Welcome to the Machine's Pump. The intent of this newsletter is to give fans a glimpse into the world of Brave Combo through the eyes of founder, Carl Finch. Here you will find thoughts, opinions, and tidbits for your information and entertainment.
Things are revving up. March is the last month to lay back for awhile. Actually, it doesn’t feel like we’re laying back at all. But, traditionally, the first three months of the year are our slowest in terms of live performance. We do manage to fill in the gaps with plenty of work: recording, rehearsing, promoting, fretting, ironing, self-analyzing, jogging, arguing, etc. Whatever, it’s all exciting and I feel compelled to let you know that 2001 will be a very special year. I may see more clearly than I ever have and I may find the discipline necessary to tie up those pesky loose ends. But I need to do everything before April gets here.
BRAVE COMBO GOES HOLLYWOOD. A few months ago I mentioned an interview I did with E! Entertainment Network for the television show, E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: TINY TIM. James "Big Bucks" Burnett (Tiny's friend and Dallas-area manager) and I met the E! film crew at the Brave Combo office and just talked away. I don't know how I will look or sound. More than likely, bad and stupid. But that's okay, I risk looking bad and sounding stupid every time I step on a stage. Actually, every time I open my mouth anywhere. Even when I'm alone. Just like you. Anyway, the program can be seen at the end of this month. I think they air it first on March 25 and then they'll show it periodically forever and ever. That's good, because I think the Academy Awards are also on March 25. Whatever, Tiny Tim lives on. That’s good.
We have finished mixing our new album: fourteen songs recorded live at The Croatian Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. We're thinking of calling it something that may alienate some people. Hmmm.....must consider consequences. I don't know when it will be available. But when it is you sure better buy a bushel or two of 'em. We'll do our best to come up with an attractive jacket. And if we're not too lazy and we really have something to say, we'll include some good liner notes, too. What an outstanding package. Maybe we'll include oceanliner tickets with each CD. I mean cat litter box liners.
Speaking of outstanding packages, I'm hearing from people who are finding the Time/Life polka compilation I worked on many moons ago. Man, the scene has changed so much since I started this thing. No it hasn't. Jimmy won the Grammy again this year. Everything's back to normal. Anyway, the collection is called A TREASURY OF POLKA. Look for it again. I think it's there now, although I still haven't received my complimentary CDs. That's okay, I have too much to listen to right now.
DOGS ARE EVERYWHERE. I've been finding lots of stray or abandoned dogs lately and Brave Combo members are helping out. Paul's roommate adopted "Chili" and Jeff is fostering "Lucky," whose picture should be up on the Denton Humane Society Web site soon. He's a small black something with a big head and white toes. He's had his shots and has been groomed (smells good now). Another dog, "Sugar" was adopted by a good family and her running buddy, "Spice" found a home with a happy couple, but they decided to get a divorce and they got rid of their pets. So "Spice" is back up on the site. And Paul also found a puppy, “Bamboo,” near Ft. Worth recently and has decided to keep it. So, he and his roommate are up to three dogs, Jeff currently has three dogs and I have four. Coincidentally they all work at a local coffee shop that only caters to cats. When the place fills up with customers, all hell breaks loose. Nobody's getting any work done at that point. Danny's cats often make that scene, cause they're in the groove.
I guess our new kid's album, ALL WOUND UP, is doing pretty well. Our friends at Rounder are being especially friendly. We have plenty of copies with us at all times now, so if you see us anywhere, even standing suspiciously in the middle of a parking lot at a run down strip mall wearing old Teletubby ski masks and holding water guns filled with vegetable bullion, don’t hesitate to inquire about buying one. For those who don’t know, ALL WOUND UP is a collaboration between Brave Combo and The Dynamic Duo, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer.
Mister Master Percussionist and all-round searching soul, Mike Dillon, is sharing his gift of rhythm with us a lot lately. He has six dogs, “Broccoli,” ‘Angel.” “Shade,” “Bear,” “Wheeler” and “Rain.” and three guinea hens. One time, in high school, Mike threw an apple at some bullies that were picking on his younger brother. It was lunchtime during Mike’s first week at St. Thomas, a private Catholic school in Houston.
MORE HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL: Jeff was beaten unconscious after a school carnival in Colorado Springs. Afterwards, Jeff’s friend systematically took down the three culprits. And if you are one of those three culprits, don’t approach Jeff about this. He’s still pretty mad. I was sent home from school periodically because my hair was too long. I maneuvered very carefully around the campus to avoid being seen by the vice principle, but occasionally got nabbed. Danny went to one of those “anything goes” arts high schools and smoked cigarettes and skipped classes. Paul had 54 absences in speed reading class. He went surfing instead. Bubba was in charge of music for Mass in high school and became burned out on it and left them with no one to lead the music. Father Hoelscher was very disappointed in Bubba and said something nasty to him. BAD ASS BRAVE COMBO.
Did I ever mention how much I love polka music? And the polka-loving army is growing daily. It may never be large enough to have serious impact on the current world-at-large, but, you never know. Besides, the underground is always a cooler place. Always. No exceptions. Not that I have to be cool to be cool, but I have to be something to be something, don’t I? Gosh, even Madonna can’t figure things out anymore. Nobody buys that cowgirl look. And nobody believes that poor Britney Spears is in control of anything.
This business of entertainment encourages you to ponder your image more than most. And, believe it or not, I think about it. And I’m not just talking clothes. You know, what attitude am I supposed to project? Do I impose specific beliefs on my audience? Is every stage a soapbox or am I just the same as a Chuck E. Cheese robot? Should I be more flamboyant and theatrical or just stick to the role of musician? Is this a non-stop party and, if not, does the audience need to know? When you tour a lot, simple things like lunch can feel like a party. Ten hours alone in a motel room can feel like a party. Finding a warm corner in a cold club can feel like a party. Is it possible to scoop out my insides and replace it with something less emotional? Peanut butter is pretty malleable stuff. Nothing is permanent. Change is inevitable. Time for blue fingernails. Goodnight, sweeties.
