Dave & Veronika Caballero Dave's Accordion School in Atwater Village have known the accordion is a hip instrument for a long time. They have been in Atwater since 1971. But now it seems mainstream music is bringing the squeezebox into vogue in all genres, including pop, rock and hip-hop.
Just this past weekend, on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Avenue Festival, the international band Kinky, from Monterrey, Mexico, played on the City Beat Stage. During a few of their techno-rock songs, Ulises Lozano brought out his accordion and added to the onstage frenzy. The accordion has always been very popular with Latino groups playing regional Mexican music and with Eastern European musicians, but it is finally getting the international attention it deserves with more diverse exposure. Who knew it’s sounds could be alternative rock and experimental and used to round out any mix? Even Rap! Hipsters and the rest of America are finding out the accordion is not just for Polka and Zydeco and are witnessing the biggest revival since the 1930’s.
Could it be the accordion is actually one of the most pop instruments of all? It certainly blends well with the latest spacey dance-funk techno rock as well as holds it’s own, alone. From classic accordion virtuosos and the likes of Clifton Chenier to hip-hop Madvillain, the instrument certainly shows it has range.
James Fearnley, of the Pogues, visits Dave’s Accordian in Atwater to have his Hohners mended.
For more of the lastest in accordion sounds, check out:
Brian Simms, of the Junkyard Saints, a DC/Baltimore-based seven-piece band performing its own brand of New Orleans-style party music — blending funk, swing, Latin, R&B, with some old-school zydeco.
Accordion-playing rappers:
Julz-A, and a song titled Burning Bellows
and
Ghorar Deem Express song Schonel Schnerb
Madvillain, Hip-Hop Accordian song
Those Darn Accordions, a San Franicsco group
The very “cowboy” Sourdough Slim (seen this past weekend at the Underwood Family Farms Harvest Fest, playing his accordion to the crowd).
A new accordion will set you back a couple thousand and a vintage one starts at a few hundred. Don’t forget about the custom-made ones, too, which are mostly made in Italy.
Contact Dave and Veronika for more information about their school, sign up for a class or to find out more about accordions in general.
Hip-Holka anyone?
Dave's Accordion School
3058 Glendale Blvd Los Angeles, CA
(323) 663-1907
