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Box On polka band includes all 9 members of family
By John Benson
Polka veteran Rick Vinecki has a bittersweet relationship with the iconic song “Roll out the Barrel.”
“It makes me cringe,” said Vinecki, calling from Grand Rapids, Mich. “Now, we do play the song, it’s just one of the old standards that people remember. Even nonpolka people will relate to that song. Unfortunately, it’s one of those things that people don’t forget.”
Something polka fans and neophytes aren’t forgetting these days is Vinecki’s latest band, Box On, which includes his wife, Alicia, along with their seven children – Lucas, Maria, Olivia, Julia, Alex, Tony and Bella (another son, Nick, has Down’s Syndrome).
Take for instance the group’s recent Cleveland performance in which beguiled audience members were moved to tears.
“There were 80 or 100 people standing in front of the stage, and some of the people were bawling their eyes out because to see a family all intact, playing music together, it’s something in itself. We are all one family.”
While the idea of having his own family band, which has been described as The Willis Family of polka, may seem like a dream come true for Vinecki, he stressed it wasn’t a calculated move.
Instead, Box On came together organically. While the Vinecki kids grew up watching mom and dad perform, it was only three years ago when the clan decided to play as a family unit at nursing homes.
From there, the children’s interests blossomed into what is now a major touring group that recently released its third studio effort “Come on and Dance.” The album includes a few originals, some standards and even a cover of Elvis Presley’s “All Shook Up.” Apparently Lucas has become quite the King of Rock ’n’ Roll impersonator.
Box On will make its Mahoning Valley debut on Saturday at Kuzman’s in Girard.
“It’s a great club,” said Vinecki, who performed at Kuzman’s with previous polka bands. “I remember the dance floor was full and the atmosphere was really good. It’s one of the last clubs standing that does feature polka music. It’s unfortunate. It’s like a lot of traditions are being lost as time goes on.”
What may be true across the board isn’t the case with Box On, which finds Vinecki and family doing their best to keep polka music alive.
“The cool thing about my kids is they’re very outgoing, so what has happened in the last year or two years now is that we’re noticing more young kids are getting involved,” Vinecki said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, those kids are cool. They look good, play good.’ So it’s attracting younger people, and it’s an enticement for younger people to learn those instruments.
“We had a friend come over, he’s 18 and wants to learn how to play the accordion. It’s just interesting how when younger people are involved how it does attract their own age group.”
It sounds as though the Vinecki family could be responsible for a polka renaissance. “Yeah, there you go,” Vinecki laughed. “We could have some part in it.”