I've generally managed to keep my priorities between accordeon and life in order (hint: more accordeon). Until now. This has been the last year of my coursework in my doctoral program, AND the beginning of a new job as a researcher and writer for the State of Maine Department of Education. My accordeon-obsessive-cred is suffering under the weight of white hot deadlines and my damnably anxious work ethic! Which is why you haven't heard much from me lately.
To fill the gap, I present two fellow accordeon (or melodeon) bloggers. The first is the blog of Toko, a Japanese box player who keeps a prolific blog. Being in Japanese, of course, I can't read it. But the videos of Toko and other photos are fabulous. Here's Toko and Tamiko playing two bourrées. Note the infant expressing his (or her) appreciation throughout.
The second blog is that of Owen Woods, a British melodeonist who is also working towards his graduate degree, and choosing to spend scads of time gigging around the sceptred isle. An eloquent melodeonist, Owen does that thing that I love most in a writer: communicates his enthusiasm, fascination, and love for the music. Here's himself performing at the Tudor Folk Club. UPDATE: Shout out to Lester Bailey, a devilishly good looking melodeonist himself and repair guy, who filmed this clip.