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Home > Crystal Ballroom > Calendar > MONSTERS OF ACCORDION
 Thursday, August 27
MONSTERS OF ACCORDION
Featuring Jason Webley (Seattle WA), Stefanko Iancu (Tokyo, Japan), Geoff Berner (Vancouver BC), Eric Stern of Vagabond Opera (Portland OR)
and special guests Mood Area 52
7 p.m. show, 8 p.m. door | $12 advance, $12 day of show | All ages
ACCORDION MONSTERS ATTACK WEST COAST
In an event so popular that it has moved from Kennedy School to the Crystal Ballroom, one of the most feared instruments in the world will be demonstrated by four of its most notorious practitioners -- accordionists Jason Webley of Seattle, Stefanko Iancu from Tokyo, Geoff Berner out of Canada and Portland's own Eric Stern -- during this West Coast tour of squeezebox mayhem.
"I meet a lot of amazing accordion players in my travels, and I thought it would be really fun to bring some of the best together," explains Webley, who organized the tour.
The result is a tour-de-force featuring some of the most entertaining solo accordion performers currently working in North America. But don't expect a night of polkas, because these aren't your grandmother's accordion monsters. Instead Webley and company will be delivering five evenings of squeezebox-fueled drinking songs, klezmer-punk dirges, and rock anthems.
Geoff Berner, of Vancouver, is a self described "Klezmer mongrel" playing his original take on traditional Jewish folk music fueled by his wry, biting humor and more than a few shots whiskey. Former Gogol Bordello member, Stevhen Iancu of Tokyo sings fiery rhythm-driven songs marrying his Gypsy roots with traditional Japanese styles. Eric Stern, the devilishly virtuosic leader of Portland's Vagabond Opera, displays his acclaimed operatic tenor to the accompaniment of French musette, Balkan, and Arabic accordion stylings. These three are joined by infamous accordion howler, Jason Webley, of Seattle. Webley, who organizes the annual tour, is known for his passionate voice, his caterwauling squeezebox and his ability to get a room of strangers to throw their arms around each other and sing with abandon.
In recent years, the accordion has enjoyed a renaissance in attention. Partly due to the efforts of accordion troubadours such as Webley, Corn Mo and their fellow monsters, more and more young people have been picking up the squeezebox again. The accordion has been finding its way into roots music, cabaret groups, punk bands and in recent years, a few high profile rock groups such as the Arcade Fire and the Decemberists have made the accordion a staple part of their sound.
"These things move in cycles, you know" says Webley. "I can foresee a day when playing the electric guitar will be a laughable thing, and people will be embarrassed to admit they ever took guitar lessons as kids."
Full details and ticket information about these concerts can be found at www.monstersofaccordion.com.
JASON WEBLEY
Visit jasonwebley.com or myspace.com/jasonwebley for more information.
STEFANKO IANCU
Visit dolomitesmuzik.com or myspace.com/thedolomitesoriginal for more information.
GEOFF BERNER
Visit geoffberner.com or myspace.com/geoffberner for more information.
ERIC STERN of VAGABOND OPERA
Visit vagabondopera.com or myspace.com/ericsternvagabond for more information.
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| | Friday, November 20, 2009 | |  | |  | |  | |
