(lively accordion music) - All right, first, let's see if I can do it.

(lively accordion music) Yeah, explain myself, the most challenging thing anyone could do ever.

Well, I have a one-man band.

♪ Well, I'm a Finnish ♪ fellow from the iron ring ♪ (Steve singing indistinctly) (horn squeaking) I've always been a comedian, I think.

So we say if you love a Fin, raise your hand.

If not, raise your standards.

I hope to compose an opera.

I hope to be the first accordionist on the moon, but then the stuntman's in there too.

(lively accordion music) Hello, my name's Steve Solkela, spelled with a V and then S-O-L-K-E-L-A.

Or if you're a real musically-inclined person... ♪ Do re me fa sol ke la ti do ♪ (chipper music) - Yes, we have a special musician playing tonight.

We're really excited to bring in our one-man band.

Definitely a unique musical choice for the evening and it's kind of fun that we're gonna have this unique eating contest, some unique music.

Yep, quirky Minnesota.

- So you play the accordion then, huh?

- You bet.

I do a lot, I'm a one-man band.

- Oh yeah.

- I started this up a couple months ago.

Every county in Minnesota, I've had a paid gig, I etch it out and never been to this section before, so, good, good.

Success.

I'm dumb, but I'm pretty.

I think today there's 10 hours of driving, two hours of performing, one hour interview.

Yeah, I left Chisholm, Minnesota, at, I don't even remember the hour of the morning.

- Ready?

- Yeah.

I was born unprepared.

Yeah, this is my life.

A Friday through Saturday through Sunday.

It's usually one big day you slam into one.

It's a good career, it really is.

It's not easy.

One day at a time from show to show.

I've been doing it successfully for, gosh, how old am I now?

12?

That's a good chunk you can use.

- Oh, crap.

- Oh dear, bread and beer.

If I were married, I wouldn't be here.

It's funny, I use my accordion cases for anything except accordions.

Put my merch over here.

You got your T-shirts.

They come in orange and blue raspberry and green apple and there's chocolate, watermelon.

Not many people listen to CDs anymore, but I still got em.

Buy a shirt, you can take me home with ya.

(giggling) All right, I think it's time to pound down our dinner, feel like a winner, wishing we were thinner 'cause we all gluttonous sinner.

- [Server] You been to Norway?

- I've been to Sweden and Finland and Germany, but never been to- - You want gravy on this?

- I'll do a little gravy, yeah.

- So, you're not having lutefisk then?

- Oh gosh, no, I value my mental health.

(all laughing) There's only two kinds of people in the world.

There's Norwegians and then there's jealous people.

I got a camera crew following me around today.

I'm more witty than normal.

- So be good.

- [Background Speaker] I've spent a lot of years with a lot of different- - I forgot a fork.

You're a hero.

Thank you.

- [Background Speaker] It's a unique thing for Madison.

- I've never been a big fan of lutefisk.

Waiting for the pitch forks and all that, but it's gonna be fun.

I'm hoping if they're mad at me 'cause I think they smell that I can outrun them.

(Steve singing comical gibberish lyrics) (lively music) I play a whole bunch of things with my feet and elbows and knees and got a little helmet with a symbol on it.

Crash!

Everyone's always worried I'm gonna break my neck with it and I don't.

♪ Gotta be blonde and ♪ dumb and beautiful ♪ ♪ And own the liquor store ♪ (Steve singing comical gibberish lyrics) (lively music) They say it's the obligation of the entertainer to comment on society as it evolves, has been since the jester days in medieval times and I definitely do a lot of that in between my one-liners.

There's occasionally good content there.

In the words of Martin Luther, "Nailed it!"

(laughing) Yeah, the thing about being a comedian is you do tend to dance around being serious, but I come from pretty humble beginnings.

I grew up poor.

I got kicked around an awful lot as a kid.

I was badly abused up to like nine, 10 years old and a lot of alcoholism in the family.

Did music save my life?

Maybe it's just a cliche thing to say, but it's also true.

It did completely.

(lively accordion music) I grew up in a place with a lot of Finnish American heritage and then when I picked up the accordion, holy Hannah, everywhere I went was like, "Can you do this Finnish song?

We book you for Fin Fest if you learn this."

My folks weren't real big on the arts.

It was always, "When you getting a real job?

When you getting a real job?"

I had to basically tell my mom, "Listen, this has happening, I'm being an artist.

I don't care if I am poor for the rest of my life."

Music was kind of a thing, when I gave it a try.

It was like, "Wait a minute, this is lucrative."

Everyone tells me that musicians don't make anything and they're miserable, and I'm like, "I have a lot of fun."

(lively glockenspiel music) I don't mean to be cocky, but if I can inspire just one artist that has trouble believing in themselves, you can make it, you can.

(cymbal dinging) (instruments clanking, tinkling) Two points.

(cheese grater clunking) Two points.

- [Interviewer] How many shows do you do?

- I hit 261 in the past year.

Am I busy?

Yeah.

Is it very difficult?

Yeah, but I never forget how grateful I am.

I could have been a doctor, a lawyer, an engineer, an astronaut, but I didn't wanna do something easy.

I wanted to do something me, you know.

(chair clunking) What kind of Lutheran would I be if I didn't show off helping with chairs?

- When you play, I'm pounding your drum.

- Nice!

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

I don't play mine, I just try to hit like an octopus everything I can.

- I've done it for many years too and I love it.

That's why I like music.

- Well I got a glockenspiel and a train whistle and a harmonica.

(train whistle tooting) Couple cymbals, couple horns.

(horn squeaking) The cheese grater, I don't use.

- I heard that.

- It's just there so it'll be a great show.

- Don't hurt yourself.

- And this is one of my favorites.

- Oh God.

- You put on the helmet.

- You should try that on.

- Give it a try.

Oh, glasses, yeah, it's not all good.

- Don't like glasses.

I'm gonna need one of these.

Here, I'll hold it.

(cymbal dinging) - And you can- - I love that sound.

- You try it.

Wanna try it?

- I'm okay.

(all laughing) - I understand.

Is it just me, or are those doorways getting skinnier?

Well, gosh, what a good day.

I love my life.

I made it happen and I'm pretty proud of it.

(feet clunking) (car engine humming) Safety first.

Bye!

(car engine humming continues) - [Camera Op] That's all she wrote, folks.

(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) - [Narrator] "Postcards" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

Additional support provided by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Mark and Margaret Yackel-Juleen, on behalf of Shalom Hill Farms, a retreat and conference center in a prairie setting near Windom, Minnesota.

On the web at shalomhillfarm.org.

Alexandria, Minnesota, a year-round destination with hundreds of lakes, trails and attractions for memorable vacations and events.

More information at explorealex.com.

The Lake Region Arts Council's arts calendar, an arts and cultural heritage funded digital calendar showcasing upcoming art events and opportunities for artists in West Central Minnesota.

On the web at lrac4calendar.org.

Playing today's new music, plus your favorite hits, 96.7 KRAM, online at 967kram.com.

(upbeat music)