Arts in the age of Social Distancing, Accordion Edition
March 22, 2020 1:39 PM Subscribe
When the night falls, my loneliness calls. Here in Houston, we claim one of our best-kept secrets is our vibrant arts community.
This is still true even when we’re all socially distant. Houston’s A.S.S., a local band comprised of three accordions and a drummer, decided to view the isolation rules as an inspiring limit, and this is what came of it: a video for a cover of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," shot individually by the members of the band more or less improvisationally, and then assembled by one of the band members.
As a bonus, there’s "backup dancers" who also contributed from their homes— one here in town, and the other in Bangalore.
Anyway, this gives me joy, and it seemed it might give others joy, too.
As a bonus, there’s "backup dancers" who also contributed from their homes— one here in town, and the other in Bangalore.
Anyway, this gives me joy, and it seemed it might give others joy, too.
I love this and I'm so sad there's only two videos on their youtube channel. I want more.
posted by Tesseractive at 2:32 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Tesseractive at 2:32 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
There should be more three-accordion quartets in the world. I’ve never had occasion to think this before now, but now I’m convinced.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 2:42 PM on March 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 2:42 PM on March 22, 2020 [4 favorites]
I should disclose that most of the band, and most of the people in the video, are friends of mine, but I had no part in its creation. I just love them, and what they do, and that the Blue might enjoy it.
There’s a pure joy in this band that I just can’t seem to articulate.
posted by uberchet at 2:58 PM on March 22, 2020 [10 favorites]
There’s a pure joy in this band that I just can’t seem to articulate.
posted by uberchet at 2:58 PM on March 22, 2020 [10 favorites]
Aww, this is really sweet and poignant. Thanks for posting, and please tell them they are super talented!
posted by Sparky Buttons at 3:40 PM on March 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Sparky Buttons at 3:40 PM on March 22, 2020 [2 favorites]
Puts the "social" in social distancing.
posted by Crankatator at 3:51 PM on March 22, 2020
posted by Crankatator at 3:51 PM on March 22, 2020
Did not expect to cry quite so hard.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:05 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:05 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
MetaFilter: I’ve never had occasion to think this before now, but now I’m convinced.
posted by hippybear at 4:25 PM on March 22, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 4:25 PM on March 22, 2020 [5 favorites]
I shall certainly be sending them this link!
I’ve known the married couple (only Cathy is technically in this band) and the bald guy for 20 years. The blonde I know less well, and the young drummer I don’t know at all, but if he’s friends with the rest of them that’s good enough for me.
posted by uberchet at 4:26 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
I’ve known the married couple (only Cathy is technically in this band) and the bald guy for 20 years. The blonde I know less well, and the young drummer I don’t know at all, but if he’s friends with the rest of them that’s good enough for me.
posted by uberchet at 4:26 PM on March 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
Thanks for this.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:29 PM on March 22, 2020
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:29 PM on March 22, 2020
Gosh, she's got a lovely voice.
Plus: dog! You are always dancing with someone who loves you, when you are dancing with dog!
posted by Countess Elena at 6:01 PM on March 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
Plus: dog! You are always dancing with someone who loves you, when you are dancing with dog!
posted by Countess Elena at 6:01 PM on March 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
This is fun and oddly specific since I suspect I am the only one here that runs (not since the shutdown) a accordion shop.
posted by boilermonster at 11:28 PM on March 22, 2020 [9 favorites]
posted by boilermonster at 11:28 PM on March 22, 2020 [9 favorites]
This is fun and oddly specific since I suspect I am the only one here that runs (not since the shutdown) a accordion shop.
Ok, I'm listening.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:28 AM on March 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
Ok, I'm listening.
posted by Literaryhero at 5:28 AM on March 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
This is fun and oddly specific since I suspect I am the only one here that runs (not since the shutdown) a accordion shop.
I’m sure you’re feeling the squeeze more than most.
posted by notoriety public at 5:45 AM on March 23, 2020 [8 favorites]
I’m sure you’re feeling the squeeze more than most.
posted by notoriety public at 5:45 AM on March 23, 2020 [8 favorites]
hippybear, you just gave me my first belly laugh in days! I needed that, and that made me tear up.
Great post, uberchet; thank you for perking up my morning. She does have a lovely voice, and nice to hear accordions played without the raucousness I associate with them.
posted by jaruwaan at 6:47 AM on March 23, 2020
Great post, uberchet; thank you for perking up my morning. She does have a lovely voice, and nice to hear accordions played without the raucousness I associate with them.
posted by jaruwaan at 6:47 AM on March 23, 2020
I have been selling and repairing accordions for 25 years in Oakland CA.
posted by boilermonster at 8:47 AM on March 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by boilermonster at 8:47 AM on March 23, 2020 [3 favorites]
boilermonster - did you ever sell accordions at the Berkeley flea market? Because i bought a button accordion there probably a bit more than 25 years ago!
posted by moonmilk at 10:36 AM on March 23, 2020
posted by moonmilk at 10:36 AM on March 23, 2020
Accordion music makes me feel good -- comfort food for the ears in any style.
My niece plays the accordion, among other things. I believe her mother (also a violinist & pianist) does, too, and possibly her older sister dabbles (who is an accomplished fiddler).
One of my kids has been posting songs for a week now to a private channel that he calls "quarantine covers," and he did an Edith Piaf song the other day on ukulele that made me as happy as the original, accordion-heavy, version does.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:00 PM on March 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
My niece plays the accordion, among other things. I believe her mother (also a violinist & pianist) does, too, and possibly her older sister dabbles (who is an accomplished fiddler).
One of my kids has been posting songs for a week now to a private channel that he calls "quarantine covers," and he did an Edith Piaf song the other day on ukulele that made me as happy as the original, accordion-heavy, version does.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:00 PM on March 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have been selling and repairing accordions for 25 years in Oakland CA.
I’ve had both of my accordions repaired there over the past decade :)
posted by donatella at 5:35 PM on March 23, 2020
I’ve had both of my accordions repaired there over the past decade :)
posted by donatella at 5:35 PM on March 23, 2020
I am pleased to note that they are at it again, this time with a local favorite usually on,y heard around Octoberfest.
posted by uberchet at 4:34 PM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by uberchet at 4:34 PM on March 28, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by brainwane at 2:21 PM on March 22, 2020 [3 favorites]