Brave Combo leader inducted into polka hall of fame
Carl Finch, the leader of Denton “nuclear polka” band Brave Combo, has been inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame. Not only do we think that this is very cool for Finch, we think it’s very cool that such a thing exists.
The band has been through a lot of changes in its 37-year existence, but the one constant has been Finch, who was inspired to start the band after he found a bunch of polka albums in a bargain bin in a Woolworth’s in the ’70s and, intrigued by the albums’ strange covers, bought several and became obsessed with the music after playing them at home.
Around that time, Finch said in a 2014 DFW.com profile, punk and new wave were getting popular, people were looking for stuff they weren’t hearing on the radio, and it was easy to recruit musicians who were eager to bring their own spin to the music. The music went beyond polka: punk, tangos, cha-chas, cumbia, country, ska, rock and blues, just to name a few.
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne became a fan. The band toured Europe and Japan. It won Grammys for 1999’s Polkasonic and 2004’s Let’s Kiss, and Simpsons creator Matt Groening invited the band to play at a party celebrating the 200th episode of the animated sitcom. (Groening has also used the music in episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama)
And a party atmosphere prevails at its concerts, including one coming up in Dallas: The show Saturday at Dallas’ Kessler Theater is even tagged “The Ultimate Dance Party,” and promises songs from the band’s extensive repertoire, including myriad polka styles and a variety of Latin rhythms, rock and roll and Middle Eastern grooves. Doors open at 7 p.m.; openers Matt Stansberry & The Romance are scheduled to go on at 8. The Kessler Theater is at 1230 W. Davis St. in Dallas’ Bishop Arts District. Tickets range from $17.50 to $140 and are available via http://thekessler.org.
This story was originally published May 13, 2016 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Brave Combo leader inducted into polka hall of fame."