- Hi, I'm Jake, and this is my band, The Chardon Polka Band.
You're going to hear us play a lot of music on this show.
There's Mike, Mitch, Bob, and the guy with the mustache is Brian.
Since I was 16 years old, polka music has been my job.
And at that job, I get to see and do some pretty crazy and interesting stuff.
And, I wanna share those experiences, and the music I love so much, with all of you.
This is "The World According to Polka."
The Chardon Polka Band plays many popular Oktoberfest-style events here in the United States.
In places like Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Fort Worth, Texas; and perhaps the highest Oktoberfest event in the whole country, 8,000 feet above sea level, at Snow Bird, a mountain on the outskirts of Salt Lake City.
For over a decade now, I've been blessed to spend my autumn months driving from one side of the country, to the other, with the Chardon Polka Band, playing these wonderfully unique events.
And today, we've left our home base in Cleveland, Ohio, to travel to the West Coast, for one of the biggest Oktoberfest events in the whole country, the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest, in Mt.
Angel, Oregon.
So, hold onto your hats, and fill up you steins, because today, we're celebrating Oktoberfest, at one of the most beautiful places on planet earth.
♪ Play, play, play ♪ Oh, we went to a show just the other day ♪ ♪ But they didn't have any money ♪ ♪ So I said we won't play ♪ Then they said something to catch our ears ♪ ♪ If you play us some polka, we'll give you some beer ♪ ♪ If you play us some polka, we'll give you some beer ♪ (polka band music) (polka band music continues) ♪ Now, if you wanna hear polka, this is what you do ♪ ♪ You don't need no money ♪ You just gotta give us some brew ♪ ♪ If you can't pay, well, then you're gonna hear ♪ ♪ We'll play you some polka, just give us some beer ♪ ♪ We'll play you some polka, just give us some beer ♪ (polka band music) ♪ We don't care if it's Schlitz, Pale Ale, or Old Style ♪ ♪ We'll drink all the beer, we'll play all the while ♪ ♪ And if we start to sound sloppy, don't get upset ♪ ♪ With free beer and polka, you take what you get ♪ ♪ With free beer and polka, you take what you get ♪ ♪ With free beer and polka, you take what you get ♪ (music ends) (crowd cheering) - Beer!
That's an ingredient that you're going to find at most Oktoberfest celebrations.
It's pretty good that the Chardon Polka Band just happens to know a few tunes about beer.
And of course, the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest has been serving up good beer, and good times since 1966.
When the event got its start as a harvest festival.
Which certainly isn't surprising, when you consider the large amount of orchards and vineyards in this area.
We're going to celebrate the autumn harvest today with another necessary component of Oktoberfest, and that's yodeling.
And whoever better to do our yodeling, than the majestic maestro himself, Mr. Mike Franklin.
Who's not only a fantastic musician, but he's also my friend.
(polka band music) ♪ He's a mountain climber ♪ He climbs the mountain tops ♪ And he has a sweetheart ♪ The fairest of them all ♪ He braves the ice and snow ♪ The coldest winds that blow ♪ Just to bring to her the flowers ♪ ♪ To prove that he loves her so ♪ ♪ Just to bring to her the flowers ♪ ♪ To prove that he loves her so ♪ ♪ And he said (yodeling) kuckoo ♪ ♪ (yodeling) kuckoo ♪ (yodeling) kuckoo ♪ (yodeling) ♪ (yodeling) ♪ (yodeling) (polka band music) ♪ He braves the ice and snow ♪ The coldest winds that blow ♪ Just to bring to her the flowers ♪ ♪ To prove that he loves her so ♪ ♪ Just to bring to her the flowers ♪ ♪ To prove that he loves her so ♪ ♪ And he said (yodeling) cuckoo ♪ ♪ (yodeling) cuckoo ♪ (yodeling) cuckoo ♪ (yodeling) oh ♪ (yodeling) ♪ (yodeling) ♪ (yodeling) ♪ (yodeling fast) ♪ Oh ♪ Oh ♪ Oh (music closes out) (crowd cheering) - I just love the yodeling antics of my good friend, Mr. Mike Franklin.
They make me a better person.
Now, is all this polka music making you thirsty yet?
You know, Oktoberfest started as a wedding celebration in Germany.
And you can't celebrate a wedding, without raising a toast.
(polka band music begins) - All right everybody off you butts, off your hynies, and raise your stein, as we're doing a toast, and we're gonna do it right.
(singing in German) (singing in German) (speaking in German) Now, the gentlemen (speaking in German).
And, the ladies, (speaking in German).
(cheering in German) - The band and I travel to these kind of events all across the country.
But we return to the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest year after year.
And one of the biggest reasons behind that, is the amount of passion and care we see from the folks who put this festival together.
The Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest is put together and run completely by volunteers.
Men and women who are passionate about putting this festival together for their community.
More than just a musical celebration, this event's purpose is to raise money for local causes and organizations, like libraries, fire departments, nursing homes, and schools.
In the 56 years this festival has been around, it's raised over $3.5 million for charities and non-profits.
These folks are truly invested in their community.
And, it's the kind of party that we like to be a part of.
(polka band music) Oh, we have a fun time.
(polka band music) Nestled in the rolling hills of the Williamette Valley, Mt.
Angel, Oregon's population is typically only 3500 people.
But every year during their iconic Oktoberfest celebration, this town swells with activity and visitors.
As many as 350,000 people will travel here to this festival.
350,000 visitors!
That's a lot.
And while these folks are here at this Bavarian-inspired borough, they're going to be checking out local vendors, eating some fine German cuisine, and checking out polka bands at multiple venues.
And it's not just yours truly, the Chardon Polka Band, rocking out around the festival.
We're gonna check in on some of my good buddies, the Salzburger Echo, all the way from Utah, playing at St. Mary's Church.
(horn music) (horn music continues) (horn music continues) (horn music continues) (horn music fades to end) (audience applauding) - The Alphorn, or Alpenhorn Horn, may have originally been used by herdsmen.
But wow, do I find it a truly transformative experience to listen to them today.
Especially, when they're played by our good friends, the Saltzburger Echo in that beautiful church.
Now behind me, we're turning our eyes towards another point of inspiration, here in Mt.
Angel.
Because not only is this town home to one of the largest Oktoberfest events in the country, it's home to the Mt.
Angel Abbey, established in 1882, the Mt.
Angel Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery of Benedictine monks.
The founders of this Abbey came from Engelberg, Switzerland.
And they noticed the Oregon landscape was not unlike of that which they had left behind in the Swiss Alps.
This landscape also serves as the perfect backdrop for an Oktoberfest event.
The Mt.
Angel Abbey is a place of study and worship, with it's own seminary school, library and museum.
But the monks also have their very own brewery.
This monastic brewery is the third of its kind in the United States.
Brewing beer is part of the Benedictine tradition.
And it seems to fittingly capture the Oktoberfest spirit of this wonderful little town.
With that in mind, we'd like to dedicate a song to the monks up here at the Mt.
Angel Abbey.
Now, it's one of my very favorite old hymns.
And, we're gonna play it with a polka flare.
♪ Standing on the promises of Christ, my King ♪ ♪ Through eternal ages, let his graces ring ♪ ♪ Glory in the highest, I will shout and I'll sing ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the promises of God ♪ ♪ Standing, standing ♪ Standing on the promises of God, my Savior ♪ ♪ Standing, standing ♪ I'm standing on the promises of God ♪ (polka band music) (polka band music continues) ♪ Now, standing on the promises, I will not fail ♪ ♪ When the howling storms of doubt and fear asail ♪ ♪ By the living word of God, I shall prevail ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the promises of God ♪ ♪ Oh, standing, standing ♪ Standing on the promises of God, my Savior ♪ ♪ Standing, standing ♪ I'm standing on the promises of God ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the promises of God, once more ♪ ♪ I'm standing on the promises God ♪ (music fades to end) (crowd cheering) - Mixing a little gospel in with our polka today.
There's not much I like better.
Now, both the Abbey and the Oktoberfest are big parts of this little town and its history.
And speaking of history, I wanna take a look at another tradition here in Mt.
Angel.
The Glockenspiel.
And providing the sound track to that today, the Marion County Citizen's Band.
(band playing) Housed in the Edelweiss Building and Tower, Mt.
Angel's Glockenspiel is at the heart of the downtown landscape.
And it's a cornerstone of the festival.
The Glockenspiel's many figures pay homage to different parts of the town's history.
And the construction itself, serves as a celebration of the village's German, Swiss, Bavarian heritage.
That very same heritage also lives on through the youngsters of the town, who can be seen here, performing in their Webertanz group.
There are 350 kids involved in this dance crew.
And they perform daily here at the Oktoberfest.
It's so wonderful to see these young folks celebrate their heritage and their hometown in this manner.
Their dancing also serves as a reminder of what a unique event this is.
And how it can be enjoyed by folks of all ages.
And another way you can enjoy this festival, is by competing in the Oktoberfest Olympics.
This competition consists of a series of challenges, testing strength, agility and festiveness.
These wild and uproariously fun games can be joined in and viewed daily in the festival's Biergarten.
The Marion County Citizen's Band has been playing this festival since year one.
That's unbelievable!
Though, I do think the membership has shifted a bit over the years.
That is one of my favorite parts about playing events like these.
We get to learn local history, and meet new, and wonderful people.
(accordion music) Anybody who knows me, knows I didn't just drive three days across the country to play music at an Oktoberfest.
I drove three days across the country for a cinnamon roll.
This tasty treat came from the vendors behind me.
Now this vendor, like all the vendors at the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest, are either a church community group, or club.
Once again, this is a great demonstration about how this festival is all about investing in the community.
And it makes this cinnamon roll even more tasty.
Now, how about another tasty polka?
(polka music begins) ♪ I'd like to be an astronaut to fly around the stars ♪ ♪ I'd search for signs of live on Jupiter and Mars ♪ ♪ But I'll never be an astronaut, the reason it is clear ♪ ♪ I can't be an astronaut, in space you can't drink beer ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer in outer space ♪ ♪ You can't get that bottle to your lips ♪ ♪ With a helmet on your face ♪ You'll look as funny as can be ♪ ♪ Drinking beer in zero gravity ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer in outer space ♪ (polka band music) ♪ Well perhaps, I'd be surgeon, that'd be pretty keen ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ I'd remove all bladders and kidneys, and some spleens ♪ ♪ That would be gross ♪ Perhaps it's true, that's not the job for me ♪ ♪ I'll never hold a scalpel ♪ You can't drink beer in surgery ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer in surgery ♪ ♪ You don't want your doctor drinking ♪ ♪ Before an appendectomy ♪ So, I'll choose able patients ♪ ♪ That don't deal with operations ♪ ♪ Oh, you can't drink beer in surgery ♪ (polka band music) ♪ I can be a NASCAR driver, baby, I would be the best ♪ ♪ All I have to do is drive real fast ♪ ♪ And then I would turn left ♪ I'd get fired in an instant ♪ And they wouldn't let me back ♪ ♪ Go home, you're fired ♪ You can't be a NASCAR driver ♪ If you're swerving around the track ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer and drive NASCAR ♪ ♪ But if you're up in the stands, then you probably are ♪ ♪ But you can't be on the bottle ♪ ♪ When you hit the throttle ♪ Oh, you can't drink beer and drive NASCAR ♪ ♪ So don't drink if you're from the museum ♪ ♪ You can't have beer working in a bank ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer on duty in the Army ♪ ♪ 'Cause you can't have a drunk driving a tank ♪ ♪ If you want beer on the job, don't be a fireman ♪ ♪ If you wanna drink and work, join a polka band ♪ ♪ Well, you can't drink beer in outer space ♪ ♪ You can't let that bottle see your lips ♪ ♪ With a helmet on your face ♪ You're looking funny as can be ♪ ♪ If you're here in zero gravity ♪ ♪ You can't drink beer in outer space ♪ ♪ You'll look as funny as can be ♪ ♪ Drinking beer in zero gravity ♪ ♪ Oh, you can't drink beer in outer space ♪ (polka band music fades out) (crowd cheering) (birds chirping) (birds chirping) - You're watching "The World According to Polka."
And today, we've been sharing stories and songs from the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest.
Now, while the Chardon Polka Band travels across the country, seeking out top-notch polka events to perform at, we're also on the lookout for top-notch food.
And that's brought us here to the Silver Falls Country Store.
Just a few miles outside of Mt.
Angel.
To take a look at the epic Sasquatch Burger.
The Sasquatch Burger is just as epic as the legendary creature.
Consisting of two big beefy patties, a third of pound each.
A double helping of bacon, cheese, ham, egg, and avocado.
Now, that's what I call one callasso burger.
(Sasquatch grunting) If you're in the area for the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest, or for any other reason, you simply must stop at this beloved establishment.
The Silver Falls Country Store is not just the home of the Sasquatch Burger.
It's a place where you can buy beer, camping supplies, and other necessary items.
They've also got this.
It's journal where folks share their Big Foot encounters.
(strange eerie music) The stories and legends of Big Foot paint a picture of an illusive creature.
But personally, I believe that if a Sasquatch came out of the woods and followed us to the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest, it would see a place where people sing together.
Where people dance together, and raise a toast together.
And maybe a-pouncing the Mt.
Angel Oktoberfest celebration, the Sasquatch would see that humankind does not need to feared.
It might even see a community that it wanted to be a part of.
I know that's what I see.
A world full of merriment, cheer and love.
It's the world according to polka.
(polka band music) (singing in German) (singing in German) ♪ Who wants to show how much he can drink ♪ ♪ He starts early in the morning ♪ ♪ And late in the evening comes out ♪ ♪ Because it's so nice at the (speaking in Germany) ♪ (polka band music) (polka band music continues) (polka band music fades out) (crowd applauding and cheering)
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