GDub and I are headed up to Santa Rosa to join Roxanne Oliva and fellow musicians for some Accordion Babe’s Holiday Cheer tonight. Seasonal tunes plus!
Dan Kahane on fiddle, Mad Ms bassist, Tim Sarter and drummer Ian Luke round out the solstice ensemble.
No Cover!
We’ll have Accordion Babes Calenders/CDs for sale.
December 20 – Tuesday 8pm Toad in the Hole, Santa Rosa
December 10 – Saturday 10pm Toad in the Hole, Santa Rosa. Come for grub, suds and tunes at this popular local pub.
Join Mags, Roxanne Oliva and fellow musicians for some Accordion Babe’s Holiday Cheer. Seasonal tunes plus!
Dan Kahane on fiddle, several Mad Maggies and, well come and see for yourself. We’ll be keeping it lively!
December 20 – Tuesday 7pm Toad in the Hole, Santa Rosa
December 23 – Friday 7pm Aqus Cafe, Petaluma
Actually we want to make your holiday shopping less craZy so here’s a couple of eZ ideas:
Shop our online music store for music downloads (single tracks or full albums in as high quality formats as you prefer) or actual CDs mailed to just about anywhere and get a nice, fat 25% off of everything. Simply use the coupon code crazyholidaze at checkout.
Yep, we do love you that much.
The 2012 Accordion Babes Album and Pin Up Calendar is an ideal gift for accordion lovers, music lovers, pin-up fans and more. 13 images of accordions and their lovely owners PLUS a CD with a track from each of the babes.
Mags is Ms. November and “Shake Those Bones” is the track.
$15 plus $5 shipping gets one delivered to your doorstep or mailbox or, well wherever. You can pay with credit or debit card at PayPal.
Sometime in the early morn, Jim texted asking whether we wanted to come for the Czech Village Pancake Breakfast. I texted back that we had stayed up way too late. There were snoring musicians in every room and I imagined few would be vertical before noon.
Sometime after this the house filled with the smell of onions being sautéed. Roxanne was making spinach and potato frittatas for brunch. Hallelujah!
We had time to drink tea and coffee, eat and then pack. There was a dance party to play in the Czech Village at the Red Baron pub. We would leave for the airport directly after.
For this show we had even more jamming. Mad Ms whistler Rhian joined Roxanne with Ian on “cats paws” and Renée on button box for a nice Celtic jam. Toes were tapping all through the place. Corn Mo, Paul Rogers, Ron Borelli performed again to everyone’s enjoyment. Billy dished up another dance inducing set with the Mad Ms backing and Renée sitting in on squeeze and Roxanne on triangle.
Then it was up to us to wrap the party up with a bang. I had one eye on the clock because we only had minutes to get to the airport in time for checking in.
It all worked out. We would do it all again in a heartbeat. Thank You, Cedar Rapids! Thank you Jim Jacobmeyer and New Bohemia/Czech Village!
Corn Mo took a couple videos which capture the feeling. Pictures ARE worth thousands of words:
PHOTOS:
A medley of photos on our website (no FB needed)
The Accordion Symposium started early at a local eatery and meeting place, Gatherings. Folks milled about, asked questions about accordions, shared their musical backgrounds. Workshops happened on and off until mid afternoon. Then there was a small pause which gave some of us the chance to sight-see and even take a horse drawn carriage ride through the village and back again. Then the evening concert began featuring all the accordionists who had come for the event.
The very talented Corn Mo started us off. What a set of pipes! He absolutely wowed the crowd.
Renée de la Prade followed and was as energetic as always, then Paul Rogers rocked it with bassist Lewis Wallace and Mad Ms drummer Ian luke.
Smooth and elegant jazz master Ron Borelli was up next. I do believe he can play anything. Mad Ms saxophonist Adrian joined him for a tune which was a special treat.
Billy Wilson kicked up some Cajun/Zydeco energy, with Mad Ms GDub (guitar), Tim (bass) and Ian (drums) backing him up. Billy asked Renée to join him on a couple tunes as well. Irresistible dance party music.
Next up was Roxanne Oliva for some Klezmer music with Mad Ms tubist extraordinaire, Johny Blood and Adrian on sax. Rox is one of those players who makes it all look so effortless.
Then yours madly took the stage to close the evening. Cannot remember all the tunes we played but do remember we were privileged to have Roxanne join us on “Morning Star“, our “Chanson de Jean” was a hit, “Shake Those Bones” blazed, “Magdalena’s Revenge” shook the dust from the ceilings.
All together we accordionists dished up three hours of music straight and no one complained nor did the crowd thin. So cool!
I’ve got to mention that all through this full-day event volunteers worked tirelessly at the information and merch table. We are talking hours. Jim had assembled a super dedicated team.
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So once we packed up it was back down to Parlour City to catch the end of Paul Rogers’ gig. We had a chance to hang with all the musicians, Jim and friends and Lori Young and husband Paul. Death met Cow – Lori’s constant photographic companion.
Jim at Parlour City with tireless volunteers:
Some of the gang:
Death and Cow:
Pizza, more beer and back to home base for more hanging out.
One more day to go.
Our photo album (no FB needed)
GOOD PRESS: Eastern Iowa Life article
To a one the Mad Ms had a blast this past weekend in Cedar Rapids. Those Iowans are some friendly people!
The fun began Thursday night (9/22) when we took a red eye flight from SFO to arrive at CID around 8:30 Friday morning (9/23). Fellow accordionista and workshop presenter Roxanne Oliva and her husband Paul Oliva traveled with us.
Our host, Jim Jacobmeyer picked us up with friend and volunteer Robin. They hauled all nine of us and luggage and instruments back to his beautiful 1905 American Four Square 2 and 1/2 stories, 5 + bedrooms home near the “Czech Village”. You Californians don’t even want to know what a home like that sells for there. Seriously you don’t.
We thought we’d have some down time but found out that sound check was at 1pm so we figured out who would sleep where, ate a quick brunch and then off to the Vet’s Memorial Stadium.
Our stage was on a mezzanine area above the ball field. All very nicely set up. Sound Concepts was in charge of sound, Bandi was our engineer with Vanessa and Horace assisting. They did a great job. There were sound speakers throughout the area, not just on the stage, which had to be a trick to get right.
A couple hours there warming up and then back to our home base to freshen up for our 6pm downbeat. At this point we are in a slight daze but nothing a good Czech beer won’t straighten out.
Here’s a photo of us in front of Jim’s Four Square as we head off to play BrewNost 2011:
Roxanne was to play a few sets at a nearby bar/restaurant — Parlour City so she and Paul stayed behind.
When we arrived at the gate there was a very nice crowd gathering. Tables were full of beer-filled glasses. Lori Young of Hey Lori Productions had made it up from Illinois with her husband Paul.
During our first set folks were still getting beers and sampling the array of food. A section of keys on Adrian’s sax fell apart so he had to jerry-rig them. ‘Twas a bit nerve wracking to see him sitting on the back of the stage with tools in hand working on his horn mid-set. Then something happened to Rhian’s clarinet. Oh my! But the show must go on. Sure enough Adrian & Rhian got their horns back in action.
By our second set more folks were seated in front checking us out and then by the third set there was dancing and general cavorting. Rhian spoke Czech to the audience, I sang a song in Slovak. We played our hits. They loved us. A great gig!
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After the show we packed up and went to support Roxanne at Parlour City. Jim and another friendly volunteer, Laura drove us. (Turns out Laura speaks French so I had fun practicing chatting with her.)
Rox had been dishing up a solo show for a couple hours. We had our instruments with us so we joined her for a few tunes. Even Paul sang a tune. We played Klez, Irish whatever we could figure out that we could play together. Next thing I know Johnny Blood is up singing “Ma Vie en Rose” with Roxanne accompanying on accordion. A memorable performance!
Don’t know if it was related but right about then one of the wait staff came over to mention how late it was, closing time was coming up … 
We rambunctious rogues moved our gathering back to Jim’s home. Once again we were chauffeured.
I recall a stop for beer and whiskey. More music in the living room. I, in a stroke of unimpaired good judgement, retired to my chambers before the “blues song-writing circle” began.
A good first day.
PHOTOS:
A medley of photos on our website (no FB needed)
Eastern Iowa Life article saying the Mad Ms are coming
Suds and Dancin’ — Super pleased to be playing this year’s BrewNost! in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This international beer-tasting event kicks off the Fall Czech Fest and the 1st National Accordion Symposium.
I will be trying my best to blog our adventure.
Are you ready for the Mad Ms, Cedar Rapids?!
Mags & Roxanne Oliva are on KSRO in a few minutes to talk up the Cotati Accordion Festival http://ksro.com
This is going to be good! A night filled with fabulous music by talented, rockin’ accordionistas.
Renée de La Prade, Amber Lee, Yeti, Skyler Fell, Roxanne Oliva & the Sweet Pennyroyals and yours madly, the Mad Maggies.
Friday night, January 7, 2011
Show starts 9:30
Sleeping Lady Cafe Fairfax, CA
$10 gets you in the door. The 2011 Accordion Babes CD & Calendar will be on sale for $15.
We play the Cotati Accordion Festival this Sunday at 1PM.
This two-day festival is one of the very best local live music events. Don’t miss it!
We have new beautiful t-shirts that we will be selling along with our CDs. So come by and say hi before or after we play.
And the new 2011 Accordion Babes Album and Pin Up Calendar will be available.
Gates open 9:30
Single day rates at $17 ($15 Advance)
Two-day rate of only $25
Children under 16 (w/ adult) are FREE!
Buy tix online.