MySpace.com - The Tongues - San Francisco, California - Indie / Pop Punk / Glam

In the Summer of 2007, off the strength of their debut EP, ...as seen on TV..., The Tongues made it as a TOP 6 FINALIST (Out of over 1300 bands) in the Independent Music World Series West!
The Tongues are now recording a debut full length album and are booking a European tour for April and May of 2008.

"Though only five tracks long, ...as seen on TV... shows how far The Tongues can reach, musically speaking. The Oakland group’s debut EP runs the gamut from upbeat, danceable pop-rock (think new Brit rock/pop invasion without the attitude) to catchy punk (like a slightly softer version of The Vandals or Bad Religion) to languid, lamenting rock." -Performer Magazine

"The 3 guys say that they are influenced by British bands such as The Beatles, The Pixies, Franz Ferdinand, The Libertines and Bloc Party. You can hear these influences indeed, but The Tongues’ music is more than just a bad copy: The unique voice of the singer Barry Le Baron (great name!) certainly contributes to the fact that their songs remain something independent." -poptilyoudrop.ch

The Band

Barry Syska - Vox, Guitar - is a quintessential artist who entertains a palette of many different styles. Syska has a history of various musical endeavors and has performed at venues from east to west such as The Chance in NYC, the Walnut Creek Amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina, and San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. In addition to playing in The Tongues, Syska also continues his solo career. He is currently recording a new album.

Patrick “P!ckle” Kaliski - Drums, Vox - is a musical gadfly with overdeveloped deltoids who muses, “I like hitting drums, truly I do, but I would like, ever so much, to hit them quite, quite harder.” His current musical endeavors include hitting drums with Rosin Coven, Dr. Abacus, and Gooferman. Pickle’s various bands have taken him on tours through the western states, New York and Europe. Pickle is also heavily involved in sound design for theatre and film. He is the resident sound designer of foolsFury Theatre Company and has scored and sound designed several films through his company Metric Sound Productions.

William "Billy" Barnes - Bass, Vox - has been playing the bass since his mother took away his teddy bear and his blanky. His former musical projects include playing with 501 Spanish Verbs and Slombis.

Jacob "Jakey" Bollin - Guitar, Vox - The newest member to join The Tongues came to us from the sledgehammering band, Pink Clouds. Jakey also takes time to work his solo music with Fairchild

The Tongues’ sound… …combines edgy guitars, pumpin’ bass, and kickin’ drums with singable melodies and intriguing storylines. Harnessing raw musical exuberance into danceable grooves...

In the beginning, guitarist Barry Syska and drummer Patrick “Pickle” Kaliski met back in 2002 when they began recording sessions for Barry’s Fantasy Cravings album. They later played together at various gigs such as the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco warming up for the Dresden Dolls and Pickle’s other band, Rosin Coven. Over the next few years these musical comrades maintained an appreciation for each other’s musicianship and beguiled one another with their animated characters.

One evening in the fall of 2006, the two found themselves on Pickle’s front porch talking shop. Reminiscing about their work recording Barry’s solo album of vaudevillian pastiche, and talking about Pickle’s current projects playing in large groups such as the pagan lounge ensemble Rosin Coven, the cartoon jazz quintet Dr. Abacus, and the Klown-Fi band Gooferman, they found themselves speaking about a musical avenue both desired exploring. Barry and Pickle realized that they shared a similar vision – of forming a danceable rockin’ band with a Brit twist. In fact, the process of forming this band was well underway. Pickle had already advertised for a bass player and Barry had already begun writing rock songs. It was then that bassist William "Billy the Kid" Barnes came into the picture. Billy responded immediately to Pickle’s posting (after first listening to bands like Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party to figure out the exact manner in which these young upstarts rocked) and he was a good fit. Having grown disillusioned with the working world, Billy yearned for his bygone days of playing in rock bands (501 Spanish Verbs, Slombis).And so the die was cast.

In mid-March 2006, the trio met for their first rehearsal at Pickle’s place in Oakland and within a few months they transitioned from living room to recording studio. They then set about recording the basic tracks for what was to become their first EP:

These recording sessions lasted long into the hot summer nights and in that windowless practice space the guys would shed clothing and imbibe cool liquid to keep the hot grooves from melting their mettle… Once the basic tracks were cut they called upon Billy’s long-time friend Dan Rathburn at Polymorph Studio. Under a sign bearing the inscription ‘Iron Lung’ the guys laid down the vocal tracks and Dan made quick work mixing it all together. Before too long a danceable EP of this band newly christened The Tongues was born.

In the spring of 2007, The Tongues began promoting their new EP ... as seen on TV... through local touring and promotion.

In June of 2007 The Tongues brought in a new fourth member to close out and complete the band. Jacob “Jakey” Bollin, formally of the San Francisco indie band, Pink Clouds, is adding his own touch and guitar stylings to the sound. The Tongues are pleased as punch to have him on board.

A new full length album is currently being recorded, and in April/May of 2008 the band will take their sound overseas to Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic & Britain.

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