MONDO PHONO: The Brave Combo
And a brave combo they were, in 1981 when the Texas punk scene was just taking off with the formation of the Butthole Surfers and M.D.C. (Millions of Dead Cops), Denton Texas’ Brave Combo released their debut albumMusic for Squares but instead of pogoing, their fans could be found polkaing to such tunes as the album’s opener, Peanut aka The Peanut Vendor, a rollicking variation with swirling accordion. The album also in a nod to the past provided bracketed suggestions of the kind of dance appropriate to each tune, including on this album La Cumparsita (tango), Watermelon Heart (cha cha cha) as well as some modern dances with the limbo rock of Neo Limbo and the twist withLet’s Trim Twist Again.
The band was also fond of taking rock covers and polka-ing them right where it hurts, with this album’s version of Jay and the Techniques’ Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie and on their EP, Urban Grownups, a polka ska version of My Boy Lollipop, and on theirWorld Dance Music album, their somewhat famous polka version of the Doors’People Are Strange.
1988′s Humansville is a winner with a surf ska version of Oh What a Beautiful Morningfrom the Broadway musical Oklahoma and a mash up of Tubular Bells and Little Brown Jug, of course retitled as Tubular Jugs.
Not without supporters, the band won Grammys for Best Polka Album for 1999′sPolkasonic and again in 2004 for their album Let’s Kiss.
The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is a fan and the animated version of the combo appeared on the Co Dependent’s Day episode. And when the Talking Heads’ David Byrne got married the Combo played at his wedding as well as doing a cameo appearance in the Talking Head’s True Stories film.
After some 30 plus albums, the Brave Combo fearlessly polkas on, releasing their latest effort The Liminal Zone this year.