Copper Box

8pm Saturday, Shank Hall  $8

The accordion is perhaps one of the least-appreciated musical instruments.  Yet a guy as tough as James Ellroy (whose novels include ultra-hard-boiled classics like "L.A. Confidential") has an ear for it, and if you're living in Milwaukee, you're at least going to learn to tolerate it.

Copper Box makes this easy.  Hailing from Oshkosh, this group features Danny Jerabek, a true accordion virtuoso who translates the vivid physicality of the instrument into an idiomatic style that includes elements of rock, Zydeco, blues and (natch) polka.

His wife, Michelle Jerabek, sings with him and also plays flute, guitar and sax.  With bassist Kevin Junemann and drummer Jason Van Ryzin, they swing from originals to unusual covers-including a Pink Floyd polka-with style and humor.

Copper Box's latest album is "Need a Little Squeezin' " -an agreeable sentiment.

-Jon M. Gilbertson, Special to the Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI)