Reptile Palace Orchestra

The Reptile Palace Orchestra [ [http://www.music.com/group/reptile_palace_orchestra/1/ decent introduction to RPO on this non-commercial music site] ] is an eclectic worldbeat [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/reptile-palace-orchestra RPO introduced and the source of the "eclectic worldbeat" quote] ] band based in Madison, Wisconsin which specializes in lounge, klezmer and other Eastern European music. It began in 1994 with a gig at the Club de Wash, and since that time has become a notable fixture in the Madison music scene. Membership has varied, but the current line-up consists of Anna Purnell, Biff Blumfumgagnge, Seth Blair, Bill Feeny, Robert Schoville, Greg Smith and Ed Feeny, and included Sigtryggur Baldursson [ [http://www.noside.com/Catalog/CatalogArtist_01.asp?Action=Get&Artist_ID=30 Siggi documented as Reptile members in this non-trivial release of Omnium Records, part of RYKO] ] of Sugarcubes/Björk fame on their first 2 Omnium releases, "Iguana iguana" and "HWY X" [ [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigtryggur_Baldursson#Colaboraciones_de_Sigtryggur_Baldursson List of Siggi's Collaberations - "HWY X" and "Iguana, iguana" Reptile Palace Orchestra albums documented] ]

Worldwide sources include their "Greenman Review" [ [http://www.greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_reptilepalace_weknow.html Greenman Review of Reptile Palace documenting Biff, Siggi and the Omnium releases] ] , their "Ink 19" interview by Holly Day [ [http://www.ink19.com/issues_F/99_03/ink_spots/reptile_po.shtml Ink 19 article] ] , their Dirty Linen appearance [ [http://www.dirtynelson.com/linen/special/dl-artists/Reptile_Palace_Orchestra.html Dirty Linen] ] , their "Inside World Music" interview by Paula E. Kirman [ [http://www.insideworldmusic.com/library/weekly/aa071098.htm Paula Kirman interviews the RPO] ] , a 2003 cover story in "Maximum Ink" [ [http://www.maximumink.com/articles.php?articleId=433 Maxink Reptiles Cover story by Andrew Frey] ] and an appearance in Snapshotmusic's FolkLib Index listing [ [http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/labels/snapshotmusic2.shtml Snapshotmusic lists Reptile Palace Orchestra as Bulgarian Folk music] ] . They also appeared on "Balkans Without Borders" [ [http://www.omnium.com/balkans/rpo.html Balkans Without Borders] ] which benefitted the non-profit Doctors Without Borders organization. [ [http://www.omnium.com/balkans/index2.html Balkans Without Borders explained and Reptiles documented] ]

Among the traditional Folk dance material, the group has a song dedicated to the Freshwater Drum. Boiled in Lead members Drew Miller and Robin Adnan Anders have both played with the Reptiles, and Biff has played with Boiled in Lead. The Reptiles also share membership (Greg, Anna) with Yid Vicious a notable Madison Klezmer band.

Discography

* Early Reptile, 1994, Boat Records
* On The Wings Of A Skink, 1995, Motile Music
* Hwy X. 1997, Omnium Records
* Live Field Recording, 1998, Beeftone Music
* Iguana Iguana, 1999, Omnium Records
* XOPO ! 2000, Beeftone Music
* Official Bootleg 2002, Beeftone Music
* We Know You Know, 2004, Omnium Records

External links

* [http://www.reptilepalaceorchestra.com Reptile Palace Orchestra homepage]
* [http://www.myspace.com/reptilepalaceorchestra Reptiles on Myspace]
* [http://www.folklib.net/index/wis_world.shtml#Reptile_Palace The Reptile Palace Orchestra entry in the FolkLib Index]
* [http://www.music.com/group/reptile_palace_orchestra/1/newreleases/ Discography on Music.com]
* [http://www.noside.com/Catalog/CatalogArtist_01.asp?Action=Get&Artist_ID=30 Reptiles on Northside/Omnium Records]
* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hm63tr7qkl3x Reptiles on Allmusic]

References