Yid Vicious has been captivating audiences across the Midwest since its inception in 1995. The ensemble has produced four CDs and garnered multiple Madison Area Music Awards, recognized for its distinctive fusion of traditional and contemporary klezmer music. In 2009, Yid Vicious made history as the first performing arts group in Wisconsin to receive a USArtists International grant, enabling them to perform at KlezFiesta in Argentina, an international klezmer festival that spans three cities and features bands from ten different countries. Earlier, in 2006, the group toured Chiba Prefecture, Japan, as part of the Wisconsin-Chiba Sister State Goodwill Delegation. Yid Vicious is dedicated to preserving the art of klezmer music and dance, often collaborating with esteemed klezmer dance instructor Steve Weintraub. They have participated in the New York-based “KlezKamp: The Yiddish Folk Arts Program” and were highlighted in the “KlezKamp Roadshow,” directed by Yiddish scholar Henry Sapoznik at the University of Wisconsin in April 2009. The ensemble has presented concerts, workshops, and clinics at various venues, including performing arts centers, cultural festivals, universities, and K-12 schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Michigan. Their performances have reached wider audiences through broadcasts on Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television.
Daithi Wolfe - Fiddle
Daithi Wolfe, known for his fiddle playing, began his musical journey as a Suzuki violin student in Ann Arbor in 1968. After a visit to Ireland in 1983, he adopted the name Daithi—an Irish equivalent of David—and transitioned from violin to fiddle. He has played Celtic music in Madison for nearly 19 years, initially with The Drones, followed by Far From Home, The Authorities, and currently, The Currach, where he performs every Friday at the Brocach from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Although Daithi claims to dislike music, he enjoys the image of being in a band. Outside of music, he advocates for early childhood education, runs marathons, and stirs up mischief. His wife, Sandy, is a trapeze artist and carpenter, while their older daughter, Mairead, is a stilt-walking fiddler, and their younger daughter, Fiona, excels as a tree climber and violinist. Daithi’s favorite tune by Yid Vicious is "Sadegurer Husidl." Notably, he and Matt are the only original members still with the band.
Greg Smith - Clarinets
Greg Smith, a native of Madison, has explored a diverse array of musical styles throughout his career as a clarinetist and saxophonist. He has served as the bass clarinetist for the Madison Symphony Orchestra since the 1970s, performs with the Capitol City Concert Band, and plays hot Dixieland with the Dixie Sizzlers. As a member of the Reptile Palace Orchestra, Greg engages in the intriguing genre of Balkan lounge funk. He is also a founding member of Grupo Candela, a group specializing in Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata, and regularly performs with the Caravan Gypsy Swing Ensemble and local Western Swing bands like the North Country Drifters and Safety Last! His recent projects include The Velet Smash, which covers a range from Sinatra to Morphine, infused with African and Argentinian influences, and he has taken on the role of tupaneer in the traditional Balkan music group Intemperance Collective. Greg joined Yid Vicious in 2002, motivated by a desire to play music in minor keys.
Kia Karlen - Horn & Accordion
Kia Karlen, also from Madison, WI, stepped into the role of horn player for Yid Vicious in 2002 and subsequently mastered an accordion previously captured in the wild by bandmate Geoff. In addition to her contributions to Yid Vicious, she plays horn and accordion with the Reptile Palace Orchestra and has performed with the Con Vivo Chamber Ensemble, Four Seasons Theatre, Capitol City Band, and Madison Savoyards. Occasionally, she plays bass with local rock bands such as Yammer and the Theramones. Together with her husband, Geoff Brady, who plays drums for Yid Vicious, Kia has composed experimental music for silent film screenings, created sock puppet tributes to philosophers, and organized artists for public art initiatives at events like Ride the Drive and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. She works at the Madison Children’s Museum, where she finds ways to engage in similar creative endeavors professionally.
Matt Appleby - Guitar
Matt Appleby is a founding member of Yid Vicious, having joined during the first Clinton administration. After spending time in the Twin Cities in the late 1990s, he returned to the Madison music scene. When he is not searching the music library for cataloging opportunities, Matt performs with the band Shakey and manages Alexei A. Schmirnov, the bass player for Optometri. His return to Yid Vicious has significantly increased the band’s ethnomusicological expertise.
David Spies - Tuba
David Spies has been an active participant in the Wisconsin music scene since returning to Madison in 2003 after a 12-year stint in New Haven and Denton, Texas. Besides playing with Yid Vicious, he is a member of the Madison Jazz Orchestra, performs with the Racine Symphony Orchestra, and solos with the Madison Brass Band. He has also been involved with the Willson Tuba Quartet and has played with the Milwaukee Symphony and the Iowa Brass Quintet. When not performing, David teaches at Marian University and Carroll University and maintains a close relationship with library materials.
Geoff Brady - Percussion
Geoff Brady, originally from Pontiac, MI, plays drums and occasionally theremin with Yid Vicious, in addition to performing with various other Madison-based ensembles, including the Active Percussion Duo, Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Gomers, Executive Tea Set, Yammer, and the Theramones. He also engages in solo performances, writing, and teaching. Currently, he is developing a one-man show titled “Me, Me, Look at ME: A One-Man Show” and is happily married to Kia, the band’s horn player.
And the Rest!
The extended family of Yid Vicious frequently collaborates with the band in the Madison area. The roster includes vocalist Anna Purnell, trumpeter emeritus Bob Jacobson, and dance leaders Kim Caisse, Steve Weintraub, and Michael Kuharski. For those interested in booking a comprehensive Yid Vicious experience for an event, please inquire about the potential for a mega-Vicious ensemble featuring all the members.
