Hello from Milwaukee

[Polkasound]

Hi everyone, and welcome to the new forum!

Creating music is something that I've always enjoyed. I first starting dabbling with it in middle school, recording zany songs in the vein of Weird Al Yankovic. Some songs were pop, some were polka. I released my first album in 1989 at age 19, and have since released over 30 albums, EPs, and singles. I'm credited on over 85 recording projects to date, either as a performer, engineer, or producer, and have written over 80 songs.

In 2013, I converted my outboard-based recording studio using MIDI sound modules into a DAW-based studio using virtual instruments. The combination of computer-based recording and virtual instruments unleashed my potential as a music creator like never before, which in turn, prompted me to really explore my potential as a lyricist.

Today, I write, produce, and release music in many different genres, but my main gig is as a performing musician in the polka-variety music circuit, mainly around Southeastern Wisconsin. I play roughly 125 events a year.

I can't wait for this new forum to gain traction and prosper. I look forward to meeting lots of interesting new people here!

Tom

 

[Double Helix]

. . . Today, I write, produce, and release music in many different genres, but my main gig is as a performing musician in the polka-variety music circuit, mainly around Southeastern Wisconsin. I play roughly 125 events a year.

Curious whether you provide your own PA for the live events, or do you usually use the house system?

 

[Polkasound]

Curious whether you provide your own PA for the live events, or do you usually use the house system?

For 97% of the events we play, there is no house system, so I bring my own PA gear. I have various sized speakers and amps to choose from, so I'll put together the right-sized system for the venue. But now and then we'll play at a larger outdoor event or indoor venue where they've either hired a sound company or are running their own sound.

 

[proggermusic]

I apologize for this obligatory reference, but I'm almost exactly the same age as Macauly Culkin so unfortunately I have no choice.

(...I'm sure you get this a lot.)

(...RIP, Gus Polinski.)

 

[Polkasound]

(...I'm sure you get this a lot.)

Apology accepted, LOL. Outside of the polka circuit, the general public's only exposure to polka music has typically been Lawrence Welk, the Schmenge Brothers, the Home Alone reference above, and the World News Polka. So when we play events attended by the general public, these references come up almost as often as requests for "Roll Out the Barrel." But at events held for and attended by polka fans, these references are never uttered, and no band ever plays "Roll Out the Barrel."

 

[jehovahlicious]

My grandfather liked Frankie Yankovic and Lawrence Welk, I have a couple of his old records. And I definitely grew up listening to the other Yankovic. That is most of my exposure to polka. I did listen to a good bit of your friend that passed, that you posted about a year or so ago. I enjoyed it!

 

[kgdrum]

My left field exposure that introduced me to the Polka was in the late 70’s while I was in college at UNT. Some friends of mine were playing in the Brave Combo, I guess it was actually alternative-Polka,fun times!

 

[psilsbee]

... and no band ever plays "Roll Out the Barrel."

My left field exposure that introduced me to the Polka was in the late 70’s while I was in college at UNT. Some friends of mine were playing in the Brave Combo, I guess it was actually alternative-Polka,fun times!

Brave Combo was (is?) a lot of fun, and, for the record, they regularly played "Roll Out the Barrel." But they did always have a bit of a satirical bent so maybe it doesn't count. Speaking of left field, when I was growing up, for some reason my parents had an LP called "Polka Party" and of course ROTB was featured on it. The cover was a photo of dancers, with brightly colored dresses covered in, well, polka dots, of course.

 

[proggermusic]

My left field exposure that introduced me to the Polka was in the late 70’s while I was in college at UNT. Some friends of mine were playing in the Brave Combo, I guess it was actually alternative-Polka,fun times!

Well hey, the first record I ever led/produced was at Eric Delegard's studio, which had nice shiny Grammy awards from those Brave Combo records! Damn fun band, they always turned the Denton Arts and Jazz Fest into a party.

 

[Polkasound]

Brave Combo is a great band. Their creativity and musicianship has earned the respect of top musicians in the polka circuit, myself included, but they're not actually a polka band in the polka circuit. They are more of a progressive-alternative-polka-fusion-variety band, which is too "novelty" for the traditional polka circuit, but appeals more to general audiences.

A novelty polka band is one takes elements of traditional polka music and warps/reinvents them to appeal to non-polka crowds. [For example, playing Roll Out the Barrel at 150 BPM with distorted guitars, or playing a modern pop song with a tuba and accordion.] As a result, novelty polka bands appeal to general audiences, but not so much to traditional polka dancers and listeners. Likewise, a traditional polka band fits perfectly in the polka circuit, but will never appeal to general audiences as well as a novelty polka band.

My band plays a lot of events for general audiences, so we do have to play songs like Roll Out the Barrel, She's Too Fat for Me, and Pennsylvania Polka. We just smile our way through them. But most of us bands in the traditional polka circuit love playing actual polka events where we don't have to touch any of those "general public" songs.

 

[Mike Greene]

Snobs!

It reminds of blues bands, where you're not going to hear them play Mustang Sally. (Great song, mind you, but if I hear that one, there's a good chance Brick House is next.)

 

[kgdrum]

Brave Combo is a great band. Their creativity and musicianship has earned the respect of top musicians in the polka circuit, myself included, but they're not actually a polka band in the polka circuit. They are more of a progressive-alternative-polka-fusion-variety band, which is too "novelty" for the traditional polka circuit, but appeals more to general audiences.

A novelty polka band is one takes elements of traditional polka music and warps/reinvents them to appeal to non-polka crowds. [For example, playing Roll Out the Barrel at 150 BPM with distorted guitars, or playing a modern pop song with a tuba and accordion.] As a result, novelty polka bands appeal to general audiences, but not so much to traditional polka dancers and listeners. Likewise, a traditional polka band fits perfectly in the polka circuit, but will never appeal to general audiences as well as a novelty polka band.

My band plays a lot of events for general audiences, so we do have to play songs like Roll Out the Barrel, She's Too Fat for Me, and Pennsylvania Polka. We just smile our way through them. But most of us bands in the traditional polka circuit love playing actual polka events where we don't have to touch any of those "general public" songs.

I agree that’s why I said : alternative-Polka
& yes as Mike said we actually spotted a Polka snob! I never knew that was even possible! lol