WARSAW VILLAGE BAND
Dr. Sushi
Start with traditional Polish folk music. Then mix in some klezmer, free jazz and loud, powerful vocals. Finally, add some socially conscious lyrics and what do you have? The Warsaw Village Band.
This group is playing at the Pitman Theater on October 30 as part of the Alverno Presents Concert Series. It is sure to be one of the most unique and high energy performances of 2009. If you like Bulgarian wedding music, you will love the Warsaw Village Band. I have a feeling that the band’s performance will have people dancing in the aisles.
One of the most interesting things about the Warsaw Village Band is its utilization of instruments that are rarely heard in today’s music. Instruments like frame drums, the hurdy-gurdy and the suka are all prominently featured in many of the group’s musical selections. You won’t believe your ears!!
To get yourself ready for the performance, I recommend a shot (or two) of some Polish vodka and as many pierogi as you can eat. This is going to be a night you’ll never forget.
It was indeed a great show, despite the fact that two female players from original line-up were missing (dulcimer and violin player). They both also contribute important vocal harmonies as well. They did have a female violin player filling-in one spot. I especially missed the dulcimer player as she is big part of the band’s sound and texture and a really fun to watch, fearless, dramatic perfomer. Nevertless, I believe that neither suka, nor hurdy-gurdy ever were used on stage.
I was not suprised, but the band did not encourage dancing during their performance. I have seen them twice before and that was consistent with their previous approach. BTW, the MC announcing the band was wrong, it was band’s third US tour, not the second.
I wish that the band played a little bit more to the audience esp. Wojtek Krzak (violin player). I wish that they played 3 songs for the encore instead of 1. They played for just over 70 minutes – rather short… I wonder if it might be due to strenious vocal technique employed by Maja Kleszcz.
I wish that they played: “Styry konie” from their first CD “Hopsasa” and “When Johnny Went To War”.
The band memebers were very approachable after the show when they hang-out in the foyer and happy to talk about their music, band, folk scene in Poland.
It was a great show, very intense and original. I am very curious which way their music will develop on their next CD, as each time they change slightly their approach… moving away from being strictly an ethnic, folk band to developing their own style that reaches out to other genres as well.