Brave Combo offers geography lesson with 2-hour concert

review by Peter Lewis; photos by The City Wire staff

There have been studies by National Geographic and other organizations that seek to assess the geographical IQ of citizens. Invariably, the results are as startling as they are depressing. In one such study of young Americans, nearly half could not locate the sub-continent. The solution to the depraved state of our geographic knowledge was on full display at the Fort Smith Event Center Thursday night.

With a truly rousing display of musicianship, Brave Combo provided a show in which musical exploration knew no bounds, geographic or otherwise. The evening’s performance begun with a hauntingly passionate cha cha that cleverly morphed into a rousing cha cha version of “Louie Louie.”

After another upbeat Latin flavored tune, Jeffrey Barnes kicked off the first polka from this reputed “polka-rock” band. From thenceforward the audience was continuously kept on their toes as they were hit with a barrage of countries, tunes, and stories. 

Though the majority of the music was upbeat, the second song of the second set proved a sweet respite in the form of a waltz by Johann Sebastian Bach. Labeled the “Joy Waltz,” this hypnotically sweet tune is based off of  Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” Never would I have thought I’d hear Bach being played on a harmonica, let alone so beautifully.

After diving back into Latin-tinged tunes the band gave a blistering and wholly unexpected renditions of a twist version of “Heart & Soul” as well as the “Hokey Pokey.”  Again the pace was dialed back with a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  The poignancy of this particular song was partially lost as an obviously infatuated (and perhaps inebriated) fan caressed Carl Finch while he played the keyboard and sang.

To the obvious pleasure of the aforementioned fan, the band came back for an encore to complete the geographic journey around the globe and back to Louisiana courtesy of a zydeco-inspired rendition of a “Jock-a-Mo,” a classic New Orleans tune (it was famously transformed into “Iko Iko” by Dr. John).

Carl Finch’s industriously energetic band, Brave Combo, provided a musical tour-de-force. The songs came from around the globe. From cumbia’s and a conjunto, to invigorating renditions of Greek war songs, each tune seemed to flow into another without a glitch. It is a testament to the musicianship of Brave Combo that music can be created, melded, and meshed so wonderfully.

And kudos to Second Street Live!, a non-profit group in Fort Smith formed to bring numerous and diverse music acts to the Fort Smith region.