Gary and the Serfs

Serf (surf) n, under feudalism; a bondman; vassal, slave   2) Serfs pl.   Kick ass accordion fronted surf/instrumental band on the NH/Maine seacoast!

Where I grew up you didn't play rock on the accordion. It was done in secret. Accordionists were labelled, discriminated against and even expelled from the 1960s Catholic Folk Mass. With Lawrence Welk giving the accordion a tacky stereotype and the Beatles popularity nailing the coffin shut, the accordion nearly became extinct in American culture as if wiped out by some virus from Outer Space. An accordion uprising began at a Polish wedding when a musical marriage was formed when eastern European melodies merged with rockabilly and surf instrumentals of the Portsmouth, NH based Beach Cowboys. Today the Serfs draw upon a large array of Old World musical traditions to boldly go where few believe the accordion belongs!
ETHNIC...... INSTRUMENTAL ROCK..... XTREME POLKA!!!

The Serfs, a popular Portsmouth, NH based band, has been delighting audiences for 20 years with its unique blend of instruments and musical genres. The group was born back in 1989 when accordionist Gary Sredzienski was strolling from table to table playing traditional music at a Polish wedding. Also present at the wedding was the popular Portsmouth, NH surf/rockablilly band once known as the 'Beach Cowboys'. These 2 musical acts fused and gave birth to a unique group which combined traditional world music with 50s/60s style instrumental rock. One of the earliest objectives of the band was to elevate the much maligned image of the piano accordion. Not dwelling upon one genre of music, the Serfs draw from a wide variety of traditional world music styles and its own compositions to cross boundaries and elevate the accordion's image to a diverse multicultural vocalist.

Accompanying accordionist Gary Sredzienski is original member and bassist Jim Taylor. Jim's roots go back to the 1960s while living in Boston repairing Fender amplifiers. Playing electric bass since 1964 his 'surf music' roots were firmly planted after meeting Nokie Edwards of the Ventures. Over the years he has performed with a number of NH seacoast rockabilly bands where he has since found a permanent home as a Serf.

Jamie Decato, graduate of Berklee Music college of Boston is perhaps the most sought after drummer on the NH/Maine seacoast. Performing for over 30 years he was the drummer for the award winning avante garde jazz trio 'Color'. Versed in a wide variety of styles, he continues to work as a session musician, is a teacher at Berwick Academy in South Berwick, ME and teaches privately to many upcoming musicians in the area.

Newest member aboard is the multi-talented instrumentalist Rick Watson who performs on guitar, mandolin, and fiddle. He has shared the stage with notable performers such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, John Sebastian of the Lovin' Spoonful, Doc Watson and other notable performers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Serfs!