Main Squeeze Orchestra at the Bowery Poetry Club

Last week I took a trip to Main Squeeze accordion shop and met the owner, Walter Kühr. Walter told me about his unique 14 women accordion orchestra called, appropriately enough, The Main Squeeze Orchestra. I was quite intrigued by this unusual musical orchestra idea and decided to go check them out tonight at The Bowery Poetry Club and Cafe. I’ve never been to the Bowery Poetry Club and have always wanted to check it out, so tonight we kill two birds with one stone and fourteen accordions!

I came here early to get a ticket, because I had a feeling it might sell out, but they told me that they don't sell tickets in advance and to come back a little bit before the show, which is about an hour and a half away. Okay, time to improvise.

I was going to go to Milano's bar and have a few beers, but as I passed by Emilio's Ballato Italian restaurant, I decided to have a Sunday dinner in here instead. I've always wanted to stop in here and tonight's the night.

Inside it's a classic, old-school red sauce joint.

This is my table armed with fresh bread and Peroni beer. My waiter told me he thinks this restaurant has been on the block since 1956.

A view from my table, there's pictures all over the place and you could spend the entire evening looking at them.

Here's a signed photo of Andy Warhol who once proclaimed that everyone would be Italian for fifteen minutes.

And here comes dinner, I started off with the house salad and it was as good as it looks.

One of the specials of the night was spaghetti and meatballs, so I had to order that. It was the best I've ever had!

Burp! Delicious, now let's see if they're letting people into the Main Squeeze Orchestra show.

Okay, let's try this again.

They're still not selling tickets, so I hung out in the front coffee house area.

The lovely and friendly Bailey was working the counter and was happy to pose for a photo. Great smile!

There's tables, chairs and a booth opposite the coffee counter to sit and relax in.

And sitting at one of the tables is part of the Main Squeeze Orchestra, Rebecca and Stephanie. After a quick chat, I decided to check on the ticket situation.

Well, I'm glad i got there when I did,  shortly after I approached the ticket area a line formed out the door.

Finally, they started letting people into the theater.

Inside the orchestra was getting in place on stage.

As you can see, it's a full house. The Main Squeeze Orchestra packs them in!

It looks like the orchestra is in place and waiting to begin the show.

And here's conductor and band leader, Walter on stage checking things out.

Here he is giving out last minute instructions and chatting with the women of the orchestra.

Okay, the left side is ready...

And the right looks ready to start squeezing and playing away...

The conductor's sheet music is in place on the stage, front and center.

Walter takes his place...

And, boom, they're off and the concert has begun. It's amazing to hear all these accordions at once, with the way it's arranged, it sounds like a full orchestra.

The concert is an all Russian-themed show. The songs are all Russian tunes written by Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Stravinsky, and Tchaikovsky. In between the music, Russian Studies scholar Alexa Voytek gives an introduction of the upcoming song. Educational and very entertaining.

This is one of the most unique and fun shows I've ever been to.

Lots of photos are being taken in the crowd.

And this woman was video-taping the whole show, maybe you'll be able to get a copy in the future, keep your eyes on the MSO website!

But even when there's something so unique and fun as this show, some people just can't stop checking their phones. Sheesh!

The Main Squeeze Orchestra is projected on the screen behind the musicians.

After the show, Walter thanked the crowd and introduced each member of the orchestra.

He gives a final bow and the show is over. It was really a great and unusual evening of music and fun and I highly recommend seeing them if you get a chance.

Further Reading: New York Magazine, Paris Review and NPR.

Sweet dreams are made of this.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Bonus Letter of Reference by Tim “Clacky” Clack!

My mate in Australia, Clacky threatened promised to write a letter of reference for me, since I’m job hunting these days. And he came through with his threat promise for me and here it is! Thanks, Clacky!...I think?

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 To Whom It May Concern:
 
I’m writing in regards to offering a sound character and professional employment reference for my esteemed acquaintance and friend, Marty Wombacher.
 
I’ve only known Marty for a very brief number of years, and have only been in his immediate presence on a mere 4…maybe 5 occasions, but I feel that I am highly qualified to offer my positive endorsement, even though 4 or maybe 5 of those occasions I was indeed under the influence of, not only Marty’s generous hospitality, but full strength alcohol….(hiccup!).
 
From what I can recall, Marty is a fully focused and driven individual that kicks goals and makes friends wherever he goes, but lets face it, bar flies will talk to anyone. They even talked to me!
 
Marty is a hard worker and will not kiss your ass in fact, he’ll tear you a new one. If that is what it is that your desire, but don’t let that deter you, he also has a soft side. I don’t know where it is though. I assume it is kept in the fridge next to the mustard and cheese whiz.
 
I would have no hesitation offering Marty full time employment with your company. That’s because it is your company.  Not mine. I don’t have a company.
 
Please don’t call him in to work on the weekends or public holidays. That would just piss him off. Pissing Marty off is usually not the best option. Just because he is a Midwestern native is no reason to assume that he hasn’t developed a strong New York personality.  
 
All in all, Marty is the freakin’ Peoples Champion!! Give him a crack!
 
If you would like to contact me for further discussion, please feel free to go eat a shit. I’m not available.
 
Cheerio!
 
Tim Clack
 
Owner proprietor (unlicensed)
Bunt’s Bar and suburban Resort and Spa

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Bonus Beatnik Art From Jaws!

Jaws the Cabbie sent in this kooky beatnik art to accompany the fantasy he described in his comment. Cool beans, Jaws, thanks!

Main Squeeze

I find a lot of things to write and post about at TWM by pure accident and this is one of those cases. Years ago when I first moved here and was doing some freelance writing for New York Newsday, I had written about a shop in midtown that only sold accordions. I wondered if it was still in business, so I Googled, “accordions nyc” and while I didn’t find the shop in midtown, I think I found something and someone more interesting. Intrigued? Then come along as I take a little trip to a shop called, Main Squeeze owned by Walter Kühr on the Lower East Side.

And here we are at Main Squeeze on Essex street, love the neon in the window! This shop was opened in May, 1996. Let’s go inside and see what’s happening.

It’s a long, narrow space. I had called Walter in advance to see if it was okay to do this and he told me to stop by. He’s in the back office and told me to take a look around and he’d be out in a little bit. So let’s take a tour of Main Squeeze.

A Main squeeze window poster hangs in the window. It turns out that the woman in the picture is the same woman that got Walter interested in the accordion at the tender age of 6-years-old in his homeland of Germany.

Walter also uses this image on a postcard he sells in the shop, a beautiful photo and a beautiful woman!

I haven’t seen this many accordions in one room since I did my New York Newsday story. The cool thing about accordions is how each one has its own distinctive look and style.

There’s accordions on display in display cases...

And up on shelves. It’s like a Myron Floren wet dream in here!

This is a cool one, I like the blue color.

It’s a double A accordion, Alfred and Arnold.

An accordion that’s doubling up as a hat stand for this fedora.

A Hohner melodica, I just got a Hooter’s flashback!

There’s more than accordions for sale in here, here’s a whole wall of accordion and polka CD’s.

Love this accordion postcard!

A vintage accordion album cover hangs on the wall. Ooh la la!

There’s also bins of sheet music for sale in here.

Papa John would love this, Monday, Monday for the accordion.

In addition to Main Squeeze, Walter has a nine piece Latin jazz band called The Last of the International Playboys and he’s the conductor and mastermind of the Main Squeeze Orchestera which is an 14 piece, all female accordion orchestra. “Girls Gone Weill,” ha ha ha!

A picture of the orchestra is proudly displayed on the stores wall. Four years ago Walter’s mother was in town celebrating her 80th birthday and the orchestra was playing at the Zipper Factory and they played “Happy Birthday” to her. Walter said it was a great moment for the woman who inspired him to play the accordion as a child.

Here’s the women of the very first orchestra. The Main Squeeze orchestra is truly a dream come true for Walter. I asked him how he thought of such a unique orchestra and he told me he had a dream of 18 women in pigtails and white shirts on a tour bus heading home after a concert. When he woke up he said it was something he new he had to do and he did it. Here’s a picture of the original orchestra from 2002. Since then, he’s pared it down to 14 women, an amazing and unique idea!

And if you’re curious about this and are in the New York area, you can see them live tomorrow night at the Bowery Poetry club. This is the flyer and here’s more information about the show.

There’s lots of cool little items in this display case ranging from an accordion key chain, to tie pins to burlesque playing cards to...

Accordion neckties, I may have to get one of these!

And here’s a portrait of the musician squeezing his true love, the accordion. Walter told me that people shopping online at sites like eBay have hurt his sales and wondered why people don’t like to go out and shop and intermingle with other people. “They don’t know what they’re losing,” he told me and I agree.

He also said that it’s a shame about all the chain stores popping up in New York. One more point I agree with Walter on, I wish there were more unique shops like Main Squeeze around town. I’m glad it’s still there and hope it thrives, stop by and buy a tie if you’re in the neighborhood.

I did!

And one glance at the backward neon and it’s out the door we go.

Main Squeeze
19 Essex St.
212-614-3109

Further Reading: accordion to karen, NY Times and Hey Girl.

Everybody’s lookin’ for something.

Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!

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Bonus Album Cover Art By Danny The Freelancer!

Danny the Freelancer turned Friday's Happy Hour into album cover art, check it out! Very cool, Thanks, Danny!

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Bonus CBBM Mutation Sighting By blue glass!

Blue glass found this Cardboard Box Man mutation photo and sent it in along with this message: "Guests found the chimney’s expression unsettling, though Roger insisted upon its benevolence. This turned out to be his undoing." Aaahhhh!