by LORRAINE CARPENTER

"We're larger than life," says Devotchka's Nick Urata, responding to my overestimation of his band's size, a misconception rooted in the raucous largesse of their sound and stage presence. Devotchka is a quartet, with Urata on vocals, theremin, guitars, piano and trumpet, Tom Hagerman on violin, accordion and piano, Jeanie Schroder on sousaphone, upright bass and vocals and Shawn King on drums and trumpet. Though the band often features guest players (and sometimes dancers), they're currently touring as a trio due to Schroder's other gig - as a seasonal accountant.

"We're slowly getting out of our day jobs," Urata explains. "Personally, I haven't worked in years."

Devotchka's "Eastern bloc indie rock" is working, however, a result of the independent band's tireless touring and showcasing. Their fresh fusion of Slavic, Latin and rock music - as heard on their three LPs, most recently How It Ends - is both a sum of the band members' ethnic backgrounds (Sicilian, Japanese, German, Lithuanian) and the Chicago neighbourhood where Devotchka formed.

"I was nostalgic for the old music I used to hear around the house," says Urata, the Sicilian, "and living in that neighbourhood kinda revived it, opened my ears to it. That's when we started experimenting with accordions, violins and ethnic styles."

Urata and departed Devotchka co-founder Jon Ellison relocated to Denver in 1997 and recruited band members, an easier task than they initially assumed.

"Believe it or not, there's a very unique and diverse sound coming out of Denver," claims Urata. "There was the gothic country revival, and of course there's a huge mariachi scene, which is very exciting and inspiring to us. Overall, there's been a gravitation towards rootsy instruments and old-timey songs."

If Devotchka had to choose one "old country," it would be Putin country - their moniker means "young girl" in Russian. To the band's surprise, a Russian label called Bad Taste picked up their debut album and hopes to bring them to St. Petersburg this summer.

"We're really excited about that," says Urata. "It's very cool that they found us." The feeling must be mutual.

With M. Ward, Norfolk & Western at la Sala Rossa on Saturday, April 16, 9 p.m., $12

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