Brave Combo - Not Your Father's Polka Band
by Toby HansonBrave Combo, celebrating their 20th year as Texas' "Nuclear Polka Band," played a packed show in Seattle on September 17 at the Tractor Tavern. For those not familiar with Brave Combo, they began in Denton, Texas in 1979. Led by accordionist/guitarist/singer Carl Finch, the band plays a mix of Polish, Czech, and Tex-Mex polkas.
Although they call themselves a polka band they're very well versed in a variety of different dance rhythms including waltzes, schottisches, rhumbas, cumbias, twists, obereks, and swing. They began not because of any specific ethnic attachment, but because leader Carl Finch found the polka to be an incredibly powerful medium for artistic expression. They have been described as playing polkas "with the soul of rock 'n' roll."
The band is based around the talents of Finch, reed man Jerrfey Barnes who can be heard singing, playing sax, clarinet, train whistle, harmonica, and bird whistle. Danny O'Brien handles the trumpet duties for the band. Bubba Hernandez plays bass and tuba and also sings. Playing the drums in the Combo is Alan Emert. They create a powerful, energetic, irresistable dance rhythm that moves everyone- and I mean everyone -to get up and dance. They draw their inspiration from a variety of musical sources which helps to draw a diverse crowd: everyone finds something they like about Brave Combo. The band draws a varied crowd, ranging from traditional polka fans right on down to teens who've never heard of polkas before. Recording for both Rounder Records and polka-label Cleveland International, the band has been nominated for two Grammy awards and is expecting to produce a pop crossover album in February 2000.
I was lucky enough to attend the Seattle show on their tour. The room was packed for the band as they started off their set with the lively "Friendly Tavern Polka." They kept the enthusiasm rolling through both sets and played several encores.
Polka is definitely alive and growing in the hands of Carl Finch and Brave Combo! Judging by the age of the crowd it will continue to live for several more years. To find out more about Brave Combo check out their website at http://www.brave.com/bo or write to Carl and the boys at PO Box 233, Denton, Texas 76202.
Reprinted with the permission of Toby Hanson