Brave Combo

During a show more than a decade ago — at the height of the Grand Emporium’s heyday and at the peak of Brave Combo‘s usual polkasetic explosion — the band suddenly began a bleary-eyed parade around 1 a.m., storming off the stage and — with accordion blazing — Pied-Pipering the whole crowd gingerly across Main Street toward the now dearly departed Pink Garter Strip-O-Rama, the sleepiest nudie bar in town. The dancers inside looked befuddled when Brave Combo strode through the door. But the graying patrons, ties askew and scotches sloshing, polkaed till their hips popped loose. Then, just as suddenly, the parade and the show were over. Years later, this Austin, Texas, band is still leading the way with the release of its 25-year commemoration Let’s Kiss, which landed Brave Combo a Grammy for Best Polka Album. Who knows — this time around the band might lead another parade through Ray’s Playpen to commemorate its first stop at Davey’s. We can always hope.