Roots rock on club night

If you've never indulged in a night of musical bar-hopping through Prague, you'll never have a better opportunity than this Thursday. In conjunction with the city's leading music venues, including Palác Akropolis, Rock Café, Chapeau Rouge, Meet Factory and Cross Club, United Islands is sponsoring a night of free music that will give listeners a chance to hear some of the region's best emerging acts. They cover a range of styles, from the electronic approach of Kazety and Narcotic Fields, to the Ska inclinations of Green Smatroll and the Spankers, to the world-class finesse rock of Sunflower Caravan.

Then there's the post-rock Americana blend of Please the Trees, who have had an eventful two years since their 2007 debut Lion Prayer (on the Czech Absent Hour Records label). Besides a rigorous regional tour schedule, and several radio and television appearances, the band received a personal recommendation from Patti Smith on her online diary Hotel Europa last year.

This year, with the release of their second CD, Inlakesh, followed by a U.S. tour with stops in Brooklyn, Chicago and the indie rock festival South by Southwest in Austin, the band seems well on their way to building a fan base on both sides of the ocean.

For musicians who take their cues from the folk legacy of Woody Guthrie and Ledbelly, as well as the progressive alt-country of Kentucky's Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Colorado's Woven Hand, the visit to the United States was as challenging as it was inspiring.

"We were nervous at first, wondering if our music is really meant for U.S. audiences," admits songwriter/guitarist Václav Havelka. "But the audience response was good, whether we played in living rooms, pizzerias, bars or clubs. The general conditions were hard, yet very healthy for us."

And the late hours and long miles clocked on overnight Greyhound bus rides brought unexpected rewards.

"The U.S. is sort of a heaven for music fans," Havelka says. "You find people on the street selling good albums, like the debut of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, or Buffy Saint Marie, or James Taylor, for $5. So you have a decision - buy a beer or buy a record. I decided not to drink on the whole trip and ended up bringing home a huge bag of vinyl."

That should help continue to stoke the band's fiery mix of rootsy English lyrics, topped with a churning rock sound flavored by pedal steel guitars, countrified fiddles and gospel-tinged backup choruses. The fact that it's all filtered through a Czech lens makes it even more interesting.

"One of the nicest compliments we got in the U.S. was when somebody said that since Please the Trees' perspective of American music comes from so far away, we tend to romanticize everything," Havelka says. "They felt that was good, and unique."

The full studio lineup of singers, violins and brass won't be joining the band at Akropolis this week. But guest artist David Babka will definitely be adding his lyrical sliding tones on pedal steel guitar. And as local fans know, Please the Trees' dynamic core of two electric guitars, bass, drums and vocals is very capable of being convincing on its own.

Darrell Jónsson can be reached at
features@praguepost.com