This band is rockin...
Mike Surratt
jrodg
> Anyone know who they are?
>
> http://www.youtube.com/user/katnap74#p/u
Is the group w/the 2 girls Tony's Polka Band ( of the Albany ,NY,
area, I think?) --I've never seen them in person, but noticed from
some videos that they are exceptionally dynamic , versatile and "into"
presenting Polish music in a traditional but innovative and authentic
way ( which is saying a lot !) -- The video on your link doesn't, I
think , include the ladies ( which confuses me re the band's
identity ) , but all the other videos in the series by the "poster"
do) ---so I'm not sure if this is the same group as the one with the
two ladies . This group has a great repertoire ( including such
numbers as "Na weselu tancza goscie"---- an authentic Polish number
that's a real rarity in the polka field ) and Czerwone Bure ("Red #
Grey") , as well as popular polka standards like "Pa. Hills" and a
great Polish wedding repertoire in general. If the group on most of
these videos isn't Tony's PB , they sure are look-
alikes/"Doppelgaenger" ( Reminds me of what you said in German re
everybody having a twin)---Anyway, you sure right: They "rock" ---A
wonderful band __ I wish I could see them in person occasionally, and
will try to. -:)
Polka person
That does look and sound like Tony's Polka Band. Kind of a strange
video. With the band playing a Polish wedding song, everyone is
marching around in Halloween costumes. Either someone got married at
a Halloween party, or everybody came to a wedding in costume ! ! !
If you go on Jimmy K's Polka sales site, you can play some sound clips
of the band's albums, and compare the sound to the video.
John Pav.
jrodg
>
> - Show quoted text -
To add to the confusion re this video, band and repertoire, "Sorki":
( Polish slang for "sorry" now, I understand ^^) I garbled the title
of the Polish hit that the lady vocalist/saxophonist and the band do a
real nice job of ( also "under the influence" of that apparent
"wedding" situation ) when I called it "Na Weselu tancza
goscie" ( Guests are dancing at the wedding) --- As "habitue's" ( hah,
how sophisticated/ continental am I ?! : --"Sorki" I stole your band's
name and abused it like this , Mike ) of Polish pop music all know --
but I forgot -(: --- This famous number is really " Na dancingu
tancza goscie" / clumsy English translation (Why can't I do anything
"smoothly today?!)= "Guests are dancing at the dance" --- It's also
commonly known simply as "Na Dancingu" and/or as "Cygan" ( because a
gypsy gets into the act ) ----- and with that , to use more "Euro-
Polish". "PA" for now and "Wesolego Dnia Dziekczynienia wszystkim "---
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Polka person
>
> - Show quoted text -
In Slovak, we call it Nasha Mlada, the Bridal Dance, and Happy Louie
did it as Pany Mloda Tancuje.
John Pav. (again)
jrodg
>
> - Show quoted text -
Sorry I wasn't clear : With the title , "Na dancingu," I wasn't
referring to the Bridal Dance , which the group is playing on the link
Mike gives, but to one of the other videos, mostly of the same band,
which "katnap" has posted ( These can be viewed in the column to the
right of the first video ) ---"Na dancingu" is a major (European )
Polish hit that goes way back and is frequently revived : There are
many interesting versions of it on youtube ---and "Tony's
Band" ( assuming that this is the band we're talking about ) does a
great version of this one , too ---which few if any other polka bands
do-- With this , "Red/Grey," and many other selections, they show
that they are very "connected" to contemporary Polish music ---which,
unfortunately, again, not that many "Polish style" polka bands are,
Mike Surratt
asked who is the band?
Mike
CanadianPolkaGuy
which, as you say. are connected to contemporary music from Poland.
I group them with Pan Franek from this aspect.
It's interesting that Tony's has 2 girls and Pan Franek has at least 3
girls playing. We need more females playing polkas!!!!
Mike Surratt
Well - now we know and why aren't these fine musicians performing more
across the country?
http://www.tonyspolkaband.com/
CanadianPolkaGuy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKzTC4307Y
I know Tony's played Seven Springs a few years ago, but don't really
know why I don't see them at more festivals. Their schedule shows that
they certainly are willing to travel a fair distance from home.
Mike Surratt
> Mike, if you liked that polka version, check out this disco version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKzTC4307Y
>
> I know Tony's played Seven Springs a few years ago, but don't really
> know why I don't see them at more festivals. Their schedule shows that
> they certainly are willing to travel a fair distance from home.
Thanks CPG -- Cool tune!
jrodg
>
> I know Tony's played Seven Springs a few years ago, but don't really
> know why I don't see them at more festivals. Their schedule shows that
> they certainly are willing to travel a fair distance from home.
Yes, thanks for the link to this cool video -- Incidentally ( back
on that "genre" theme) , the title bar identifies it as a "Biesiada"
number --- " Biesiada, " altho it's sometimes implied to be part of
the "disco polo" genre ( If that term is still "operational" ) is a
term that has emerged in Poland that invariably refers to "folksy"
party music ---at least , that's as close as I can describe it.
Interestingly, too, in terms of these "genres" and how they're defined
in Poland: Unlike the conventional western definition of
"disco",etc. , many groups described in this way have several
instruments ( i.e. the two accordions played here ) but use some disco/
sound or effects to round out their sound. In the German-American
polka field, quite a few groups , or duos, do this , and in the Czech-
American field, too ( notably the popular Dujka Bros. from Texas, seen
often on the Big Joe show, two brothers who play several instruments
well and sing, but use pre-set synthesizer, etc. for the rest of their
sound. In the case of these "American polka groups" , of course ,
this is not considered disco ---while in Poland it seems that the term
disco is used if there's any synthesizer or electronic music
component involved, even when , as with Bayer Full and this group,
there's a group of instrumentalists and vocalists playing on stage.
I agree with everyone who writes that this is a wonderful group
that merits greater popularity and more appearances in the field.
Reading their website I came upon an interesting fact---a really
unique achievement they had a couple of years back: A "battle of the
bands" was held in their local high school when they were students
there ( These are common in high schools __ I was fortunate enough to
be asked to emcee such an event in my local high school for several
years, and it was a lot of fun.) --- Until then, they write, only
rock , punk, gothic, etc. bands had participated in this event , and
there were many such bands competing there that night ---They were the
only polka band to appear (ever) ---and they won the first place award
( which is usually determined by volumn of audience applause after
each band's name is called)! --- Yes, they are very special ( I know
that in "my high school," although there are many students of Polish
and Slavic descent , polka is definitely not considered cool and it's
virtually unthinkable today that a young group would consider playing
it. ---These young people did a rare and wonderful thing in facing
this prejudice head-on and overcoming it dramatically-----and again
this indicates that, "if"conditions are right ( always that tricky
"if") , "polka" can take on all comers, rock , "metal" or whatever
( even among a totally teenage audience ) and come out a winner!!!
If these young people are interested in working more , playing at
festivals, etc. "the field" should certainly do everything it can to
support them : They are the kind of rare, youthful "shot in the
arm" ( or maybe "life support" is a more appropriate term at this
point) that this field needs.
CanadianPolkaGuy
music and I'm going to post a separate thread linking Polish radio
because it might be of interest to others who may not be reading this
particular thread.
B.Richter
<81c401c2-ca0d-44c3...@y23g2000yqd.googlegroups.com>,
Mike Surratt <mikz...@aol.com> wrote:
> Anyone know who they are?
>
> http://www.youtube.com/user/katnap74#p/u
no....
--
Robert