A Mad, Mad World

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)

Ian Luke’s Album on FB

Corn Mo’s Album on FB

GOOD PRESS: Eastern Iowa Life article

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May 20, Friday 8:30pm

Great music, that’s us, in a fab location with spectacular views of the Golden Gate and SF, that’s the Presidio Yacht Club at Fort Baker, Sausalito.

Close for you city folk, east bayers and marinites so plan on coming!

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We spent this weekend and the last at Wally Sound laying down live musical performances onto reel to reel tape. 2 inch tape to be exact. 16 tracks.

The tape rolled, we played and our time art of making music was preserved on magnetized iron oxide particles. There was the occasional punch (a part re-recorded onto the tape) but in essence our performances were continuous and live.

It takes discipline and technique to record this way.

No digital wizardry for this band of talented musicians. Well, not until mixdown. Even then we will not touch the performance. We will not adjust or “correct” notes nor pitch shift or auto tune or quantize.

We like keeping it real.

Photo of Wally and Mags courtesy of our own GDub aka Gary Wium

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Playing on St. Pat’s at the Sleeping Lady was an all round festive fun gig. We had a real nice crowd at this friendly, music-loving venue. The whole joint was aglow with green foil shamrocks. And, as the wild and crazy musicians we are, we tried out a couple of our new tunes on the crowd including a sing along in Irish!

Next day we headed into the recording studio to start CD #5 — “Shake Those Bones”. That first day, Friday, we spent a couple hours getting drummer Ian Luke happily situated and his kit and timpani set-up and mic’ed. Timpani?!

Second day, Saturday, Ian and bassist, Tim Sarter and guitarist, GDub laid down rhythm tracks on nine, yes nine tunes. Then today, Sunday GDub finessed a few of his parts.

We are recording to 2 inch analog tape once again.

Next week we overdub tuba, whistles and clarinet, saxes and bass clarinet. That’s Johny Blood, Rhian and Adrian respectively.

Working with talented musicians and the fabulous Wally of Wally Sound is a delight. I love hearing the tunes take shape.

Creating music is a sheer, glorious, agonizing joy.

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I’m happy to be one of the babes in the new, upcoming Accordion Babes Pin Up Calendar and CD for 2011.

I knew I wanted to go “classic” pin up, black and white, round toe pumps, gams, nice naughty. Photographer John Clayton (claytonshot.com) loved the idea. We shot in his home studio on June 25th in the afternoon. We kept it simple, one outfit, one backdrop so we could concentrate on getting the right twist to the body, the right expression etc. I am particularly fond of his lighting which captures the vintage feel perfectly.

In the process I discovered that there are b&w lovers and those that much prefer color. Do you have a preference?

Ultimately editor Renée de la Prade chose color for the calendar. John gave that color shot what he called a “kodachrome” look. You can see the shot in both b&w and color and the other shots here in our gallery: Mad Mags Does Vintage Pin Up.

The 2011 Accordion Babes Calendar will be available to the public beginning on the weekend of the Cotati Accordion Festival, August 21 & 22. Note: The Mad Maggies play Sunday 8/22 at around 1PM.

Of course I’ll be talking the calendar up once I have them in hand. It’s going to be a real good one judging by the sneak preview I got to see. 13 squeezebox goddesses!

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Lena Horne (1917-2010) – an inspiring singer and performing artist, one of the very best.

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This Sunday Night, April 25th we play Amnesia Bar with Underskore Orchestra.

A seriously good double bill!

Doors 8:00pm
Music starts 9:00pm
$7-10 cover

853 Valencia Street
between 19th and 20th
San Francisco

Underskore Orchestra is a Portland Oregon based band, playing a blend of original and traditional Balkan, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz and Swing. They have toured U.S., Canada Europe, and Central America. Their newest project, which you’ll get to experience at this show, is RevelMe! — live Balkan/Klezmer/Swing inspired music and dance.

Amnesia Bar, voted best dive bar AND best swanky bar back to back, has a comfortable, music-loving atmosphere, a fancy cool sound system and reasonably priced drinks.

So remember:
local √
great venue √
affordable √
exceptional musicians √

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GDub and I met Stefan Hiss and his band “Hiss” back in 1997 when we were in Germany visiting my sister who is a friend and fan. In fact, Stefan played her wedding 2 years later in 1999. They dished up a rousing night of music and I danced like a wild woman.

We’ve stayed in touch since and whenever we travel to my sister’s home outside of Stuttgart we usually get a visit in with Stefan to talk “music” and swap our current CDs.

Stefan’s latest band is “Los Santos” and he just mailed me their new CD entitled “Blue in Hawaii”. It’s a Western/ Tex-Mex celebration performed by stellar musicians. Instrumentation includes pedal steel, ukulele, dobro, banjo, and of course, accordion – Stefan Hiss is an amazing accordionist!

The fifteen tracks include, “My Wife Thinks Your Dead”, “Rag Mop” and “Deja Que Salga La Luna” plus three Hiss originals, “Blue Hawaii”, “Twisting in the Taiga” and “El Mezquite”.

One of my personal favs on the album is “Johnny Guitar” (a great tune written by Peggy Lee and Victor Young for the 1954 movie). They’ve capture just the right amount of “Out West” surrealism.

And their version of “Rag Mop” swings!

So LISTEN to THIS: “Blue in Hawaii” by Los Santos.
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Los Santos play “Rag Mop”:

Stefan Hiss playing one of his original tunes: “Tanz aus meinem Grab” (Dance on My Grave):

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Weird Al Yankovic is an accordion loving man!

We Accordion Babes get around. Yes we do

Get yours here.

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Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

First things first. We’re still here making music largely because you all come to shows, listen to our tunes, buy swag and generally cheer us on. Thank you!

Please enjoy this free mp3 of our hit “High Seas Lament” as we say good by to 2009.

’09 was good to us, geo-political turmoil and collapsing financial markets aside. We played the most gigs in a year so far. Several of our shows gave us the opportunity to rock very large crowds of revelers. We released our third CD, “Skull & Magpies” to good reviews and garnered radio airplay across the US and in Canada, Australia, UK and Europe. Our online and digital sales have been respectable. We’re still receiving residuals for our 2007 TV show placement. Not bad for an oddball, rowdy folk, roots indie band.

We will begin 2010 in the recording studio working on the first of two CDs planned — a collection of choice vintage tunes. After that we’ll continue our adventures on the high seas in a follow up CD to “Skull and Magpies“. Look for release parties and related excitement. Of course we plan to play as many gigs as we can throughout the Bay Area. And we’re working with a booker to set up mini tours outside of California to expand our circle of friends and fans. Plenty of crazy, good fun ahead.

Wishing you a new year filled with music and love,

Mags

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