Three Years Ago Today…

On Saturday, May 1st, 1999, I took the accordion out and played it in public for the first time. I soon discovered that I could wear it like a backpack when I wasn’t playing it, which made it convenient to take whereever I went. That in turn led me to discover that interesting things happen when you carry an accordion around on your back. Life hasn’t been the same since.

I’ve got two accordions — the original, a Titano two-reed student model, which I call the “Street Accordion” and a Crucianelli three-reeder, which is the “Club Accordion”, which I bought in November 2000. The Street Accordion is the better-travelled of the two, having accompanied me to New York City, Burning Man, San Francisco, L.A. and Prague. The Club Accordion’s been to San Francisco.

Here are some notable things people have said to me:

• Can you actually play that?
• Is that heavy?
• It’s my birthday. Can you play Happy Birthday for me?
• I’ll give you 20 bucks if you can play In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
• I’ve never seen an Asian guy play an accordion before.
• My Dad plays the accordion! (Usually a woman says this. I think it’s some kind of Elektra complex thing, which is good.)
• That’s such a cool…what do you call that instrument?
• I run a software company. Would you like a job? (I’ve been asked this at least a dozen times.)
• (while pressing the keys when I’m not squeezing it) Howcum it’s not making any sound?

I thought I’d post the all-time-best accordion picture in my collection in honour of this event. It doesn’t have me in it, but it does have the accordion:

Thanks to everyone who took part in my accordion adventures. I’m certainly planning on having more.