger than New Zealand and will be dripping with radiation and antifreeze and unsettled things. And its path is so unpredictable it’s best to not tell anyone, cause we would all panic. Or maybe Jesus is back and not everyone knows yet. Well, for what it’s worth, Osama Bin Laden couldn’t be all that thrilled with the way some of this is turning out.

Speaking of the way things turned out, and I’m not making light of the situation or a judgment call, but a boy in Denton was recently blinded and seriously injured when he was accidentally shot in the face by a frog he and his friends had loaded into a potato gun. No winners here.

And, speaking of Denton, The University of North Texas recently presented THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a play about a community’s reaction to the murder of Mathew Shepard, a young gay man. Some protestors from a Baptist church in Kansas showed up before a performance and picketed the play by shouting and holding signs that said, “Fags die, God laughs!” and “Matt, four years in Hell.” This is stupid enough, but can you imagine the conversations these people had as they were driving down from Kansas. Man, everyone’s doing something in the name of God: terrorists, presidents and even unwelcome visitors from Kansas. I wonder what God looks like.

Maybe I should discuss something I know about. Life is happy and full of wonderful surprises, like the new Brave Combo CD. That darn BOX OF GHOSTS is so close to birth the top of its head is showing. Is the anticipation killing you, or what? It’s been so long since we turned everything in, I’ve forgotten what the CD sounds like. But I remember liking it a lot. We can play two-thirds of it live and intend to spread the magic of the old masters all over the country the next several months. Check our itinerary. We will be busy, but energized. Rockin’ the polka like never before.

Speaking of polka, and I do often, a national organization known as the Polka Alliance is forming itself and hopes to be a positive musical force. Using the blueprint created by the National Bluegrass Association, Rounder Records leader, Ken Irwin, hopes to raise polka’s profile to new heights and he’s invited some influential polka people to help. It’s an interesting coincidence that, as Iraq tries to organize itself, so does the multifaceted world of polka. Cool, huh? We’ll see. Anyway, I’m on the image committee, which is appropriate I guess, but also kinda sad. I can barely dress myself. But I have to question what makes bluegrass, or blues, or zydeco or any other ethnic style “cooler” than polka? And all I can figure is that the public perceives all the other styles as coming from some wild place in the heart; deep and dangerous almost. But polka music is generally seen as shallow and safe; not a force to be reckoned with. Is it important to change this perception? Only if you want wider acceptance. There will always be a small group of people who insist that their choice of music must reflect their high moral values. And they feel strongly that polka music should promote “right” living. So people who don’t necessarily feel the same way might be put off by the “message” of polka music. Therefore, I propose, in an attempt to alter polka’s reputation without upsetting the more conservative polka element, that we declare a ban on lyrics in polkas for a period of ten years. That would be radical. A concerned community adheres to a self-imposed censoring, basically telling itself to shut up, for the greater cause. The alternative, if you want wider recognition and respect, is to accept that polkas can be about anything, from the worst humans can conjure up to the best. And they can be about nothing but music, which is good enough. This organization should be as concerned about liberating a musical style as it is promoting a musical style.

On the lighter side, we recently recorded a Cinco de Mayo song for TM Century, a national radio service based in Dallas. It could show up in any radio market in the country, so if you hear a band that sounds suspiciously like Brave Combo singing about May 5, especially during the morning drive time shows, it probably is. And if you do hear it, call all of your friends and have them call the station to request it. It’s a simple formula; overwhelming public response equals a hit. By the way, we’re calling the song, “Cinco de Mayo.”

Also, I’ve been hired to compose and record the theme song for a new national PBS children’s program, called, BARK PARK PLACE. It will be produced out of Kansas City and should be on the air by early next year. The focus of the show will be literacy and the host will be Wally Amos (Famous Amos Cookies guy). Exciting and fun. More on this as it develops.

So, as we trudge bravely into the future toward our unknown fate, I bid you all a pleasant spring. Think for yourself, keep your eyes open when you’re awake and close them when you sleep. This is the dawning of the Age of Aquarius….no, it’s not. Who knows what it is? Adios, beautiful bambinos.