Extreme Polka

More Cow Bell!!

Happy birthday to Christopher Walken!
He has an eXtereme sense of humor and damn can the man dance!!
So raise a glass and wish "More Cow Bell" to Mr. Walken.

Simon Wants The Polkaholics

SO- you'll never believe this but NBC actually contacted The Polkaholics@ to perform on Simon Cowell's next television creation:

>Hi, my name is Ann and I am working for Simon Cowell
>on a new variety show for NBC called "America's Got
>Talent." I came across the website for The
>Polkaholics and I love it! I think an act like that
>would be perfect for our show. Please contact me at
>your earliest convenience, I would love to speak with
>someone about your band! Thanks so much.
>
>Ann Lorenz
>Talent Coordinator
>"America's Got Talent"
>xxx.xxx.xxx ext xxx

>I will put you down for the evening of
>the 12th. Our talent bookers will contact you in a
>few days to go over specifics and confirm. Just so
>you know - you will have 3 - 5 minutes to show us your
>best! We are asking that musical acts prepare two
>numbers. Please let me know if you have any questions
>- looking forward to seeing you in Chicago!
>
>Ann Lorenz
>Talent Coordinator
>"America's Got Talent"
>zzz.xxx.yyy ext vvv

Will we be booed? Will Simon hand us our asses? Will we be the next big thing? Who knows but it's all going to be taped on April 12th. We have 5 minutes to impress Mr. Cowell.
At the very least- we'll make sure to leave the NBC studios smelling like Old Spice and Old Style!

Thank You Th' Legendary Shack Shakers!

Th' Legendary Shack Shakers asked us to open up for them at The Abbey Pub on 3/18/06.
What a wild and crazy night it was! Lots of tattoos and greased up hair-there were even lederhosen worn on stage- and LOUD GUITARS!
We hope that we get to play more dates with these guys...hell J.D. Wilkes even asked if we would tour with them! Who knows? Thanks Mark, David Lee and J.D.- you are 3 of the nicest guys around.

Psycho Billy eXtreme Polka Night!

Who needs all of that silly green beer on Friday night!?! Not us! We want our beer to be it's wonderful golden color and it has to come in a can!
Come to our show on SATURDAY NIGHT MARCH 18th AT ABBEY PUB and enjoy something besides being Irish...like psycho billy music by Th' Legendary Shack Shakers and eXtreme polka music with The Polkholics®
Buy tickets here and save a few bucks!

Great Tribune Article About Polka!

Check out today's Chicago Tribune (Section 7, page 5) for an incredible article by Jamie Budzick about the tremendous polka scene here in Chicago!! Besides some great information about polka hotspots Club 505 and Rudy and Ann's, it also includes THE POLKAHOLICS!! That's right - you can read all about us and even see a very cool photo of Jolly James and Action Jackson polka-ing out!
Read it on-line! It also mentions our upcoming show next weekend - Saturday March 18 at the Abbey Pub - see more show details here.
for more details on this spectacular hellbilly-polka sandwich event!

March 18th Show @ Abbey Pub!

BUY TICKETS NOW Only $4 a band
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers- The Polkaholics - Velcro Lewis & The 100 Proof Band.
Doors at 9pm, show at 10pm.
Tickets $12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door.

(From The Abbey's Web Page)
SOUTHERN GOTHIC ROCK N ROLL
Hey you… Yes YOU! Need some music to jump-start your drab little life? Craving the best Southern Gothic rock & roll amusement you can get for your hard-earned money? Have you grown sluggish from years of going to shows, sticking your hands in your pockets, and wondering when everyone turned into “artists” instead of entertainers? Need some eye-popping, authentic sideshow humbuggery and vaudevillian exuberance? Brother, have we got a potent panacea for you: Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers. Hailing from Nashville (judge them not), the Shakers whip up a witch’s brew of hillbilly hellfire and blues brimstone. The locomotive rhythms of traditional bluegrass, the intensity of Mississippi roadhouse blues, and the full-on sonic assault of Slayer create a fertile and jumpy hybrid that will leave you a helpless, sweaty mess.

Location
Abbey Pub 3420 W. Grace (at Elston)
Phone Number
773-478-4408
Ticket Web Link

$12.00 in advance and $15.00 at the door

Outbreak of Polkaholism

Thanks Alex Sondgerath for this great letter!!!

An outbreak of polkaholism has struck my friend base - thanks to you guys.

I hope his email finds you well. Several of my friends and I went to your show last Saturday at Martyrs and I wanted to tell you how kick-ass it was. Before the show my friend Bill (we’re both members of D.U.P.A by the way) and I were talking to you about how you got started playing polka and you said originally you were into punk rock and enjoyed the interaction with the fans. That never really sunk in until I was at a show Wednesday at the Metro, and while the music was solid, there was zero connection between the audience and band. That’s what makes you guys so great; I sweat, jump, chant, sing, and pound Old Styles at your shows. At one point I bought a Pabst for your drummer (he looked parched) and was invited on stage to deliver it – very cool. Meeting Wild Wilson was a big bonus too. In fairness, I must tell you the one downside of your shows: I have atrocious hangovers the next day.

Polka On!
Alex Sondgerath