Someone I know by way of Miss Fipi Lele took the “I Walk the Line” photo of me and with a little Photoshop, gave me the Abbey Road treatment:
The Abbey Road cover features the Beatles walking in the other direction, but thanks to the power of Photoshop (well, actually Adobe Fireworks), it’s easy to flip the photo:
Photo by Sean Galbraith.
A couple of days ago, Sean Galbraith was cleaning out his parents’ house and came across his mom’s old Hohner Verdi IV accordion. She told him that it had one oiwner prior to her and she believes it’s from the early 1960s. She hasn’t played it in about 15 years and suggested that Sean find a good home for it. Sean sent me an email asking if I’d like to adopt it, and without hesitation, I said “YES!”
I dropped by Sean’s place last night to pick up the Hohner. I brought a pair of accordion straps, which was a good thing, as the original straps have long since worn away to almost nothing. I gave the accordion a test play and Sean took some photos, two which are shown here.
Photo by Sean Galbraith.
The accordion has a single set of reeds (no switches) and a full 120 bass buttons (which provide two rows of bass notes, major, minor 7th and diminished chords). All the keys and buttons seem to work, and I’ve been able to get decent volume out of it. Although it needs tuning — it has been lying dormant for 15 years, after all — it has that Hohner sound. I need to book some time to take it up to Caringi Accordion House in Woodbridge and have Mr. Caringi give it a tune-up.
The Hohner’s going to be an excellent addition to my collection. Sean, once again I’d like to thank you for thinking of me when you found the accordion. Rest assured, it’s found a home where it’ll be loved…and played!
Just as Big Gay Al has a gay animal sanctuary (see the Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride episode of South Park for the whole story), I have a sanctuary for accordions…gay or straight.
If I ever release an album, this Johnny Cash-a-riffic photo that Morgan Johnston took of me in Austin will have to figure into the album art somehow:
Photo by Morgan Johnston.
Click on the photo to see it on its original Flickr page.
Although he Twittered the opposite, Stowe’s a real accordion fan:
Thanks to Stowe for posing for these shots!
Master Chief feels the accordion love!
On Saturday, the Ginger Ninja and I attended my friend Hector Catre’s birthday bash. I met Hector about thirty years ago through his brother Nic, with whom I went to high school and played in a Billy Idol/Platinum Blonde cover band. Hector’s been around for all sorts of hijinks (including the Worst Date Ever), and I was more than happy to celebrate another trip around the sun with him. Happy birthday, Hector!
Rule #1: Accordion + booze = fun.
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
I’m glad to see that people still remember AC/DC’s Big Balls.
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
“Any requests?”
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
Stone Temple Pilots’ Plush is an accordion song that doesn’t know it yet.
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
The people at the next table asked for some Smashing Pumpkins; I gave ’em Cherub Rock.
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
“Thank you! I’m here all night!”
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
Me and Hector, enjoying the elixir of life.
Photo courtesy of Jodi Brown.
If you missed the first set of photos, they’re in this entry.
I didn’t get a photo of Anneke trying out the accordion, but Michele did:
Click the photo to see it on its original Flickr page.
Photo courtesy of Michele Perras.
We can’t forget Yours Truly, pictured below in his Accordion Happy Place…
Click the photo to see it on its original Flickr page.
Photo courtesy of Michele Perras.
There are more photos in Michele’s photoset of the party.