TMBG: Accordion Equals 'Party TIme'

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch interviews geek rocker John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants, and the conversation quickly turns to accordions.

Here's the relevant part:

Q: Why is the accordion a big part of your sound?

A: We really got into using the accordion for its flexibility. When we started as a duo, for a little while we were going to gigs on the subway, so we wanted as much flexibility as we could have without snapping our spines.

The accordion is just a good portable keyboard. We didn't know it would become such an obvious indicator of the spirit of the band. I think people hear accordion, and they think, "It must be party time."

The rest of the interview is cool, too.

Skating Robot Elephants!

This post-World War II invention has to be seen in action to be believed. Maybe Paul saw one in person as a youngster -- apparently one of the three elephant automatons created by Frank Stuart saw duty at Hudson's department store in Detroit.

(Via Table of Malcontents)

Miles Davis Sought an Accordionist?

That's the claim in First Coast News' review of jazz accordionist Joe "Sonny" Barbato's new record, Crackerjack. It's worth checking the review (which starts with the by-now-threadbare "you don't think of accordions as ..." opener) to see the Clownhead-style album artwork.

February Is Strong Beer Month in Frisco

Here's a reason to visit San Francisco in the rainy season: Strong Beer Month, a celebration of -- you guessed it -- strong beer. It's all brewed up by Magnolia Pub and Brewery in the Haight and the 21st Amendment brewpub in SOMA.

The names of the beers are enticing:

At Magnolia Pub and Brewery:

* Tweezer Tripel
* Old Thunderpussy Barleywine
* Smokestack Lightning Imperial Stout
* Promised Land Imperial IPA
* Weekapaug Monster
* Old Perplexity

At 21st Amendment:

* Golden Doom
* Double Tripel
* Blind Lust
* Diesel Imperial Smoked Porter
* Double Trouble IPA
* Lower de Boom Barleywine

Drink one of each concoction in the "Dirty Dozen" and you get a free commemorative glass. It's not Summerfest, but the whole things smacks of Wisconsin-style fun -- frankly, I can't believe I'm just hearing about it now, when the short month is almost half over.

Excuse me, I've got some glassware to earn!

P.S. Is it a coincidence that the Toronado Pub holds its Barley Wine Festival this month? I think not.

Main Squeeze for Valentine’s Day

Former TDA member and current Bella Ciao/The Squeegees/Roma '59/The Big Squeeze/The Gondoliers (whew!) accordionist Tom Torriglia is slotted to perform at 6:50 a.m. PST Wednesday on Frisco radio station KFOG 104.5 FM. (You can also listen online if you're up at that hour.) I'm guessing you'll hear songs of amore ...

(Via Let's Polka)

Boater's Worst Nightmare

If you see one of these, it's time to turn your bass boat around. Pronto.

LynnMarie Ditching the Polka?

This press release makes it sound like accordion queen LynnMarie -- shunned yet again for the polka Grammy -- is ready to move beyond the genre.

"Polka got me to the party, but now I want to get out there and start making music with and for people who think and create beyond the safety net of pigeonholing," she says. "Creatively, this experience is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me, and I’m excited to be moving on to bigger and better things in my career. I’ve been a bridesmaid four times now but it’s great to be single again and have the freedom to explore new opportunities."

Her Grammy-nominated record, Party Dress by LynnMarie & The Boxhounds, fell to Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra's Polka in Paradise. That would be Sturr's 15th Grammy.