Freaky, Geeky Tattoos

My college buddy (and now Wired.com photo editor) Jim Merithew went to Comic-Con International earlier this year. At the show, we were able to finish a little assignment we'd been kicking around for months: a photo gallery of comics-related tattoos.

See for yourself in our gallery: Geek Ink: Comics Fans Show Off Tattoos.

No accordions, but still pretty wild, IMHO.

9 Things (You Think) Your Beer Says About You

Just in time for the Labor Day weekend, a wacky list of "9 Things (You Think) Your Beer Says About You" bubbles up on Cracked.com.

Pretty funny, but be warned -- there's some salty language!

P.S. Please note that Widmer Brothers' tasty beer -- which we will undoubtedly be sampling in Portland, Ore., when we play the brewery's fourth-annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 6 -- is not on the list. What does drinking a Widmer say about you? It just says you're cool (and possibly that you're listening to accordion music).

Everything's Deep Fried In Texas

The State Fair of Texas (Sept 26-Oct 19) announced this year's deep fried delicacies. The oddball treats have gained popularity in recent years, most notably in 2006 with the invention of Deep Fried Coke (pictured).

The high calorie treats are all entries in the fair's Big Tex Choice Awards. Last year's competition winner was Deep Fried Cookie Dough. In the running for this year's award are Jelly Belly Beans battered and fried in Funnel Cake, Chicken Fried Bacon, and Deep Fried S'mores. Check out the full menu here.

Photo: Stephen Witherden/Flickr

Accordions On The Rise

Cynthia Dizikes has a nice story on accordions in the LA Times. She cites the resurgence in popularity of the instrument and some of the folks that have helped make it "cool" again. If only we had known, we could have lent a hand as well!

Paul Moonlights with 1 Piano, 2 Piano men

Circle August 28 on your calendar for 1 Piano, 2 Piano men: Paul Rogers & Austin de Lone. Paul has performed with Austin for years in The Christmas Jug Band & next Thursday night they will share a single grand piano as they share their tunes. The Marin Independent Journal is already calling the gig a "Best Bet." Pick up your tickets and find more details at the Sweetwater Station in Larkspur, Calif.

Snake!-TDA's Rogers to the Rescue

It was a hot summer afternoon in the Great Northwest and we had all the windows and doors open. Suddenly LuAnn burst into my studio screaming that a deadly Northwest Timber Viper was under the dining room table. By the time I geared up, it had taken refuge under the sideboard.
I don't like to toot my own horn, but I gotta tell ya, this was one of my more amazing acts of courage.

Top 5 Rock Accordion Songs

The American Accordionists Association has come up with a list of the Top 5 Rock Accordion Tunes. Not surprised to see The Who's "Squeeze Box" as the #1 pick, but we know where the REAL rock accordion tunes can be found, don't we? One that comes to mind is TDA's own "The Janitor Knows".

Monsters of Accordions Attack the Bay

Jason Webley starts another Monsters of Accordions tour tonight in Santa Rosa, Calif. The tour zips along the west coast with the other stops in the Bay Area this weekend.

Other squeezebox monsters joining Webley's gypsy-punk-floor-stomping-storyteller stylings on the tour will be Mark Growden, Amy Denio, Duckmandu, as well as special guests at each location.

Accordionize Your Home - Part II

Are you still looking for more ways to make your dwelling reflect your admiration for the mighty accordion?

Upscale toddler boutique PoshTots offers an Accordion Desk in their store. The maple wood and veneer desk is a hefty piece of furniture and a hefty piece of change, ringing up at $5,600.

Also available, is the Brian Dresser. The 5-drawer vertical piece stands just over 3 feet tall and may make a great addition to your home office, as you accordionize your home.

Win a Roland V-Accordion & a trip to Rome!

Saturday September 20, 2008 in Los Angeles at Roland's U.S. Headquarters accordionists will be competing to win a trip to Rome, Italy to perform in the International Accordion Festival held by Roland on November 7 & 8, 2008. The grand prize winner will walk away with Roland's FR-7 or FR-7b V-Accordion. The FR-7 was previously mentioned here, as the new instrument "Weird Al" recently fell in love with.

The competition is open in the United States to Senior Soloists performing non-vocal pieces under 5 minutes. For more details and photos from last year's competition, click over to the official event site.

To see what your new toy can do when you win, here's a Roland staffer demonstrating the instrument's potential at a recent NAMM convention.

So Long to "Chef" Isaac Hayes

I'm sad to hear about the death of Isaac Hayes. I have a wonderful memory of TDA opening for the soul crooner at Harbor Fest in Norfolk, VA. He did a spirited version of 'Shaft" as well as "Chocolate,Salty Balls" He was truly inspiring!

New Review of TDA CDs

Baron Dave Romm offers up a review of 4 TDA CDs. Baron Dave is a conceptual artist and a noble of Ladonia who produces Shockwave Radio Theater, writes in a Live Journal demi-blog, plays with a very weird CD collection and an ever growing list of political links. He reviews things at random for obscure web sites. You can read all his music recommendations from Bartcop-E. Podcasts of Shockwave Radio Theater, Permanent archive. More radio programs, interviews and science fiction humor plays can be accessed on the Shockwave Radio audio page.

TDA Dissed in SF

Geez, We're used to the occasional dumb comments from the press in other places, but it's a drag to get it from our hometown. Especially if it's not very clever. At least when our dear friend Herb Caen used to give us a plug and a rib, he did it with style and wit. He was a true SF treasure. We miss you Herb!