The accordion, banjo and tuba are not the usual weapons of choice for a band looking to capture the riotous sound of punk rock, but for the Polish band Hanba! these instruments form the backbone of their unique tunes.
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With a musical vision and aesthetic that traces it's lineage to the interwar period of the 20th century, Hanba!, which translates to Disgrace, manage to combine the sounds of traditional Polish folk music with the intensity and fervor of punk pioneers like The Clash and The Ramones.
The instruments were a common mix used by Polish workers and the lower classes in the 1930’s.
“Traditionally the lower class workers and students, if they could play instruments, they would gather themselves and create a band, wander the towns streets and tenements and busk for money,” explained drummer and vocalist Adam Sobolewski.
Although they may be lost in translation for listeners here in Australia, the band often uses the words of revolutionary Polish poets from the interwar era, such as Brzechwa, Broniewski and Tuwim, as lyrics for their songs.
“We sometimes write our own lyrics but we still try to write them in the 1930’s style,” said Ignacy Woland, the band’s tuba player.
One thing that isn't lost in the translation though is the passion with which the band deliver their performances.
“We are fans of the Polish punk rock movement of the 1980’s,” said Woland.
“Polish punk was also involved with new wave music and cold wave, and we are also children of the 90’s so we heard a lot of grunge and thrash metal,” said Woland.
Formed in the Polish city of Kraków in 2013, the band have a pair of full length releases to their name, 2016's self titled and 2017's Beda bic!
The growing interest globally in their music has seen them support American rock star Jack White during his 2018 Polish tour and having influential American radio station KEXP record a full concert live for their listeners.
“It’s surprising to have this interest, because what we do is very Polish based,” said Sobolewski.
“We sing about Polish history, we sing in Polish, our music is very Polish based, so it’s very surprising that anyone would want to listen to us.”
“There is a second point that that we are more and more certain of and that is we are more attractive to the world and to foreign listeners because we sing in Polish,” added Woland.
“The Polish language is so difficult to listen to, so it makes listeners curious,” he said.
After spending the past few days taking in the sights of Tasmania’s rugged scenery the four piece band is looking forward to hitting the stage this weekend.
Hanba! perform as part of Mona Foma on Saturday 19 January 5.30pm Annexe Theatre and Sunday 20 January 3.45pm on the Traverser Stage.