by jrodg » Mon Nov 23, 2009 7:36 pm
Afer giving this some thought, I think the question does merit a bit of discussion: The best and briefest answer to your question is probably that these two bands are working the most because they are big regional favorites: They please the people and assure most venues of a successful affair. There are many factors involved in such success, I think, but perhaps the most important factor of all in both of these cases is that each group intentionally , and with sincere devotion, carries on a major polka tradition that is beloved in the region ( with the MM's is is the Ray Henry legacy, as you mention, and with EFO it is Louie's heritage ---Each bandleader truly reveres one of these giants , and each is no doubt aware that in perpetuating their legacy they are keeping the loyalty of large numbers of polka fans in the region.
There are at least two other fine groups here that deserve similar success ( Lenny Gomulka and PCM ) , and both are quite successful in their own way, but with less emphasis on frequent local gigs and fan support. This is , I'm pretty sure, because, fine though their music is, it is not quite as revered as local polka "roots music" by many old-time local fans as that of Ray, Louie and their acknowledged successors. Lenny's and PCM's music is of course heavily influenced by Chicago/Midwestern styles; thus, not surprisingly, both groups are favorites around the country ,and particularly in the "Polka Midwest," which actually, style-wise, begins in Western Pennsylvania. You, may remember, John, that our old group, the Happy Harmony Boys, once had a similar situation : Since we chose to specialize in Chicago honky-style polkas, we were very popular in Pittsburgh and the Midwest, and reasonably so in Mass., but could rarely get work in Connecticut, where , then as now, "Eastern style" ( and particularly Ray Henry) "ruled." That's how I became aware of this phenomenon.
At the present time, polka music in our state,Connecticut, is really in "dire straits." In Mass., it's better off ( and EFO has a big part in keeping it alive there ). Incidentally, it's important to note, that, although MM and EFO have strong "Ray" and "Louie" ties, that's far from all they do: EFO plays lots of other good, popular polka music in an upbeat, "Push-like" style : They do seem to prefer playing close to home for the most part. Maestro's men play a lot of "push style" polkas ( including quite a few EB numbers) as well as some nice honky numbers, too : I think they have a clever , successful formula of offering something for every type of "Polish style" fan ( in addition to which, they even have a nice German set) . Having seen MM at Seven Springs and read and heard about their frequent Midwest tours, I know that they are favorites througout these regions, too --- Maestro's Men even win Chicago-based IPA awards regularly : All of this shows that they do much, much more than "just Ray Henry covers" , and they are clearly considered a favorite group by polka fans everywhere.
Your question ( and comment that a given band just doesn't "turn you on big time") raises an interesting issue which might make for a good discussion in its own right; namely, "What really makes a band our favorite ( or not )? "---i suspect that this is actually a big and complex issue , and that many different people judge bands by many different criteria, ranging , for example , from the poster who often writes that he wants his bands to follow one given standard ( He regularly lists his preferred stage line-up, instrumentation, etc.) ; to others who prefer a charismatic personality , great ( or favorite, anyway ) singer or entertainer, a certain beat, old country ( or else modern/innovative) flavor ; party image, etc., etc.---Yes, and some clearly consider appearance and clothing an important factor, too---not to speak of personal preferences: I hear quite a few people saying that a band is not their favorite because they don't care for one or more of the performers personally, or because they are rivals of their favorites --- Then there's the whole honky/vs push, Polish vs. English vocal, etc. , etc. thing---and for some, it's just a matter of "taste" ( which may or may not involve any of the criteria mentioned before) ------- and almost every individual sees/hears this somewhat differently : "One man's music is another's noise." One thing's for sure , though: Just because you or I or someone else isn't thrilled by a given group doesn't necessarily mean that they're not the people's favorites---and if they are,and are playing "all the time" at many different venues, they must be doing something ( and probably, I think, a lot of things) right. ---
