The Reptile Palace Orchestra[1] is an eclectic worldbeat[2] 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 Maggie Weiser, Biff Blumfumgagnge, Seth Blair, Kia Karlen, Bill Feeny, Robert Schoville, Greg Smith and Ed Feeny, and included Sigtryggur Baldursson[3] of Sugarcubes/Björk fame on their first 2 Omnium releases, Iguana iguana and HWY X[4] Worldwide sources include their Greenman Review,[5] their Ink 19 interview by Holly Day,[6] their Dirty Linen appearance,[7] their Inside World Music interview by Paula E. Kirman,[8] a 2003 cover story in Maximum Ink[9] and an appearance in Snapshotmusic's FolkLib Index listing.
[12] Among the traditional Folk dance material, the group has a song dedicated to the Freshwater Drum.
The Reptiles also share membership (Kia, Greg and Geoff Brady) with Yid Vicious a notable Madison Klezmer band.