Harmonies and Bellows: My Roland V Accordion Odyssey - Part 2
From Flea Market Finds to Digital Mastery: Charting My Accordion's Transformative Journey
Continuing from where we left off a couple of weeks ago, let's dive deeper into my musical journey, focusing on the instrument that reshaped my sound - the accordion.
A Serendipitous Discovery: The Flea Market Accordion
Rewinding to the late 90s, amidst the energetic rhythms of Tejano/Conjunto music in Texas, my path crossed with a humble Santa Marsala accordion at a flea market where I decided to make the accordion leap. This chance encounter was more than just a purchase; it was the start of a deep, self-taught journey. Night after night, I toiled in my living room, mapping out the accordion's mysterious buttons and bellows, learning through trial and error, drawing from my musical background to decode this new challenge. This was before you could find everything on YouTube. My musical training and base knowledge helped me reverse engineer the notes. Being able to see some of the Conjunto artists live gave me a sense of the patterns also as I studied songs to learn and map out listening to the songs and figuring out the keys and notes.
Benny Rod: The Catalyst in My Accordion Story
A pivotal moment in my accordion odyssey occurred at Zebo’s Coffee House during an open mic night in 2005. I heard about this wonderful open mic from a coworker. My always encouraging wife said we should go check it out. I worked up a couple of classic and current songs to play on guitar. A couple were Bryan Adams - “Cuts Like a Knife”, Tim McGraw - “Live Like You Were Dying” and Dobie Gray - “Drift Away.”
Here, I met Benny Rod, a drummer with a rich blues background and an undeniable passion for music. Our conversation quickly turned to shared interests, and upon learning about my accordion skills, Benny's eyes sparkled with possibility. He saw potential in combining country music with accordion, a somewhat unconventional mix. Our newfound musical partnership led to regular jam sessions, and eventually, I was auditioning for and joined his band as an accordion player. I picked up a couple of more button (Hohner Corona II) accordions as I needed some extras to get more versatility in more musical keys. I’ll do a separate blog explaining why you always see accordion players with multiple accordions on stage. This collaboration marked the beginning of a unique and rewarding musical phase where I figured out how to incorporate the accordion into country, rock and of course Louisiana/Texas style music.
The Roland FR-18 V Accordion: Revolutionizing My Sound
In 2011, I encountered the Roland FR-18 V Accordion, a marvel of modern musical technology. This digital accordion was capable of emulating a wide array of sounds – from traditional accordion tones to woodwinds, brass, piano, organ and keyboard instruments. Its ability to change song keys with a button press and store various settings was groundbreaking. One accordion to do it all in any musical key. Acquiring it on a Black Friday deal, I remember vividly the first time I played it at a gig. The crowd's reaction was electrifying; the accordion not only enhanced our band's sound but also brought a new layer of creativity to my performances.
Navigating Challenges: Technical Difficulties and Resilience
However, my journey with the Roland V wasn't without its hiccups. Around 2016, I faced technical issues when some of the accordion's buttons began malfunctioning. In addition, I learned that the VR-18 model had been discontinued. The search for a skilled technician who understood the complexities of this digital instrument was daunting. It took almost a year of back-and-forth communication, patience, and persistence before I got it back in working condition. This experience taught me the importance of preparedness, leading me to purchase a second Roland V Accordion as a backup. At the end of 2019, I was playing at a private event holiday party and on the last song, I felt a pop in the accordion. I had broken a plastic post inside the bellows. I faced a similar journey to find a repair place that led me all the way to Austin to find a repair person. Fortunately, I had my backup accordion and was able to get my accordion repaired within about 3 months of waiting for parts.
Embracing the Present: A Tapestry of Musical Styles
Today, with the Roland V Accordion in my arsenal, I revel in the ability to fluidly transition between genres. Performing with Bayou Junction, Voodoo Rodeo, and the Rod Garcia Project, the accordion allows me to experiment and innovate, moving from Tex-Mex to Cajun, jazz, and beyond. I am excited to share more of my original songs that demonstrate my vast influences. The versatility of the Roland V has not only diversified our band's repertoire but has also been a constant source of personal musical growth and satisfaction.
What’s Next and Where We Go From Here
I look forward to playing at all the great local venues, writing more songs, sharing videos, playlists, playing accordion, playing guitar, singing songs, enjoying the company of other musicians and sharing more about my adventures as we do a Houston Hangout together for as long as I can do so. When collaborating with other musicians who share my positivity and vision, it is a very rewarding experience. When that chemistry is happening it brings in the audience and everyone has a great time! Shared music experiences bring out the best of us.
Last But Not Least - Gratitude
I could not and would not be where I am today without the support of my wonderful wife who supports me through all the practices, gigs, logistics, singing to an empty room as I record songs with headphones, and the crazy calendar I keep. She is “avo” to my “cado” that empowers me to unleash my creativity through music and playing. Thank you and love you LINA!
A Call to Share Your Stories
I'm eager to hear about your own musical journeys and transformations. Have you ever discovered an instrument or genre that reshaped your musical identity? Please share your experiences in the comments – let's connect over our shared love for music's boundless landscape and all things Houston, TX!
Until next time, keep exploring the vast world of music and never forget, Every Day is A Celebration!
Love,
Astro Joe Garcia