Volume 7 – #2 – February 2004

Okay, we’re solidly into 2004 and there are many topics worthy of comment. First of all, I believe this will be a very important year for Brave Combo. It’s our 25th, you know, and a good time for reflecting and looking forward. If everything falls together as it’s supposed to, we’ll be busy and productive, releasing two or maybe even three new CDs. Does this fill your heart with joy or are you thinking, “My life is so cluttered already. I don’t have time for that much Brave Combo music!” If that’s the case, don’t worry about it. Take what you can bear. All I know is I’m ready to crank out as much as possible; not for quantity’s sake, but because the opportunity is there. I hope to release our ultimate polka statement, POLKA’S REVENGE, by mid-summer. Also, last year at Westfest we recorded the happy mayhem and would like to have LIVE AT WESTFEST ready by this year’s polka bash (Labor Day weekend). Lastly, the HOLIDAYS collection we’ve been creating at TM Century in Dallas should be available in a cool package by September (check the front page of our web site to hear some of our rough-mix efforts). In addition to recording, we’ll, of course, tour all over this great land (and maybe a little outside this great land). I must, once and for all, learn to prioritize. For some reason when it’s time to do something really important I have an urge to clean out that drawer I haven’t opened in six months. However challenging the year will be, it should be fun as well. I just love truck stops and airport terminals. Don’t you?

So, speaking of myriad topics, what about that Janet and Justin deal? Does anymore need to be said? Has every angle been covered? All I know is, I’m for anything that stifles the weird music those people make. Oh, those disgusting, know-it-all, young pop stars. We’re letting them screw up the radio and television and they have way too much influence on the stupid kids of the world. Now when I say “stupid” kids I’m not talking about the smart kids. The smart kids can obviously think for themselves and won’t be sucked in by the vacuous noodlings that Janet and Justin and the rest of their ilk thrust upon us. For what it’s worth, I’m also for anything that limits the mean-spirited, win-at-any-cost attitude of big time sports and the television ads that support them. You know what? The Super Bowl and its commercials deserve the halftime show it got and no one should be shocked by any of it. For what it’s worth, we are a “wings-chomping-at Hooters, Iraqi-killing” country. And we’re damn proud about how sexy we make it all seem. Hooray for in-your-face sensationalism. Wow, that’s about the most judgmental paragraph I’ve ever written. Oh well, at least almost everyone finally agrees that Janet and Justin are idiots.

On the other end of the spectrum are The Beatles, who many people would argue also contributed greatly to the demise of culture by corrupting youth and dictating dangerous style trends. Whatever, they’ve been in the news again because they invaded the USA and the rest of the world 40 years ago by appearing on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW. I was in grade school at the time and I wanted to be like them. Almost all young, aspiring musicians wanted to be like The Beatles in one way or another. They looked groovy. Their music was cool. Fans went berserk over every little thing they did or said. They were the first people to set foot on the moon. They owned all of the ice cream stores in the world and dated solid gold female robots. And their hair led to the downfall of Communism. My friend, Cary Patterson, had a Beatle’s wig. It looked really good on him. I wanted one, but decided to just grow out my own hair. By the time I was in high school, I was making regular visits to the principal’s office because of my long hair. I was a Texarkana bad ass.

In case you haven’t noticed this is not just BC’s silver anniversary, it’s also an election year and there are lots of issues to debate. One of the powder kegs is same sex marriage. My only objection to this is that it’s a boring subject. I wish everyone happiness and I hope Gays get what they want, but I’m tired of hearing about it. I have no opinion about this at all, except that any situation that produces fewer humans can’t be all bad. Actually, you can marry yourself as far as I’m concerned. I know there’s legal stuff to work out, but this seems like a good time to practice the “live and let live” idea. Besides, most gay people I know take pet care seriously. I would love to see a new television show about a gay animal rights activist and his/her partner. And there would be no reference to sex at all, except for the occasional pregnant cat or dog.

Okay, I’m 99 % confidant saying this. Brave Combo will be on THE SIMPSONS. The scheduled airdate is March 21 and the title of the episode is “Co-Dependents Day.” We will appear as a polka band at an Oktoberfest playing our own music. I’m told that our segment is brief and we’re in the background. Set your VCRs so you can go back and pause and stare. To say the least, we’re thrilled and in shock over this. Let’s see, first I was sent to the principal’s office for having long hair, then I discovered polkas, then Brave Combo won a Grammy and now we’re on THE SIMPSONS. What next?

Speaking of next, who knows what the future holds? As I look over the history of Brave Combo, it’s an interesting parade of stages. Stage 1. Lyle, Tim, Dave and myself were dorky, naïve and innocent. We didn’t know anything really and we had no expectations. Stage 2. After four years, Mitch replaced Dave, Jeff replaced Tim and Bubba replaced Lyle and for ten years we experienced what many people feel was Brave Combo’s golden period. We were picked up by Rounder Records; we toured the USA, Europe and Japan. We were optimistic, but also became wise and practical. Stage 3. Mitch left and Joe and Phil joined. This was our “serious about the groove” period and we had fun, fun, fun. We finally learned how to really play the subtle stuff. Also, we started touring more on our terms. We felt grown-up. Stage 4. Danny came on board, Phil left, Alan came on board, Alan left, Greg came on board, Greg left, Alan came back, Joe left, Bonnie came on board and we shifted our focus to melody and harmony and put the emphasis back on polkas, eventually winning the Grammy. Stage 5. The band settled into the line-up that exists today. We’re finally jaded and burned out. This is a job. We’re careful about everything now. Very little is left up to chance. There must be a good reason for any move we make. We all want more time away from Brave Combo to live our lives and that’s okay. But it obviously makes me wonder what shape this little mini orchestra will take next. I think we’ve done a good job of reinventing ourselves, yet remaining the same over the years. And since the buck stops right here, with me, I’m making myself excited about what will happen after 2004. Maybe it will be sparkly and new, as if there was no history at all. I feel my energy building and, perhaps, some innocence returning. I’ve always tried to put the primary emphasis in Brave Combo on the performance of music. I really do believe in the magic of organizing the elements of sound and I’m hearing something in my head I want to explore. Brave Combo learned how to derive strength from being vulnerable. And we were only able to do this because we trusted the power of music, especially within the context of the Brave Combo concept that everything is hip and nothing is hip. “Ow! Don’t worry about it, Baby! Get up offa that thing and do the popcorn!” Come out and watch us evolve. 2004 feels like 1978.