Little Bohemian Band
Gene's got soul and lots of spirit and it shows in his music. He has a dry and
laconic sense of humor that many people just either don't get or just don't plain
understand. Nonetheless, he keeps everybody laughing. Gene is a very
gregarious individual.
Sadowsky is not at all rigid in his performance and if he is so bad then why is it
that he always packs the house in North Portland? North Portland pays him the
maximum so I am not sure what Toby Hanson means when he says that
Sadowsky "...Undercuts the polka market by keeping his prices low to attract a
crowd-as if Sadowsky is some sort of a Wal Mart. Or perhaps he is referring to
the fact that members of the Little Bohemian Band Club get a two dollar discount
at shows (not at North Portland Eagles) but they pay for their membership in the
club. Were it not for Sadowsky these past couple of years, North Portland's
annual Mayfest would have become a thing of the past.
The event has really made a strong comeback since Sadowsky helps organize it
and the crowds have come back and North Portland Eagles is all the better for it.
I speak as former vice president and officer of North Portland Eagles; as well as a
former trustee for Hawthorne Eagles who booked their music for a couple of
years. This is how I became so familiar with so many of the bands and their
various price ranges. Sadowsky doesn't charge any less than the others.
As far as the Smilin' Scandinavians and better musicianship goes, I recall going
to a couple of their performances and they never played anything that I requested
whereas Sadowsky always has. If Gene only knew ten or fifteen songs then tell me
how he manages to play three hour shows? Some Polka bands really overrate
themselves and tend to have their own little cliques and/or Euro-ethnic circles that
they navigate in...and consequently they don't really mingle much with their
audiences. Sometimes you almost feel like you have to be one of them to really
be a part. Sadowsky brings everybody on board and keeps them entertained.
He puts a lot into his shows and is considerate of his audience.
It's all about spirit, soul, entertainment and music that really flows and gets the
crowd out on the floor toe-tapping and having a great time. Some of these bands
could loosen up a bit, expand their horizons and learn something from Sadowsky
if they want to keep Polka music alive.
Michael van der Hout
laconic sense of humor that many people just either don't get or just don't plain
understand. Nonetheless, he keeps everybody laughing. Gene is a very
gregarious individual.
Sadowsky is not at all rigid in his performance and if he is so bad then why is it
that he always packs the house in North Portland? North Portland pays him the
maximum so I am not sure what Toby Hanson means when he says that
Sadowsky "...Undercuts the polka market by keeping his prices low to attract a
crowd-as if Sadowsky is some sort of a Wal Mart. Or perhaps he is referring to
the fact that members of the Little Bohemian Band Club get a two dollar discount
at shows (not at North Portland Eagles) but they pay for their membership in the
club. Were it not for Sadowsky these past couple of years, North Portland's
annual Mayfest would have become a thing of the past.
The event has really made a strong comeback since Sadowsky helps organize it
and the crowds have come back and North Portland Eagles is all the better for it.
I speak as former vice president and officer of North Portland Eagles; as well as a
former trustee for Hawthorne Eagles who booked their music for a couple of
years. This is how I became so familiar with so many of the bands and their
various price ranges. Sadowsky doesn't charge any less than the others.
As far as the Smilin' Scandinavians and better musicianship goes, I recall going
to a couple of their performances and they never played anything that I requested
whereas Sadowsky always has. If Gene only knew ten or fifteen songs then tell me
how he manages to play three hour shows? Some Polka bands really overrate
themselves and tend to have their own little cliques and/or Euro-ethnic circles that
they navigate in...and consequently they don't really mingle much with their
audiences. Sometimes you almost feel like you have to be one of them to really
be a part. Sadowsky brings everybody on board and keeps them entertained.
He puts a lot into his shows and is considerate of his audience.
It's all about spirit, soul, entertainment and music that really flows and gets the
crowd out on the floor toe-tapping and having a great time. Some of these bands
could loosen up a bit, expand their horizons and learn something from Sadowsky
if they want to keep Polka music alive.
Michael van der Hout
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If you are looking at this website, living in the Pacific Northwest and are
a fan of either NW Oktoberfests, The Little Bohemian Band or all of
the above, then you may have been one of the tens of thousands who
attended the third annual Puyallup Oktoberfest, October 5th, 6th and
7th at the Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington.
An assortment of bands played at the event from Z' Musikmakers to
Nashville's Grammy Award winning nominee Lynn Marie and the
Boxhounds to Canada's own Gordinairres.
If you are from Oregon, however, you should be proud to know that
Oregon's own spirited Little Bohemian Band ( along with the Puyallup
High School German Club ) was the opening act on the main stage for
Puyallup's three day event. In no time at all, the band got the crowds
toe-tapping to their lively blend of Czech polkas, waltzes and two steps.
When The Little Bohemian Band wasn't performing on the main
stage, the Czech/ German duet of Gene Sadowsky and Marty Steckler
along with the Rheinlander sounds of The Greg Meier Band kept the
beer garden hopping outside with merry assortment of upbeat music,
wise cracks and door prizes. The rain on Sunday failed to deter both
accordion bands and their audience of whirling dancers and jovial
attendants who danced, drank beer, laughed, sang, toasted the
entertainment and went home with door prizes!
The event turned out to be quite a success, a big success.
Joe Matala
a fan of either NW Oktoberfests, The Little Bohemian Band or all of
the above, then you may have been one of the tens of thousands who
attended the third annual Puyallup Oktoberfest, October 5th, 6th and
7th at the Fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington.
An assortment of bands played at the event from Z' Musikmakers to
Nashville's Grammy Award winning nominee Lynn Marie and the
Boxhounds to Canada's own Gordinairres.
If you are from Oregon, however, you should be proud to know that
Oregon's own spirited Little Bohemian Band ( along with the Puyallup
High School German Club ) was the opening act on the main stage for
Puyallup's three day event. In no time at all, the band got the crowds
toe-tapping to their lively blend of Czech polkas, waltzes and two steps.
When The Little Bohemian Band wasn't performing on the main
stage, the Czech/ German duet of Gene Sadowsky and Marty Steckler
along with the Rheinlander sounds of The Greg Meier Band kept the
beer garden hopping outside with merry assortment of upbeat music,
wise cracks and door prizes. The rain on Sunday failed to deter both
accordion bands and their audience of whirling dancers and jovial
attendants who danced, drank beer, laughed, sang, toasted the
entertainment and went home with door prizes!
The event turned out to be quite a success, a big success.
Joe Matala
Where else could you go on a rain-drenched weekend and sit down
to a warm, home-cooked meal; shop at a rummage sale and a gift
menagerie; polka dance to varieties of accordion music all evening,
and go home with the prizes you won all under one roof? Well folks,
from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday, November 16th and on
Saturday, November 17th, close to two hundred people braved the
elements and Friday nights horrendous traffic snarl, to drive from
their respective towns and neighborhoods and sit down in the
spacious halls of North Portland Eagles for the lodges first annual
Autumn Fest. Where were you?
Gene Sadowsky and the Little Bohemian Band along with The Mike
Fischer Band, including and none other than Sam and Tony
Pecorilla; and the ever smiling, ever happy and spirited Johnny Schutt
brought down the house each with their own special brand of
Slovenian, German and Dakota style accordion music. The attending
guests practically filled the huge parking lot of the lodge.
Hey guys- a lot of pretty women showed-up for the event and
although many came alone, there just weren't enough of you there to
get them out on the dance floor and get their pretty skirts whirling to
the frenetic cadence of the joyful music.
It was a great weekend to get re-connect with old friends and make
lots of new ones. All-in-all, everybody went home happy and the
event was a huge success that no doubt will become an annual
event at North Portland Eagles, right up their with the lodges yearly
May fest.
Remember to mark on your calendar for a night of polka dancing
with The Little Bohemian Band on Saturday, December 15th from
8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; and the Little Bohemian Band Club's
annual Christmas Party the following afternoon on Sunday,
December 16th, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Entertainment,
dancing, dinner, drinks and gifts and prizes will be provided both
days. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! We hope to see you all
there. You won't want to miss it!
Waylon Schmitcke
Redmond, Oregon
to a warm, home-cooked meal; shop at a rummage sale and a gift
menagerie; polka dance to varieties of accordion music all evening,
and go home with the prizes you won all under one roof? Well folks,
from 4 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday, November 16th and on
Saturday, November 17th, close to two hundred people braved the
elements and Friday nights horrendous traffic snarl, to drive from
their respective towns and neighborhoods and sit down in the
spacious halls of North Portland Eagles for the lodges first annual
Autumn Fest. Where were you?
Gene Sadowsky and the Little Bohemian Band along with The Mike
Fischer Band, including and none other than Sam and Tony
Pecorilla; and the ever smiling, ever happy and spirited Johnny Schutt
brought down the house each with their own special brand of
Slovenian, German and Dakota style accordion music. The attending
guests practically filled the huge parking lot of the lodge.
Hey guys- a lot of pretty women showed-up for the event and
although many came alone, there just weren't enough of you there to
get them out on the dance floor and get their pretty skirts whirling to
the frenetic cadence of the joyful music.
It was a great weekend to get re-connect with old friends and make
lots of new ones. All-in-all, everybody went home happy and the
event was a huge success that no doubt will become an annual
event at North Portland Eagles, right up their with the lodges yearly
May fest.
Remember to mark on your calendar for a night of polka dancing
with The Little Bohemian Band on Saturday, December 15th from
8:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; and the Little Bohemian Band Club's
annual Christmas Party the following afternoon on Sunday,
December 16th, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Entertainment,
dancing, dinner, drinks and gifts and prizes will be provided both
days. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! We hope to see you all
there. You won't want to miss it!
Waylon Schmitcke
Redmond, Oregon
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