Squeezebox Monsters
Attack West Coast Cities!
With what is perhaps the most maligned instrument in the world strapped to their chests, an international consortium of accordion players is launching a full-on assault on West coast cities this August. Canadian accordionist Geoff Berner and Stevhen Iancu of Japan will be joining Portland’s Eric Stern, Seattle’s Jason Webley and variety of special guests for seven nights of squeezebox mayhem everywhere from Seattle to Los Angeles.

“I keep meeting amazing accordion players in my travels, and wanted to bring some of the best together,” explains Webley, who organizes the annual tour.

The result is a tour-de-force featuring some of the most entertaining solo accordion performers in the world. But don't expect a night of polkas, because these aren't your grandmother's accordion monsters. Instead Webley and company will be delivering an evening filled with squeezebox-fueled drinking songs, dark tangos, Balkan anthems, and punk-infused Klezmer.

Stevhen Koji Iancu is a Japanese/Romanian British Immigrant who puts together a fiery blend of Gypsy music, fusing older Japanese styles of Enka with subtle elements of Cumbia, Ska, Punk, Balkan music, and many other styles. Iancu sings energetic, rhythmically driven songs about life's hardships and beauties in Japanese, Romanian, English, and Italian. He is the founder and primary member of The Dolomites, a constantly evolving band that has performed in many configurations at festivals, colleges and other venues across America, Europe and Japan. Iancu has also performed with numerous groups, including Balkan Beat Box, and was a touring member of Gogol Bordello.

"I want to make original Klezmer music that’s drunk, dirty, political and passionate," says accordion wielding songwriter Geoff Berner. Berner's music, inspired by traditional Jewish folk song and fueled by whiskey, dresses his wry wit and biting social commentary in shockingly beautiful, plaintive melodies. A constant traveler, he had taken these songs to festivals and stages in seventeen countries. Respected internationally for his songcraft, Berner has toured extensively with The Kaiser Chiefs and Billy Bragg, and has had his songs covered by many artists, including Jollie Holland. His 2009 release, "Klemzer Mongrels”, is a klezmer punk folk dance album about mixed-breeds of all kinds.

Eric Stern is the bandleader and primary composer of Vagabond Opera, Portland's favorite absurdist cabaret ensemble. A premiere operatic tenor, accordionist, composer and showman, Stern commands the room with his incendiary stage presence and devilish virtuosity. Son of an accomplished Gaullic accordionist, he is adept at countless styles, at times performing on a specially-tuned quarter tone instrument to play complex Arabic melodies. As a vocalist, Stern has appeared in over 30 operas, including leading roles in La Boheme and Carmen. Trained in the United States and Europe he has garnered international critical acclaim for his voice, musicianship and songwriting. Stern has worked with countless artists and appears on the most recent Decemberists album.

Street performer turned cult musician, Jason Webley is one of the best known songwriters currently carrying a squeezebox. His relentless touring schedule has built him a loyal fanbase all across North America, Europe and Australia, as well as a large following in Russia. Known for his gravelly voice and energetic foot-stomping, Webley's specialty is involving his audience in his shows. Almost every concert ends with the entire crowd locked arm-in-arm, singing his trademark "Drinking Song". Since the last Monsters of Accordion Tour, Webley has performed in the most remote parts of Siberia, collaborated with Mexican chart-topper Ximena Sarinana, recorded an EP with Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls and released his fifth album, The Cost of Living.

Street performer turned cult musician, Jason Webley is known for his gravelly voice, his caterwauling squeezebox, and his unique ability to involve the audience in his shows; most of his concerts end with the entire crowd locked arm-in-arm, singing at the tops of their lungs. Switching on a dime between childish sing-alongs and Leonard Cohen-like poetry, Webley has built a loyal following throughout Europe, North America and Australia, and has become a minor celebrity in Russia. While keeping a relentless touring schedule, he has released five albums and numerous collaborations, and has shared the stage with such artists as Regina Spektor, Devotchka, The Avett Brothers, and his frequent collaborators The Dresden Dolls.

The accordion was invented in Germany in the early 19th century and quickly spread throughout the world. It’s portability, flexibility and volume made it a tremendously popular instrument, becoming the driving sound in a musical styles from French musette to zydeco, Argentine tango to Klezmer. The accordion suffered a decimating blow in popularity with the rise of the electric guitar, becoming associated exclusively with polkas and Lawrence Welk, and becoming the universal symbol of musical nerdiness.

However in recent years, the accordion has enjoyed a renaissance. Partly due to the efforts of accordion troubadours such as Iancu, Webley and their fellow monsters, more and more young people have been picking up the squeezebox again. The accordion can be heard in roots music, cabaret groups, punk bands and in recent years, a few higher profile rock groups such as the Arcade Fire and the Decemberists have made the accordion a staple part of their sound.

“These things move in cycles, you know” says Webley. “I can foresee a day when playing the electric guitar will be a laughable thing, and people will be embarrassed to admit they ever took guitar lessons as kids.”

The "Monsters of Accordion" are playing from August 26 to September 1 in Seattle, Portland, Eugene, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Ashland.

Full details and ticket information about these concerts can be found at www.monstersofaccordion.com.

For more information write to: info(at)elevenrecords(dot)com