Brave Combo

[jducoeur]

Thanks to @nazgul for the pointer to Brave Combo, one of the most curious bands I've heard in some time. He describes them as "New Wave Polka", which is as good as any description -- they intentionally flit between a dozen different dance beats, often within the same song. Polka slides into salsa, then over to a bit of swing, and then something rather like klezmer. The linked page has a bunch of YouTube videos of their stuff, which aren't much to look at but give you an idea of their range.

Fun stuff -- I might pick up an album or two.

(Oh, and BTW: the "@foo" notation is Twitter style -- I'll be using it when referring to folks from that side of the blogosphere. I expect that I'll be crossing the lines from one to the other pretty freely, depending on the immediacy and depth of the message in question. Twitter is proving to be appropriate for spur-of-the-moment one-liners that look kind of trivial for LJ; LJ is appropriate when I have more to say than is reasonable for Twitter.)

Comments

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

You should get a copy of Girl, the recording Brave Combo did with the late Tiny Tim. Their rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" is priceless.

[jducoeur]

The mind boggles, but it does sound like something I'm going to have to check out...

[hudebnik.livejournal.com]

I was about to suggest the same thing. I gave it to my brother alazka a few years ago. He took a quick glance at the cover, thought absently "Tiny Tim Girl -- a peculiar title, but hey, it's Brave Combo", thanked me, then took it home and played it... and then, as he puts it, the awful truth sank in....

[hfcougar.livejournal.com]

I don't know that much of their stuff, but they do a version of the Romeo and Juliet theme that is fabulous (and very danceable).

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I've run into @foo in blogs that aren't LJ a lot, over the past year or two.

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Same here. I've seen it a lot in Engadget.

Brave combo

[cristovau.livejournal.com]

There are a fun and incredibly silly band. If they come within a drive, they are worth seeing live.

Re: Brave combo

[chaiya.livejournal.com]

Heh. I forget, did we introduce you to them, or did you introduce us to them? ;)

Re: Brave combo

[cristovau.livejournal.com]

At my first Falconridge they played the main stage and dance tent. I suspect we both jumped on the Brave Combo bandwagon at the same time. I know I bought a CD right after their set.

[doubleplus.livejournal.com]

I heard of them when I was in college, lo these many years ago, and thought they sounded pretty cool. I'm glad to hear they're still active.

more polka zaniness

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

Yay for Brave Combo, but also try Rotondi. It's old, but stuff seems to be still available
http://cdbaby.com/cd/rotondi2
I'd start with Polka Changed My Life One Day.

re: dancing

[sephiaowl.livejournal.com]

That sounds about right to me. I would assume you'd want to teach a majority of the dances, and stick with a lot of the easier stuff (almans, bransles, etc) with a few of the more advanced ones scattered throughout. Really, though, it's totally up to you!

Thank you!!!!!