Widely regarded as the first Contemporary Christian band in history, The Badgers found little success in their attempt to combine their Baptist faith with German drinking music. At the Badger’s first concert in 1962, an angry crowd of traditional polka fans pelted the band with kielbasa and sauerkraut after hearing “The Non-Alcoholic Beer Barrel Polka.” Said one audience member, “Badgers? We don’t need no stinkin’ Badgers!” Though Christian accordion music never fully recovered, The Badgers’ attempt at pandering to the surrounding culture paved the way for other Christian musicians to mangle popular music for years to come.
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