Weird Music Wednesday: It's Apolkalyptic!

1. The annual German festival in my town's coming up as I write this, and the music lineup's looking strong enough for me to want to attend. Among the acts on the bill is a group of men, none of them looking to be over 30, with the great name of Apolkalypse. They actually refer to themselves as a polka and "folka" band, the latter designation likely stemming from their inclusion of fiddle(s). Their website pictures them as having a drummer, but none of the performance clips on their YouTube channel include drums (which I believe would make them sound more apolkalyptic/apocalyptic) . Do you enjoy hearing strings in music where they're not usually present?

2. Might there be something about bands with "apolkalypse" in their names not including drums in their online videos? There might be, as Apolkalypse Now--who I discovered while looking up the band featured in the previous question--performs percussion-free in this video of a performance in Denver, CO (I think?), too. If they seem at least semi-shambolic in their presentation, I'm OK with that if only because of the outsized personality...and good looks...of lead singer/bassist Judy Porter, who is also credited with proving the trio with "fun." Have you ever been sold on a band because of the presence of their lad singer or otherwise acknowledged front person?

3. Would you believe there is, or was, a third band with "apolkalypse" n their name? That would Kansas City's Apolkalypse Wow!, who specialize in what they deem(ed) polkacore. If that implies to you, like it does to me, polka + hardcore as heard in punk-energized old time music, I think both of us got the band's point, especially if the clip included with this question is any indication. Apolkalypse Wow! aren't/weren't the only exponents of punk polka, but does the idea of those two aesthetics coming together appeal to you, if only, perhaps theoretically?

4. I "apolkalypse" is a suitable neologism to include in a band name, it should work for a song and allbum title, too. Or so thought the members of U.S./Czech/Israeli/Canadian (the latter element bestowed at least in part by fiddler Lara St. John) band Polkastra. Bu t my ears, their "Apolkalypse Now" sounds at least like a jig as anything else. Since the 2/2 polka rhythm exists within Irish folk music, I'm fine with that as well. You, too?

5. Lasrly there's an apolkalyptic bootleg, after a fashion. A YouTuber using the handle W31RD has compiled six of "Weird" Al Yankovic's polka-intensive remake and medley album tracks and posted them--with artwork reminiscent of Pen & Pixel Graphics' artwork for No Limit Records' hip-ho albums by rappers such as Master P, no less--in 2023 as Apolkalypse!. Not only do I find his a fine way to end another opportunity for all of us to earn five Tellwut points, but a reminder of Yankovic's ability to accentuate the ridiculousness of songs that already possess elements of silliness. Agreed?