biography

band history, ska evolution

band's biography

The forming of Tleskač can be dated back to New Year's Eve 2000. It's five minutes after midnight and on stage at the famous Divadlo pod lampou in Plzeň/Pilsen, punk band Požár mlýna just finished their gig. Three of their members, bass guitarist Jirka “Frigo” Sýkora, drummer Petr “Bejdžán” Bejlek and singer Míra “Prasopes” Cisler raise a toast to the new millennium and at the same time form, although at this point only theoretically, a new band that should play ska.

In autumn 2000, the dream becomes a reality and the next step is learning to play with drumbeat on the 2nd beat. With great enthusiasm, the trio is expanded with the arrival of guitarist Jirka Kyliš, tenor saxophonist Štěpán Slezáček, trombonist Michal Sloup and keyboard player Honza Mráz. In this formation, the band starts rehearsing a few cover songs to find out how “it” is done.

It was obvious from the beginning that the journey would not follow the classic ska philosophy. This was partly the result of the attitude and lifestyle of the Tleskač founders. In addition, the musicians' lack of knowledge of the original Jamaican ska inevitably leapt into their songs. However, everything is possible to overcome. Including the poor conditions in which the band had to rehearse and the shortage of good musicians who could commit and contribute.

More new band members soon joined. Alt saxophonist Pavel Halík together with fifteen-year-old singer Olinka Konopíková, who often found it hard to cope with men power and the vulgarism occasionally used in the lyrics.

After ten months of hard labour the band is ready to publicly show their abilities in the form of a first official gig. There was no better place for this occasion than Divadlo pod lampou. More than 200 revellers turned up for this first gig, an impressive number for an unknown band. But then, most of them were friends or relatives of the band members. It's great to have a big band!

It's summer and Tleskač is welcoming its tenth member, trumpet player Karel Kolesa. In this set-up, they play a number of concerts and are now starting to tour further away from home. The quality of their own material is getting noticeably better and cover songs are used only as a minor supplement in the set list.

In winter 2002, the guitarist Jirka Kyliš leaves the band and passes his “truncheon” to Vladimír Bareš. In the summer of 2003, the band plays a vital concert at Litoměřický kořen. Here, they are discovered by the record company Black Point and under its wings create their debut album in spring 2004; Ska z Česka (Ska from Czechia) - the title reveals the unique sound Tleskač had been developing since its forming in 2000.

Shortly after the recording, tenor saxophonist, and by now semi-qualified dentist, Štěpán Slezáček leaves the band to dedicate himself to his profession. Thanks to the fact that a part of his final studies are done in Plzeň, they would soon be welcoming him back…

This happens early in 2005 when Štěpán returns to the line-up bringing the number of band members back to ten. Travelling to concerts in a rickety nine-seat vehicle now becomes an even bigger adventure. But as Štěpán completes the dance-brass section, it's all worth it.

Towards the end of August 2006, the Tleskač concerts become a happy and emotional party celebrating the forthcoming three-hundredth performance. With last tears of emotion and great enthusiasm, the members go back into studio to work on their second album. Thanks to a great team of local sound engineers and help of some “special” friends, the ideas developing over the last two years are becoming more specific in shape. Leading to… date of birth: 20/11/2006, measurements: 14x12 cm / 105 g, title: Na předměstí Bory. The album is not as long as Ska z Česka but significantly greater in its contents and the fans will be fully touched by its genius loci.

Despite the new album not shifting in the record shops on Wall Street and around Klatovská třída, a number of sell-out concerts proof that the fan base is still growing. This success is mainly down to the hard work and loyalty of Ferda Mravenec (character in children’s books) and Mirek Dušín (character in comic books), together a true inspiration to all the band members. This said, nothing lasts forever. Just as virginity is lost, the studies of Štěpán Slezáček come to end and the day he must leave Tleskač for the profession of dentistry has arrived. His well-trodden boots after seven years with the band are exchanged for laughing gas, buzzing dental appliances and ever present amalgam.

In order to fill the gap (in the band), a few musicians attend auditions and after careful consideration, a decision is made to welcome the young enthusiastic Patrik Havlán to join the line-up. This acquisition from Chrást makes an excellent impression by not turning up at his first concert due to the fact that he forgot to; it will be easy for him to blend with the orchestra with his level of IQ. What will happen with other dispositions, only time will tell. The journey is long, burnet and exhausting. Nevertheless, it is always rewarding when a band reaches a landmark and sees the long way ahead. To which the five-hundredth concert is at this time. Whether there is another horizon after this one or the path forms a straight line or drops drastically, well we shall see when we get to this magical place.

Yours Jirka Sýkora