Alex Meixner

I’m sitting at the computer on reflecting on a very eventful week.

After we traveled to New Braunfels for a surprise appearance at the Chamber of Commerce gala and city’s 175th-anniversary kick-off event, my wife had to stay behind in Texas for a few extra days due to a nasty flu. (Thanks to Aunt P and Jim for taking such good care of her while nursing her back to health.) She eventually got home, after numerous weather delays and flight re-routing, but it was after I hit the road again with Paddy for the Accordion Kings concerts in Louisiana. I was so excited for these concerts with an all-star lineup of amazing musicians. Just being invited by Steve Riley (cajun legend and leader of the great Mamou Playboys) was an honor, let alone sharing a stage with Josh Baca, Yves Lambert, Glen Hartman (of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars) and Geno Delafose was a pretty daunting set of gigs.

The trip started uneventfully (which is generally a good way when driving ) until I had stopped and checked Facebook and found out a very dear family friend and musical beacon had unexpectedly passed away. Rudi Pietsch from Vienna, Austria first visited my family when I was 9 years old. His energy and passion for the music and culture of the Burgenlander Austrian people in the USA was unsurpassed. He visited, studied and jammed with my father and many of the other folk musicians in the Lehigh Valley on this and many subsequent trips in PA and FL. I always admired his attention to all of the people and their music, whether acclaimed or humble and paid tribute to him by recording his composition “Gerlinde Walzer” on my Family Tradition album in 2007. Although we weren’t consistent in communication, it was very special that I got to see, hear and perform with his wonderful group “Tanzgeiger” on a stop of their USA tour in 2017. RIP Rudi. The music lives on.

It was actually quite ironic that I received the news as I was on my way to perform on this program. I was reflecting on Rudi’s influence and was so overwhelmed on the breadth of the experiences that all the musicians brought to the stage. We all have the “Rudi’s” in our lives and seeing all of these artists expound on those influences by paying tribute to their forefathers and putting their own style in their traditions is truly inspiring. I’m encouraged to keep building my music and sharing that with my audiences. Thank you for allowing me to continue my family legacy.

The band and I hit the road this weekend up to Helen, GA for Fasching Weekend at the Heidelberg. We hope to see a bunch of our friends from Georgia as well as from around the country traveling in for some great food and gemütlichkeit this Valentine’s weekend.

Much love and music to everyone, alex

I am beyond excited for this week’s trip (after last week’s fun little surprise trip to New Braunfels for the Chamber of Commerce event!

I am sharing the stage with some of the finest accordion stylists in the world for two special concerts in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, LA. Steve Riley of the Mamou Playboys has organized this amazing event in which my good friend Josh Baca (of Los Texmaniacs) will also be appearing– as well as Geno Delafose, Yves Lambert, Glenn Hartman, Steve and myself. I have been practicing so I can keep up with all of the musicality that is bound to be on the stage. I strongly urge anyone in the area to make your way to the theatres for these shows or catch a train, plane or automobile… just be sure to get there in time!

I was really looking forward to sharing this experience with my good friend, master musician and the man of all the experience in the AMB, Jimmy Meyer. For the last two years I have greatly relished announcing that he’s been in the band for 6 years longer than I’ve been alive– being that he started recording with my Dad in 1970. He’s linked that early experience with my father with an amazing breadth of jazz, blues, rock, country and just about everything else as a guitarist, banjoist and vocalist to create performances that resonate with our audiences and have left all of his fellow musicians with their jaws on the ground. Unfortunately, Jimmy is having to leave the band to take care of some family issues. We all wish him the best and miss him incredibly as well as hope he’s able to return to the stage with the band in the near future.

Luckily, our Fiddle King, Paddy King is able to join me for this trip to add his amazing skills on fiddle, mandolin and guitar. He will also push me to the best musical performances I am capable of. Although young in years, Paddy’s brilliant musicianship is inspiring and his love of learning all kinds of music keeps us all on our toes.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to make music with all of the members of the band through the years and I look forward to new adventures with all the veterans as well as the newcomers who are sure to put their mark on the musical circus known as The Alex Meixner Band.

With that in mind, Dr. Michael Fortunato will be on the Texas run of gigs this month! It’s great to have him filling in for Chris and bringing his unique musical personality back to the stage. In addition to some tickets being available for the Brauntex Theatre Fat Tuesday show, if you stay at the Faust Hotel you get to attend an exclusive Meet and Greet morning concert on Wednesday morning February 26. Valentine’s is coming up! A great way to surprise your sweetheart is with show tickets and an overnight stay at the historic Faust hotel. I can even play a sweet romantic melody for all the happy couples.

Much love and music to y’all, alex