Push this--you honky!!

So the following may not be considered Extreme Polka, but without these bands- bands such as The Polkaholics® may not have evolved into the Extreme Polka band that we are now.

Be sure to check out the push style of polka: Push style polka (also know as the Honky style) is played at a slow tempo with heavy amplification, much syncopation, and clear solos. Hey sounds just like us doesn't it? We have the heavy amplification and hey- Dandy Don's solos sure are clear! A good example of a Push style artist is Lenny Gomulka Lenny was even written about in Billboard Magazine a few years ago describing push style polka music.

And perhaps the artist who is the most well known of the push- or Honky style of polka is Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones. And he is a home town boy! Their album Another Polka Celebration won the 1986 Grammy in the Polka Category. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship in 1998. Not too shabby! Anyone who beats out that hack Jimmy Sturr is all right with me! If you can get your hands on it- listen to their second album from 1963: Here Come The Versatones, and though I've not heard it their Live and Kickin album from 2001 is supposed to be really great.

And how can I not mention the King of Polka Lil' Wally Jagiello. Without Lil' Wally, the world of Extreme Polka may never have come to fruition. He is the undisputed KING of polka and especially the (dare I say) inventor of Chicago Push style. Please please please search out his albums- he has some excellent recordings.

Taken from http://www.polamjournal.com: He is credited as being the main force behind promotion and national introduction of the "Chicago" style polka. His recording of "Zosia" (Sophie) polka was at first labeled "defective" by several disc jockies, but the popularity of the song gave the slower, more heartfelt tempo national exposure. Today, Chicago style polkas dominate the polka recording industry.

Hey sounds like us again! I think a lot of disc jockies and polka fans think our brand of extreme polka is defective!! I admit, the Polkaholics® may not be for everyone and that is ok, I mean I do not like all of the music that I hear either, but if you DO like polka be sure to check out these Push Style people- we would not be here without these guys.

James