Well, someone had to do it. Realizing that the twin strains of punk and polka had to meet eventually, Polkacide was born in San Francisco in the mid-'80s. The punk aspects are actually more in the band's general spirit, both in the overall tone of irreverence and in the faster (not to say manic) pace taken on some of the pieces, including traditional numbers. Accordions and reeds are up front in the mix, the ensemble keeping the arrangements tight enough to pass a polka test but loose enough to allow for slurred lines, loony shouts, and a general sense of relaxed fun amidst the chaos. One of the most successful conglomerations of these styles is the delirious "Who Stole the Keeshka?," with its degeneration into rhythmic lunacy and its chorus line, "Who stole the Keeshka?/Let's go kick his ass!" Then there's Polkacide's take on "In Heaven There Is No Beer," complete with an introductory oration on the history of polka and beer from Rev. Lord Abronski and vocal antics from the crew indicating that there may have also been no beer left behind in the studio. It's all great fun and an album that no self-respecting polka fan, to the extent that there are such creatures, can afford to be without. ~ Brian Olewnick, All Music Guide
Polkacide is a band based in the San Francisco Bay Area that plays their own unique style of polka, which can be characterized as "punk polka". They have appeared on the Doctor Demento television show and have made several recordings.
Band history
Polkacide, founded in 1985 by Ward Abronski, was originally organized to play a one-night stand for the 50th anniversary of the Deaf Club in San Francisco. The Deaf Club (which actually is a club for deaf people) had been hiring rock and punk bands to perform for them because they were so loud that club members could dance to them. It was suggested that some of the more elderly members did not want a punk band for the anniversary show. This inspired Abronski to form a "really loud polka band" for the occasion. None of the original members (12 in all) were polka musicians at the time, but they had varied backgrounds in music, including classical, rock, punk and jazz. Clarinetist Neil Kaitner, a.k.a Neil Basa, came up with the name for the band and also designed the band logo, which features a skull and crossed sausages.
Band members were recruited, costumes made (black leather lederhosen with spikes, etc.,) and a repertoire of classic polkas learned in a three-month period leading up to the Deaf Club's 50th anniversary party. One week before the performance was to take place, it was cancelled due to noise abatement orders from local authorities. Rather than let their efforts go to waste, the band determined to play at least one performance and managed to be included in a punk show at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco, a major punk venue at the time. Polkacide played loud, fast polkas at a thrashing punk tempo while mowhawk-headed punks stage dived and moshed in the pit along with the punk-dirndl clad Polka Sluts who turned out in support of the band.
Members of other bands that performed that night at the Mabuhay were still talking and laughing about it when they went to play other venues later that week, and word spread to booking agents and club owners about the "Punk Polka Band" Polkacide. The band has been playing ever since.
