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Tommy Emmanuel the Guitar Boogie-man

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My old pal Dominic just sent me this link that shows this fabulous guitarist called Tommy Emmanuel performing Guitar Boogie. He does some fine guitar picking on this one tune that is truly worthy of being called FANTASTIC!

The beginning part reminds me of the great guitarist Brian Setzer. Brian has this Bluesy, Jazz, Swing Rockabilly technique that stands apart from the rest of us guitar players. Tommy Emmanuel certainly has this effect in this piece and a whole bunch more.

At 0:18 of the song, he implements both solo rhythm parts perfectly. I have to work on this aspect of playing and now I have something to work work on finally.

He then breaks into wonderful flat picking that makes my tongue hit the ground at 0:34. Some people have this gift and others … I’ve never been one for playing mind bending, speed breaking solo’s because one I can’t and two it’s not me.

Another favorite part of this piece comes at 1:07. It demonstrates the semi-tone slide up to a chord that can’t help but make you tap your foot. The little chops that he puts in there, for good measure, places his musical talent bar a little higher then most of us can reach, but we MUST TRY PEOPLE!

From 1:33 to … he incorporates the use of his two bottom fingers on his right, picking hand for solo/lead phrasing and gives your pick holding fingers a real workout! I cannot emphasis this any more, to guitarist out there, that this is a technique that you should work on. It comes in handy, more often then not, in a song (or while jamming) that will help showcase you guitar diversity! Another song to help persuade you to perfect this picking style is Steve Howe’s The Clap.

I don’t want to ruin it by giving it all away, so please check this work of art out and tell me what you think of it?

Keep on Jammin’





Who says Polka bands don’t rock

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The Schmenge Brothers were a world class polka band played by John Candy and Eugene Levy on the popular Canadian comedy TV show SCTV.

They were the leaders of the polka band The Happy Wanderers. The characters were a polka band twosome, that made you laugh and cry at all their crazy on stage antics and the over the top songs that they performed for us weekly. I can still see our old rabbit eared, black and white television set that I watched them on in my mind.

John Candy played the polka clarinetist Yosh Schmenge, while Eugene Levy was the zany accordion player Stan Schmenge. They were also so very gracious to the little people behind the scenes. This was always the case when they never forgot to say thanks to Mrs Vilve Yachke for the cabbage rolls and coffee. They were so mainstream that Yosh even made it to Sesame Street!

This band first appeared in the May 21, 1982. It was a show within a show. The band played this easy listening style of music, like Lawrence Welk, only thing missing was the bubble machine! At one time they were into even venturing into the New Wave genre… honestly.

The guys were from this mythical country called Leutonia, complete with very thick European accents. They even did a album. On this facetious 2 set disk, they play songs like “Dance, Old Man Dance”, “Just a Schmenge Waltz”, “There’s Rhythm In My Lederhosen”, “Mama Cook Me Cabbage Rolls”, “The Wanderer’s Polka”. A must for any Schmenge collection!

The Schmenge Brothers were a class act. Their act was based upon Czechoslavian-born Edmonton-based polka cable show host Gaby Haas, really! They were both in Edmonton on night and were watching TV and they came across this show. They thought that it would be a neat idea to do a parody of it, but forgot about it when they returned back to Toronto. It took them a couple of years to get back to the idea and when they did it, it was a hit to say the least.

The Schmenge Brothers popularity resulted in the HBO special The Last Polka (a parody of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Waltz). I’ve never seen it, but the reviews are great! Now I’ve to keep my eye out for that one.

When I was growing up watching SCTV, my favorite characters were the Schmenge Brothers, hands down. Both characters combined reminded me of a old friends father. The thing is, he really was the embodiment of both actors together! When I saw him, I saw them on the show. If you ever met him you know exactly what I mean.

Anyways, these guys were pure fun to watch on TV. The way they talked, the way the roamed around on their show and on how they made the Polka band just rocked! Sometimes the band portrayed the real essence of how a polka band would be on stage. Other times … not so much.

I do not have any of their shows on DVD, but when ever I am searching through my PVR(TVO) guide looking for a show and I see SCTV on it, I feel the urge to tape it and go back to those crazy TV viewing days as a kid.

So has anyone ever heard of the The Happy Wanderers, led by the Schmenge Brothers? If you haven’t then what do you think about them now?

Keep on Polka-in’

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