Party people praise the polka

MINSTER - The crafts and activities are an important part of Minster's Oktoberfest. The food is vital and the beer, absolutely necessary. But it's the music that brings it all together.

Like any good party, the Minster Oktoberfest flaunts a steady lineup of music, and not just any music, but the big, brassy, oompah-inducing tones of polka.

"It can't happen without polka. If there's not a polka band, it's not an Oktoberfest," said Bill Harrison, a 30-year veteran of the 34-year-old Minster bash.

The three-day festival, which continues through today, includes a polka lineup to challenge some of the country's biggest festivals. All share some common elements - tubas, accordions, lederhosen and a genuine enthusiasm for The Chicken Dance - but true aficionados like Harrison know there are some subtle and not-so-subtle differences between bands.

"You've got some of them, the older guys, they're more traditional. Some of them mix in rock stuff and a some of them are just plain party bands. Those are the guys that play everything," Harrison said.

The Klaberheads are in that latter group. They spent Saturday afternoon winding up the crowd in the big tent with a mix of traditional and extremely untraditional tunes, bridging the world from Frankie Yankovic to Jimmy Buffet.

"We've let the music evolve and grow. We'll mix up popular tunes with polka, change the lyrics. ... We just have fun with it," said Erika Klaber, head Klaberhead.

Klaber comes by polka naturally. Her grandfather started the Klaberheads in the 1930s. Her father took over in the mid-'60s. She joined the band in 2001 and took over for her father as leader after he had a stroke in 2006. She now leads the 11-members bands and plays the steel drum.

And, yes, she realizes polka bands don't have steel drums.

"I know, I know," she laughs before the question even comes. "It works, really."

The Hamilton-based group's willingness top lay with the tradition helps keep them busy. They play a number of Oktoberfests, but find plenty of work in the off season.

"This is obviously our busy season, August through part of September. But we do a lot of concerts in the parks, weddings and parties and play the German Club (in Cincinnati). We stay busy," Klaber said.

Given the age and enthusiasm of Saturday's crowd, the group may well remain busy for years to come. The music's traditions keep the older folks coming back, but it's the fun of it all that keeps the 20-somethings dancing. It also offers hope for a fourth generation of Klaberheads.

"I know my daughter is 7 and she's already into it," Klaber said. "That's good news for me."