Video: Christmas Jug Band, Circa 1990

Enjoy this early performance of everybody's favorite yuletide yip-giggle outfit, the Christmas Jug Band. Paul does a wicked piano solo in this clip.

The show was videotaped at the legendary Sweetwater club in Mill Valley, California.

If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, you've got a few chances left to catch the CJB live while during this year's Jugonomic Stimulus Tour. The band plays an excellent mix of old-timey and supercool Christmas music, with a variety of instruments and a semi-random assortment of some of the Bay Area's finest musicians. (And a decent accordion and piano player from Washington state, too.)

[via Murphy Productions]

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.

Mad Maggies Set Sail for Smiley's

Big band in a little bar, tonight! The Mad Maggies play Smiley's Saloon & Hotel tonight, so if you're anywhere near Bolinas, Calif., come on out and listen for a spell.

To call Smiley's "colorful" is like saying Dick Contino plays a little acordion. The place is a hoot.

This is a warm-up gig for the Maggies' recording session next weekend. TDA drum alum Bill Schwartz is back in the band, so prep yer ears fer a display of some mad skin-poundin' skillz on the third CD.

Accordions Invade Ashkenaz

The Mad Maggies open for Dginn -- yet another eclectic, accordion-powered California band -- at Ashkenaz in Berkeley this Thursday. Get details on the Maggies' gig calendar.

Mad Maggies Make Noise at McGrath's Pub

Bay Area accordion band megamoonlighters the Mad Maggies play McGrath's Pub in Alameda this Saturday. The venue's calendar says it all: "Klezmergrass? Huh???"

I'll be there on bass, of course, and original Those Darn Accordions drummer Bill Schwartz (who played on the first Mad Maggies CD, Crazed and Enthused), will be pounding the skins.

P.S. I guess you've gotta love a place with a "buy one, get none free" slogan.

Squeezin' in the North Bay

Attention Bay Area accordion junkies: Need a quick squeezebox fix? The Mad Maggies play tonight at the Black Cat Bar in Penngrove, Calif. Great place, good times, see you there. (Get the gory details on the Mad Maggies site.)

Smile! It's the Mad Maggies

The Mad Maggies play Smiley's Saloon in Bolinas, Calif., this Saturday night. See you if you can find it sans sign.

And speaking of smiling, the Maggies have some new press pix that are, well, slightly disturbing.

Cotati Accordion Festival Posts Its Lineup

The squeeze-studded lineup for this year's Cotati Accordion Festival is online, and it looks like it's going to be a blast. Those Darn Accordions take the stage Sunday (and so do The Mad Maggies), with the day building to a Brave Combo climax.

Come for Saturday and Sunday and catch loads of great accordion action, including sets by former TDA members Tom Torriglia (with his Italiano band, Bella Ciao) and Big Lou (with her Polka Casserole). Get your plane tickets now!

Mad Maggies Perform Live on KRSH

Hear a little bit o' squeeze and a whole lot o' brass (not to mention guitar, drums and bass) this Thursday, March 22, at 8 p.m. when The Mad Maggies play Thursday Night Live. It's a radio show on The Krush Wine Country Radio 95.5 and 95.9 FM. (Don't live in the North Bay? Hear the show stream live by going to the Krush homepage and clicking Listen Live.)

Carri'd Away With Handel

When she's not slumming with a squeezebox rock ensemble, Those Darn Accordions' own Carri Abrahms moonlights with a bunch of rockin' classical musicians. Today she'll be singing two Handel cantatas at Old First Church in San Francisco (Sacramento at Van Ness), making a special guest appearance with the Phantasy Ensemble. Show starts at 4 p.m.

I'm sure this will be great, but I'm guessing Carri will not be kicking either one of her lanky legs above her head with this group, and you can frankly forget about hearing any yodeling whatsoever. (She's saving that action for TDA's CD-release party no doubt.) Get more details about Sunday's show on the Old First site.