That’s right — we’ve finally given in to the peer pressure and created a Let’s Polka profile over on MySpace. So if MySpace is your thing, add us as a friend and let the world know that you’ve sided with truth, justice, and the accordion way. If you’re a squeezebox-totin’ band or artist, adding us as a friend means that we’ll keep an extra-close eye on your gigs when we’re updating our accordion calendar (hint: free promotion!).

Crustacean Accordion Orchestra, uploaded by sameffron

It’s not everyday that you see a group of marching, accordion-playing shrimp, but then again, Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade isn’t an everyday event. This shot catches the ladies of the Main Squeeze Accordion Orchestra squeezing their way through last month’s parade and sporting some truly fantastic shrimp hats. (Check out their costumes from last year’s parade, too.)

Update: For more accordion shrimp, check out this excellent photoset from one of the Main Squeezers.

What’s on the accordion calendar this week?

• Main Squeeze Accordion Festival (Saturday in New York, NY)
  This year’s festival at Riverside Park promises an eclectic lineup that includes the Ivan Milev Band, Dr. William Schimmel, Raul Jaurena and Octavio Brunetti, and, of course, the lovely and talented ladies of the Main Squeeze Accordion Orchestra. There will also be an accordion flea market and an accordion kids corner with activities designed to encourage youngsters to start squeezing.
• Angelina Carberry and Martin Quinn (Saturday in Coatesville, PA)
  Irish traditional duo (and husband and wife), Martin Quinn and Angelina Carberry, play button accordion and tenor banjo. Before the show, they’ll lead workshops in their respective instruments.
• Klezmer Meets Jazz (Sunday in Stanford, CA)
  Finally… an event in our neighborhood! The Stanford Jazz Festival presents a unique show pairing klezmer band the Gonifs and jazz ensemble Left Turn No Signal, hosted by comic/juggler Sara Felder.

Have an accordion event in your area to share? Let us know!

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas. I found this video of 15-year-old Gary Blair Jr. performing Monti’s Czardas at the Las Vegas International Accordion Convention last week. The accordion is in Gary’s blood — his father is a former UK accordion champion and his grandfather ran the Jimmy Blair Accordion School in Glasgow, Scotland. As you can see from the video, Gary Jr. isn’t half bad himself…

• SPIN.com: Great Lakes Myth Society
  SPIN’s Artist of the Day, Great Lakes Myth Society plays “Northern Rock” — smart folk-rock with hints of accordion, fiddle, and banjo. Their new record, “Compass Rose Bouquet”, comes out on July 10th.
• The Buffalo News: Ruda’s Records is Closing
  After 57 years in business, Ruda’s Records in Buffalo is closing this Saturday. Ruda’s specialized in polka records and unique Polish items.
• Polka band records live album – mlive.com
  “Cheap Trick made a live album at Budokan. The Doors did theirs at the Hollywood Bowl… Jeff Mleczko and DynaBrass, however, figured there was only one place to record a polka-music album live: the St. Stan’s Polish Festival in Bay City.”

Summer is officially here and the accordion calendar is heating up…

• Polka Fireworks Festival (Fri-Tue in Champion, PA)
  More than 25 of the nation’s top polka bands will be at Seven Springs Resort this week for six days of nonstop polka fireworks. The festival includes after hours jam sessions, as well as polka music and dance lessons.
• Sunny Sauceda Accordion Clinic (Saturday in Lubbock, TX)
  Hohner and Tarpley Music are sponsoring a series of accordion clinics led by two-time Grammy winner Sunny Sauceda (formerly of Grupo Vida). I’m guessing he could teach you a thing or two.
• Tex-Mex Polka Dance Party (Saturday in Austin, TX)
  Is it just me or does the Austin Moose Lodge #1735 have the best parties ever? I mean, what other Moose Lodge has a membership dance (open to the public!) with Brave Combo and Los Idolos del Barrio? I still don’t know what a Moose is, but I don’t care. Sign me up!

Is there something squeeze-worthy going on in your neighborhood? Let us know and we’ll get it on the calendar.

A few months ago, I wrote about a vintage Galanti accordion ad promoting their Super Dominator line of accordions. Recently, an Italian reader sent me a Galanti brochure from the same period (around 1950), as well as a photo of his own Super Dominator. According to the brochure:

“This sensitive musical instrument will outperform any other comparable accordion. It is the supreme achievement of the Galanti artisans… the culmination of a half-century of musical craftsmanship.”

The ads don’t lie — this was an excellent accordion and one of the world’s best during its time. (Thanks Alberto!)

It’s tough to follow in your father’s footsteps, but in the zydeco world, it’s practically a rite of passage. Zydeco is filled with families where the torch (or accordion) has been passed from father to son through the generations — families like the Ardoins, Broussards, Cheniers, and Delafoses, to name a few.

The Williams family is no different. Nathan Williams Jr. grew up in the shadow of his father, Nathan Sr., who leads Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas. He started playing in his father’s band at age 5 and recorded his first album, Zydeco Ballin’ when he was just 14. Today, the 20-year-old junior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a new album out, Doin’ It Big Time and appears poised to emerge from his father’s shadow. Those are big shoes to fill, but in a zydeco family, it’s just part of growing up.

Lil’ Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers: Doin’ It Big Time (MP3 download)

• KEDA Radio Jalapeno
  One of the best conjunto stations in the country, San Antonio’s KEDA Radio Jalapeno (1540 AM) is now broadcasting online. Crank up the tunes!
• Kimmo Pohjonen and Eric Echampard – Uumen – a RootsWorld review
  Review of the new album by Finnish avant-garde accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and French drummer Eric Echampard. “With time, in earshot of [Pohjonen and Echampard], the audibly attuned will soon dismiss every tired accordion cliché.”