COLUMBIA: Dynamic Combo set to play
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| From left, Margie Lindhorst, Jill Bergmann and Kathy Hunsdorfer serve popcorn under the St. Paul UCC tent during a recent Music at Metter festival. |
Set to play from 6-8 p.m. today (Sunday) in Metter Park for the Music at Metter festival, the three piece group will reveal their mixture of polkas, waltzes, swing and jazz. The Dynamic Combo is a tight knit group, having jammed together for 15 years.
Led by Columbia native Rich Cullen, the group features vocals, accordion, saxophone, drums and, sometimes, a piano. Instead of playing original music, they will play all the standards."When you play in Columbia and around that area, people love the accordion," Cullen said. "But when you get over in St. Louis, they like the piano a little more."
Cullen knows his audience, as the threesome plays all over the place, including a gig as the house band at Hermanhoff Winery in Herman, Mo.
"We play about 225 shows a year," Cullen said. "We go to Highland and Jefferson City (Mo.)-just all around."
They have also played in Columbia as regulars at the American Legion's New Year's Eve party.
When asked if playing in Columbia gets him going more than other locations, Cullen said it doesn't matter to him.
"I just like to play, period," Cullen said.
The Dynamic Combo landed the gig in Columbia by pure happenstance, as the saxophone player was at City Hall filling out some paperwork.
"They were talking to him about playing and said they would give us a shot," Cullen said.
Now the citizens of Columbia will reap the benefits as The Dynamic Combo tries to win over another crowd.
