Band History - Optimistic Oompah Polka Souls
The OOPS Polka Band innocently got its start as an idea to help a newly established German Restaurant in Troutman, NC, The Bavarian Kitchen. In late October of 2018, the third weekend of the restaurant being open David Jazbec brought his accordion to see if the owners would enjoy hearing him play a few songs.
The owners of the Bavarian Kitchen restaurant, Dominik and Anita, loved the music and asked him to play regularly and offered to pay him. David agreed to play, not for money, but for complimentary Hoffbrau beer and Weinersnitzel . . . Who wouldn’t?
In February of 2019, Marte Yerkins offered to play the bass. After all, "It's all about the Bass" isn't it?
While having never played polka music, Marte was a quick study and regularly joined David on the monthly shows. The two piece ensemble was a hit and many restaurant patrons enjoyed the live music.
At least that is what they told us?
Much like the scene in the Blues Brothers, David was now on a mission from the Polka God’s to create a polka band in North Carolina . . .
We didn’t miss a beat in locating a drummer.
David was aware that Phil Kouwe was a talented musician living in Mooresville. Phil regularly joined his son, Jake, with the Chardon Polka Band (from Chardon, Ohio) as they played twice a year at Daveste Winery. Phil, who normally plays the bass, was willing to learn to play the drums to help bring polka music to the Carolina’s.
The trio knew they needed one more talented musician to round out the band.
Pulling a few strings, David convinced a co-worker, Kevin Dean, to play the banjo. Kevin had three major challenges, he had never played a banjo (guitar is his passion), he did not own a banjo, nor was Kevin familiar with polka music. A perfect fit!
The Bavarian Kitchen began to market the band and had us play monthly at their restaurant. We were a band with no name. The guys put our ethnic heads together and came up with the OOPS Polka Band.Optimistic Oompah Polka Souls.Optimistic to attempt to bring polka music to the Carolinas.
Much to our surprise, a couple saw us at the restaurant and hired the band to play at the Triad German Club’s annual Oktoberfest in Winston Salem. Now the band had to prepare for our first four hour show. We had to get our Schnitzel together!
Seeking to fine tune this “Bad News Bears” polka line-up, David recalled a fellow accordion player, David Bey, who resided in none other than Winston Salem. It was a “Polka God Thing”. This guy can play the accordion like no other! David Bey joined us for part of that first Oktoberfest show and has remained a regular member of the band ever since.
Throughout the year the band was discovered and played a events under the LKN Beer Garden in Cornelius and at an Oktoberfest at The Trilogy +55 Community in Denver. In 2019 OOPS had successfully introduced polkas around Lake Norman.
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The band looks forward to sharing our fun and happy music at many venues in 2023 and beyond. We so much appreciate all the support and encouragement that we have received as we morphed from a concept to a regularly performing band.
Prost!
David Jazbec
OOPS Band Leader