"They're Sgt. Sauerkraut's, Sgt. Sauerkraut's, Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Baaaaaaaaand".
A new regular mainstay at The Fest For Beatles Fans-Chicago, Sgt. Sauerkraut's Polka Band. For those not familiar with The Beatles, the name is a parody of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The band is led by Chicago comedian Danny Donuts, and consists of a tambourbanjo, a pogo-tambourine (or tambo-pogo), a standard issue tambourine, a washtub bass (complete with a clown car horn), drums, and keyboards, and some really cool Bowling Shirts!!!!
Not only is this a parody of The Beatles, but also some tongue-in-cheek humor towards the Chicago (and Milwaukee) Polka Community, who just happen to love bowling!!! All in good fun, no disrespect is meant to anybody's heritage. If you are from Chicago or Milwaukee, trust me - you get it.
The band takes well known Beatles songs, and polka-rizes them. Taking the tune and adding in traditional polka rhythms and humorous musical additions. A well-placed squeeze on the clown horn always fits right in. And the musical accompaniment of the tambourbanjo (and I'm betting I'm getting that instrument's name wrong), is just the perfect fit for the music. The festive and fast-paced polka tunes get all of the crowd up and dancing, from 5 months old to 95 years old - and everybody in between. Don't know how to polka? So what - people polka anyhow. Smiles from ear to ear in the crowd and on the stage.
But wait, there's more. Not only is the music polka-ized, the words are polka-ized as well. Mixing in traditional polka themes, wedding themes, Beatles themes, and Fest Weekend themes, all into the parodied Beatles song. Paying attention to the lyrics, fans can truly appreciate the clever mind of Danny Donuts.
Now, make no mistake, these are all accomplished musicians, most of the band plays (or played) in more than one Beatles and/or non-Beatles band, touring the Chicagoland scene for many years. This isn't just 4 people goofing around.......well, ok, it IS 4 people goofing around.......but they are also good musicians - and even though the music is meant to be funny - it still sounds very good, like music should.
In summary, if anybody sees this band, and does not have fun - my guess is they were unconscious the entire time.
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