You know, when someone does something stupid I try to remind myself that from his point of view it may not have been stupid at all. And, as well, I have learned over and over and over and over that my logic doesn't always make perfect sense to everyone else. Generally, it's probably best, whether we like it or not, to understand and accept that differences exist. Sometimes I would rather be around people who have learned how to put up with me as opposed to people who are crazy about me and have an ideal in their mind. The latter will eventually be disappointed.

Oh how we all enjoy a good controversy. Many years ago a record company in Japan asked us if we would consider recording an album of Christmas songs for our Japanese fans. It didn't sound like a great idea at first (potentially dorky and reinforcing the notion that we're a novelty act), but I also thought that no one in the United States would necessarily have to know about it. So, we agreed, made the album (IT'S CHRISTMAS, MAN), released it in Japan and toured Japan, in support of it, the next December. In the meantime, Rounder Records (our label in the US) heard about it and asked if they could release it the next year. By that time, we decided the album wasn't dorky after all and figured a domestic release would be okay. Well, to say the least, it turned out to be a good thing, though I think the photo of the band in the jacket of the Rounder version is definitely dorky. It appears, however, that people really like screwed-up arrangements of Christmas songs. Sales have been better than adequate over the years and a few television shows and movies have licensed songs from it. So, no complaints there. In Denton our association with Christmas is rock solid. As a direct result of IT'S CHRISTMAS, MAN (and because we're just so damn lovable), we have been the featured entertainment at the downtown square Christmas lighting ceremony for several years. It's usually in late November or early December on the courthouse lawn, and for many citizens I think it represents the official start of the Yuletide season. Well, it appears that money for this event has finally dwindled and now there's a debate going on about its worth. For us, it's a fun gig. It seems to make people happy and we feel a connection with the community because of it. On the other hand it's a hard gig; potentially really cold and miserable. Also, it gives a lot of fans their Brave Combo fix for a while and we see a marked drop in local club attendance for a couple of months. With these things in mind we will have to ride the fence. Some people in town are ready to say good-bye to the tradition since things cost money and some people in town say "No way! This is too important. The show must go on!" For what it's worth, we are giving the city a great deal (about half of our normal fee) and we're risking frostbite. The Denton newspaper (DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE) has published an article and an editorial and trouble could be brewing. A guy even called the office and told us we should play the event for free. That ain't gonna happen. This is a business. This is how several people make a living. God Bless America! I'll keep you posted. This would make a good episode of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW. Lots of humor on both sides of the issue. What's really funny is that we've become this beacon of holiday cheer and I can barely stand most aspects of Christmas.

Brave Combo is an odd combo. We are a mixture of personalities and tastes. I thought about the influences that each member brings to the band and discovered something interesting. Jeff is the blues man. Danny is the jazz man. Alan is the disco-funk man. Bubba is the R&B man and I'm the pop/rock man. And we all come together to play polkas. Go figure.

Speaking of individuality, I recently asked each band member, including myself, to name three of his favorite well-known movies. Here are the results:

Jeff - SUNSET BOULEVARD, KING KONG, THE SEVENTH SEAL
Danny - GIANT, USUAL SUSPECTS, SPINAL TAP
Alan - TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE, THE THING, SPINAL TAP
Bubba - WIZARD OF OZ, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU
Carl - MIDNIGHT COWBOY, CABARET, ERASER HEAD

Now you have a little more insight into how we think. I don't expect much from mainstream movies anymore. Theatres are dark, the screens are bigger than television, the concession stands sell snacks and you have to turn off your cell phone. These are the best reasons for going. However, most of the movies seem shallow and poorly thought out. I know I couldn't do any better and, frankly, making a movie sounds like Hell on Earth. But every time I see an overblown trailer before the feature starts I think how sad it all is. It seems at times that entertainment people in particular are just desperate to create something significant. It's like that idiot director that claimed to be the king of the world when TITANIC won the Oscar. Not all entertainment people would say something that stupid, but perhaps we all want that level of recognition. Oh, our lives are so deep. This is gross. Next topic, please.

Have you heard of Steve Jordan? He's an accordionist from South Texas and has been one of Brave Combo's major influences. I guess he's in his sixties now. Anyway, much has been written about his talents and eccentricities over the years. I produced two compilations of his work for Rounder and I think they're still available. Arhoolie Records released a great collection as well. His story is pretty interesting. He was born to migrant farm workers and blinded at birth by contaminated eye drops administered by a midwife. When he was a kid he learned to play guitar and would play for friends and family as they worked in the fields. He eventually picked up the accordion and found his magic. Not only is he a master technician on the instrument but his ability to introduce other styles into conjunto is unsurpassed. I've been in his presence a few times and Brave Combo has played some shows with him over the years and the thing that amazes me the most about him is that he is 100% Steve Jordan. He doesn't go out of his way for anybody and if he wasn't such a genius he might have been thrown away a long time ago. But people all over the world admire him; some even worship him. He has a mystical quality that transcends his handicap and stubborn nature. And I believe his contribution to music is so enormous that I would probably forgive him of almost anything, simply because the world needed him. I think he still lives in San Antonio.

Speaking of important icons, have you ever been to a Happy Chef restaurant? I believe it's a Midwest chain. We've seen them in Nebraska and Iowa. Their food is nothing special but they all used to have a statue of a giant cartoonish chef (maybe 25 feet tall) wielding a skillet or spatula in the parking lot of each restaurant. When we first discovered the Happy Chef he was standing on a pedestal. In the middle of the pedestal was a button. If you pushed the button he would tell a joke. Well, I don't think any of the giant chefs live at the restaurants anymore. I've seen them holding mufflers on the side of Interstate or at the entrances to flea markets. I even saw one dressed up like a chimney sweep. It's good that some of them have found other work, but it's disturbing, too. I knew that the last time we saw one at a restaurant and pushed his button and nothing happened, his days were numbered. But I didn't expect to see him with mufflers. But, you know, the Interstate highway system has no guarantees. And that's the way life is. Things come and go. The same souvenirs you saw at a truck stop in Montana in 1988 may not be there in 2002. As we grow older, perhaps the payback is greater wisdom and the peace that comes with it. Let's have fun and learn something in the process. With that thought in mind I will say good-bye and look forward to a new day.

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