I have always loved John Candy. I miss him dearly. Uncle Buck is a classic comedy, right up there with Some Like It Hot. I also treasure his cameo in Home Alone, where he plays Gus Polinski, band leader for the Kenosha Kickers polka band. Growing up around a father that was obsessed with polka music, and as a kid having to go to numerous Polish picnics and have my father talk to various band members that he grew up with, I can truly appreciate Candy’s character in the movie.
I decided to show my love and appreciation recently by ordering myself a Gus Polinski Kenosha Kickers tour jacket. Gold with red piping, the band’s logo emblazoned on back and the name “Gus” embroidered on the left breast. I ordered a 3XL through Amazon, figuring that would make it comfortable to wear. Well, when the package came a few days ago and I saw the Asian shipping address, I knew that I was going to be a little disappointed. The 3XL in Asia clothing mirrors an XL here in the US. It barely fit, and the sleeves are a bit tight. Moreover, the name “Gus” is not embroidered but is a simple patch sewn on. I did write a negative review on Amazon, but I don’t feel like going through the hassle of returning it, as I will still have to pay postage and fight the foreign company through Amazon.
Congratulations to my “kid sister” Vickie Vaughn, who this past week won Bass Player of the Year at the IBMA World of Bluegrass Awards Show for the second year! She totally deserves it, as she is a workhorse when it comes to performing live. She currently plays with both Della Mae and High Fidelity, as well as sits in with a number of other touring bands and, when she’s home in Nashville, spanks the doghouse bass on Mondays with Bronwyn Keith-Hynes at Dee’s Lounge. I suggest that you watch the Dee’s Lounge YouTube channel on Monday evenings for Bronwyn’s jam sessions.
I first met Vickie in 2014 at the IBMA Leadership Bluegrass conference. We hit it off immediately. I call her my kid sister not only because she is everything that I would have wanted in a younger sister, but that our personal lives have paralleled in many ways over the years. She knows that she can always count on me if she ever needs anything, and she stays in my heart even though our paths cross maybe once per year. Check out some of her work with High Fidelity and solo stuff on YouTube!
This past week the David Mayfield Parade (Man, I love that band!) posted a video for their single “Times Winding Up.” The Bluegrass Today website posted an article about it, stating that fans are angered by the graphic violence portrayed (https://bluegrasstoday.com/fans-outraged-at-bluegrass-bands-shocking-new-music-video/). Well, I had to check it out, and yep, I fell for John Lawless’ tongue-in-cheek review. As I stated in the comments section, DMP is a fantastic band, and I love that they did something different than the cliché bluegrass video of the band lip-syncing to the song while performing on a log cabin porch, or shots of them recording in the studio. No, this video has a storyline, and you will love it! Watch it and see what I mean.
Chew on it and comment.
Luegra 