Revvin' Up the Reindeer cover
While I can't agree with Disneyland and Target, who start decorating for Christmas, Hanukkah, and the rest of the December holidays while Halloween is barely in the rear view mirror (if at all), I'm willing to occasionally make an exception here to my "no celebrating Christmas 'til after Thanksgiving" rule if the song or video is fun enough.
Consider this an exception. It's the world-premiere of a brand new song from Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could. The song's called "New Accordions," and it's from Revvin' Up the Reindeer, Rymer's first holiday album, and in particular the song features a whole bunch of accordion work from not one but two of the Little Band That Could, Claudia Mussen and Seth Farber.
The video is every bit as energetic as the song, bright colors, fast movement, and the briefest of holiday medleys. (Side note: accordions are guaranteed party generators. I still remember an Oktoberfest party many years ago where a coworker brought her accordion and played, much to the delight of the youngsters and oldsters in attendance.) It's a holiday song that won't make you tired of holiday songs, and I'm happy to be world-premiering it.
AAAAANNNDDDD make sure to scroll past the video itself for some comments about life with an accordion from Claudia Mussen herself!
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could - "New Accordions" [YouTube]
My Life With an Accordion
I decided to pick up the accordion about twelve years ago. I had never played one before but had it in my head that it would be a fabulous addition to the band. Brady raised an eyebrow and said, "go for it!" I had my eye on a little red Hohner accordion being sold on eBay. I sat near the computer and CLICK! Got it! It shipped from Germany and it was perfect.
Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could around the Christmas tree
I took a few lessons with the late Walter Kerr who had an accordion shop called The Main Squeeze. And then my bandmate Seth Farber (keyboardist and accordion player extraordinaire) gave me a few lessons.
A couple of years ago at a gig, a child came up to me and said," I have an accordion too!" I said," oh yeah? Where is it?"
She said," it's at home in its case where it belongs." Hahahaha.
Like anything else, devoting time to practice makes you better and better at anything you love doing. I'm a work in progress on that thing!
My son and dog aren't fans. My son: "Really mom? That thing is so loud!"
My dog Ziggy : *ears down. Hides under kitchen table*
Everyone's a critic!
~ Claudia Glaser-Mussen
Claudia Müssen on the accordion!
Photo credits: Jeremy Gordon
