Artist description Combining every form of gypsy music with ska and rock.

Music Style Gypsy Rock

Musical Influences Tea Party, No Doubt, The Police, Queen

Similar Artists Tea Party, No Doubt, Queen

Artist History Together since 1990. Decided there wasn't a Scott or an Irish among us and looked into our own roots about six years ago. We discovered klezmer (traditional Jewish music) and Gypsy music. CBC sweethearts. Touring extensively for years. yada yada.

Group Members Ty Semaka - lyrics, vocals. Alan Kolodziejzyk - guitar, vocals. Jonathan Lewis - violin, mandolin, farfisa pianorgan, vocals. Matt Woodward - violin. Chipp Robb - bass guitar. John McNiel - drums.

Instruments acoustic guitar, electric guitar, two violins, mandolin, farfisa pianorgan, bass, upright bass, drums

Albums Running With Scissors (1994), Tongue & Groove (1996), In Klezskavania (1999), Belladonna (2002)

Press Reviews MUSIC REVIEWS OF IN KLEZSKAVANIA THE ALBUM _________________________________________________ This is one of the most ingenious albums I have ever listened to . . . I am always speaking of talent on my reviews but this has to be the most talented group I have ever come across. Mat Thompson • Lambda Magazine, Montreal _________________________________________________ In Klezskavania marries klezmer’s violins & accordions with a driving beat & Semaka’s fanciful storyline . . . these slavic romps wi ll fire up club & festival crowds on thier own . . . The superb CD package is a model of what indies can do with imagination & a budget. The Record • Canada _________________________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils are possibly the coole s t klezmer band in the world! Matthew Kroesser • CKCU Radio, Ottowa, Ontario _________________________________________________ When you have just released an extravagant & expensive project like In Klezskavania & it’s accompanying rock opera you can do w ha tever you want. The whatever they want has morphed into an Eastern European symphony of multi-textured, multi faceted melodies they call Gypsy Rock. Aubrey McInnis • Fast Forward Magazine, Calgary _________________________________________________ Th ere a ren’t many Calgary bands who can claim an eight year union resulting in the release of three entirely independently produced CD’s. In Klezskavania is quite obviously the most extravagant. . . . These unsinkable horned lads have found their niche in a so und & made an album heavy in production & filled with enough word play to make your head spin. Jackie Dumaine • The Vox, Calgary _________________________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils are one of the best bands in western Canada & one o f only a few “original” bands in the country. Shannon Martin • CJSW Radio, UofC, Calgary _________________________________________________ There’s a good deal of musical creativity here & some grand fiddling. Marian MacNair • Hour Magazine, Mont r ea l ____ _____________________________________________ Gypsy rock will be the next big thing. The latest offering from the Plaid Tongued Devils nicley ushers in the age of wandering & being persecuted! Heather Hutchinson • The Gauntlet, Calgary ________ ___ _______ _______________________________ The songs are a fantastic triumph of imagination. Greg Betts • Queen’s Journal, QU, Kingston, Ontario All the songs are nicely glazed with a rock & roll coating. In Klezskavania is one of the most original, in trig uing alb ums I’ve ever heard. David Neilson • The Aquinain, Fredricton, NB _________________________________________________A nice surprise. This album is a winner from beginning to end. Mike Whaley • The Lance, Windsor Ontario _________________ _________ _________ ______________ In Klezskavania is classic Plaid Tongued Devils fare; let’s hope for more. The lyrics kick ass . . . The Devils deliver a tight, entertaining package I just can’t stop listening to. Richard Cairney • SEE Magazine, Edmon ton ______ __________ _________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils have put together an ingenious & rather ambitious project. The blend of traditional & not so traditional musical styles is wondrously fun & the 18 songs have been written w ith great f lair & inge nuity. Johnny Pigeau • The Nomad, St. Lawrence College, Kingston _________________________________________________ In this funny & highly entertaining effort, the Devils make you want to do cossack splits in your living room & sho ut “hey!” un til the neig hbors call the cops . . . & I for one am hoping for a tour. Rod Wilson • The Cadre, Toronto _________________________________________________ A bizarre & wonderfull concept album. Miss this record & suffer the curse of a thousan d generations. Bartley Kiv es • The Winnipeg Sun _________________________________________________ The Devils max out on highfalutin’ intentions and infectious energy. They cook on thier insruments with impecable timing which comes off as an overwhelmin gly frenetic pastiche of gy psy, polka and klezmer, and some spots are so cranked you’d swear there’s some high test ska in there too. Great srings propel a feast of weird narratives and lead singer Ty Semaka’s voice is more than competent. Kelly Drennan • id Magazin e • Ontario ___ ______________________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils just may be on to something. So if you're in the mood for a goofy holiday, check out In Klezkavania. Or better still, catch them live in concert. They're fun. Les S iemieniuk • Peng uin Eggs Magazine • penguineggs.ab.ca _________________________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils are solid, good time musicians people are bound to enjoy Pat Sullivan • Lethbridge Herald THEATRICAL REVIEWS OF I N KLEZSKAVANIA THE PLAY ____ _____________________________________________ Headline: Gypsy Rock Opera is a sleazy success In the Rabbits skilled paws it’s a tasty tidbit of demonic lunacy . . . the unbridled comic energy of the Rabbits & the frenetic, foo t stomping quality of the Devils’ klez-rock make it work. . . “In Klezskavania” is a hellish hit. (**** rating) • Martin Morrow • The Calgary Herald _________________________________________________ Headline: In Klezskavania incredibly hilarious In Klezskavania is p erhaps one of the funniest & most entertaining shows O.Y.R. has ever put on. . . but the real star of the show is the music. The P.T.D’s klezmer, pop & ska mix & the cast’s fine singing make In Klezskavania a show no to be missed. Lisa W ilton • The Calgar y Sun ____________ _____________________________________ It’s hilarious & exhilarating fun, with music that ranges from klezmer to ska to pop & self styled gypsy rock . . . with a manic & excellent cast . . . in this tantalizing & sharp produ ction. Jon Ka plan • NOW Magazine, Calgary ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• TONGUE & GROOVE (CD) REVIEWS _________________________________________________ Confidence & wit lure you into the rustic revelry . . . A thick pop sponge, dripp ing with juicy bits of polka, blu egrass, ska, rock & country make Tongue & Groove a truly yummy pastime AMu • Chart Magazine _________________________________________________ The group’s second full length CD is easily it’s best...if anything get ting clo ser in feel to a band like Minneap olis’ Boiled In Lead. James Muretich • The Calgary Herald _________________________________________________ The PTD has a refreshing, engaging sound that puts most of today’s stale fiddle funk yahoos to shame Da rren Zenk o • See Magazi ne __________________ _______________________________ I would recommend Tongue & Groove to any type of music fan . . . I truly believe this disc has it all. Allison Cully • Spank Magazine __________________________________________ _______ Th e single “Jesus Started Drinking” spe nt more weeks on our top 30 than most independant bands & more weeks in the top 20 (reaching #4) than any local band. Tracey Garbutt • Music Director, Mix 1060 FM, Calgary __________________________________ ___________ ____ Number 3 o n my top five best loca l releases of 1995. Josh Boser • VOX Magazine _________________________________________________ The Plaid Tongued Devils fuckin’ rock! Ryan Dahl • The Age Of Electric, Limblifter RUNNING WITH SCISSORS (C D) REVIEWS _ ________________ ________________________ ________ The group rides the acoustic range from up tempo peaks to moody lows. It plays with a confidence & ability . . . people like them, they really do. James Muretich • The Calgary Herald _______ _____________ _________________ ____________ The P.T.D. a re taking a fresh approach to music, fitting themselves into that nebulous space between folk & rock .… The result is a danceable, cohesive & enjoyable mix. Kerri Clarke • Calgary Folk Music Festiv al Organizer _ __________________ __________________________ ____ No matter your interest in music-style, they’ve got something for you; just listen. Not just to the music, but also to the words & to the feeling this band expresses. Tom Atkinson • VOX Ma gazine & CJSW R adio, Calgary _____ ___________________________ _________________ If more people would pick up this CD, maybe we’d see someone really good win a Juno next year. Joe Chan • VOX Magazine, Calgary _________________________________________________ This is another example of undi scovered folk/rock talent fr om the middle of nowhere, that’s as good as any Canadian-gone-stateside success story. Victor Bonderoff • The Vancouver Sun _________________________________________________ MORE TO COME WHEN BELLADONNA IS RELEASED!ˇ

Additional Info New song available on openBSD Operating System CD. www.openbsd.org

Location Calgary, Alberta - Canada

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).