Today is Dyngus Day, and to explain what the heck that is, I asked Donald "Dandy Don" Hedeker, front man for Chicago's favorite polka rock band, The Polkaholics.

Don knows loads about polka and has introduced me to a bunch of cool Polish bars. He also helped me sell a bunch of my dive bar books by promoting them at his shows, and we've been shamelessly plugging each other ever since. Consider him the Bob Uecker to my Johnny Carson. Or something like that.

Here's the interview:

First off, what is a Polkaholic?

A Polkaholic is an escapee from the tired and dreary world of self-important indie rock. Polkaholism is the serious disease of having non-stop FUN! Symptoms include beer drinking, wearing Old Spice, sporting polyester clothes, having a desire for horn-rimmed glasses and eating lots of sausages.

No cure exists because the Polkaholic has no desire to be cured and return to the aforementioned dreary indie rock scene.

Okay. What is Dyngus Day?

From what I have learned, Dyngus Day is the day after Easter and celebrates the end of Lent--just like Fat Tuesday celebrates the day before Lent begins. Thus, it is the day that partying can begin again, having been nearly dead for many weeks. So it is like the Phoenix of Parties, rising up from the ashes to maintain itself, reclaiming its power and living again!!!

Or something like that.

Where can I go to party, and when I get there will I have to dump water on a woman then let her beat me with a switch?

These activities that you mention are all a part of the traditional antics that make Dyngus Day so special. Usually, one has to pay good money for such pleasures, but on Dyngus Day, they are free.

And so is the Polkaholics Dyngus Day show. That's right--FREE! We'll be playing at 8 p.m. at Stanley's Kitchen and Tap. The water dumping and switch beating could occur at any point, so be prepared!

Thanks, Don.

Readers, I have to point out that Don's enthusiasm is in no way faked. Offstage, he and his excellent band mates are actually the same exuberant, down-home, happy-go-lucky guys you see jamming on stage.

A couple of years ago, I went to their Christmas show at Lincoln Square Lanes. I was in a bathroom stall when the band came in the men's room to get dressed for the show. As they put on their ruffled shirts and white tuxedos, I overheard the guys discuss past shows.

What did they talk about? Their best sets? Scuffles with management? Equipment malfunctions?

Not exactly

One Polkaholic said, "Do you remember the sauerkraut we had at such-and-such hall?" And another said, "Oh, my god--that kraut was so good. But do you remember the kielbasa from that such-and-such show?"

"Oh, yeah," said another, and they gushed on about their favorite kielbasa for a good ten minutes. Absolutely amazing.

That sauerkraut really was very tasty!

Thanks for the plug!
Jolly James

Visit www.DyngusDayBuffalo.com to learn about the Dyngus Capital of the World.

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