Author Archives: admin

it’s never too early…

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I am the ever so proud Godmother and Great Auntie (I prefer Awesome Auntie–doesn’t sound quite so Miss. Havishamish) of little Cade Anthony Lamy. He joined the world on October 2, 2010 at 6:03 in the evening in the magical city of New Orleans. Not only is he beautiful but he’s got the biggest hands for an infant I’ve ever seen. His long and agile fingers will one day navigate the accordion buttons as fluidly as if they belonged to Frankie Yankovic himself. Seriously…this kid has skills, and he’s only twelve days old.

And on his fifth birthday his Godmother and Awesome Auntie Karen will be presenting him with his very own kid’s accordion, along with his own copy of “Squeeze,” an educational children’s book by Dale Wise touting the wonderful world of the squeezebox. Trust me, Cade, you’ll be the hippest kid in your kindergarten class.

If you have your own little mini Franki Yankovic out there, you might want to check out this Web site. Dale Wise, Virginia’s own accordion evangelist, has a fabulous program that introduces the accordion to kids ages 7 – 12. You know, at one time every 12-year-old kid from Long Island to Milwaukee played the accordion and he didn’t have to go to the prom with his sister. He was cool! Dale Wise wants to make playing the accordion cool again and so do I. So check out his program.

And check out little Cade to the right, dancing the Flamenco on his first night home. Not only will he be able to play the accordion, he’ll be able to do a little folk dance to accompany the tunes. Kids and accordions rock!

If Tom Waits thinks it’s cool…it’s cool.

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I can’t think of a better ambassador of cool than Tom Waits. And if he thinks the accordion rocks…well then, enough said.

This post is for my friend Andy who not only exposed me to Waits’ awesomeness, but also suggested him as the ideal subject of a blog designed to restore the accordion to its former glory–a fine idea, Andy.

Check out this performance of Tom on the David Letterman Show where he is being accompanied by accordion as he sings his song Time. I love this song. I think I’ll have to learn how to play it now.

My hood…and other things that make me a happy lucky girl

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I worked some long, exhausting hours this past week and I was one tired puppy come Friday night. Part of me wanted to just flop in bed…at 7pm! But the other part (the smart part) knew that Happy Lucky Combo was performing just down the street at Elwood’s Coffee–luckily, the smart part prevailed. I whipped up a quick dinner (turkey deli meat rolled up with a slice of cheese and chased with a swig of milk) and walked the four blocks down the street to the corner of Elwood and Thompson–I love my neighborhood! I can wander to any number of places within blocks of my house, have a beer or two (that’s exactly what I had–2 beers) and listen to a great band or chat with buddies. So I was already happy going in. Then I got instantly happier. You can’t help it when you’re exposed to the carnival-like sounds of Barry, Pippin and Dave.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s just a taste of their happy lucky sound in their song Peanuts and Popcorn. And since like attracts like…this accordion, drum and bass trio often attract some wicked talented musical guests…this time it was Emily Avesian on the clarinet and baritone sax. Richmond belly dancer Khalima also joined in and completed the magic. Holy belly jiggle, she can dance! Check out this video posted to YouTube by one of the many spectators that night. That coffee shop was packed to the rafters with happy, clapping and stomping folk, me being one of them.

Happy Lucky Combo posts their upcoming gigs on their blog. I strongly suggest that you catch the next one.

The Boss digs accordions

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Bruce is cool enough to know that accordions add richness and depth to all kinds of music and smart enough to have had two kick-ass accordion players (Danny Federici and Nils Lofgren) in his E-Street band.

In this version of Springsteen’s Wild Billy’s Circus, you can listen for the haunting and beautiful strains of Federici’s accordion playing throughout, especially at the beginning. One of the Boss’ coolest songs from his first LP, “Greetings from Asbury Park.”

Or check out Bruce’s concert in Ft. Lauderdale last year, where he’s got three accordions on the stage at once. Lucky concert goers!

And for the trifecta of Bruce and his love and appreciation for the mighty accordion, we have the amazingly talented Nils Lofgren playing Flight of the Bumblebee. You can make fun of accordion only if you can do this. Otherwise, shut your mouth–it’s a damn hard instrument to play. And as an added bonus, here’s Nils at some strange little backyard party in Sweden jamming with some fiddle players. What’s up with the flower-power headband???

R.I.P Danny Federici (January 23, 1950 – April 17, 2008). Melanoma ended his life and his music too soon.