My favorite band? They just might be.
About a decade ago (my how time flies when you’re having a life) Katya Pendill’s brother Dima introduced me to the sonic stylings of The Red Elvises. I immedeatly bought two CDs and have tried my best to wear the bits off them.
The Red Elvises, or more formally, “Igor and the Red Elvises” are a group of Russian ex-pat rockers channeling an irreverent fusion of Rockabilly-Surf-Punk-Pop-Culture-Rock with Russian folk influences. And they’ve got a lot of very good songs…my favorites being “Rocketman” and “Stewardess in Red.”
If you think Surf-Rock and Russian folk styles are an odd mix, you’re forgetting that Dick Dale, who pretty much highhandedly invented surf music (and possibly heavy metal) in the early 60s was heavily influences by an uncle who played belly dancing music. The surf sound has always had exotic beats woven into it.
Igor Yuzov on his big red bass balalaika
But great music is only half the story. Equally important is that they’re a lot of fun in the special sort of way that only despondent Russians can be…and that Dima popped up on Facebook to let me know they (and he) were going to be appearing at IOTA in the DC area…and would I like to join him and his wife (and half of their neighborhood)?
You bet!
I had great time with Dima and Red Elvises, even though I didn’t get to stay for the second set and missed my favorites. Still there were some new pieces that are climbing the charts in my playlist, including, “Strip Club is Closed,” a sad Russian lament.
Igor and the Reds didn’t object to my picture taking, so I took quite a few shots, some of which you see on the Flickr link at the end.
The next day, more or less, was the Space Shuttle’s last launch, and I had fun matching up the Rocketman recording to the NASA TV replay, which worked beautifully, despite, or perhaps because of, the cognitive dissonance of cosmonaut and capitalist space programs.
Check out their tour dates below, and definitely listen to the Rocketman Video there as well. By the way, Igor…you’re more than welcome to any of the pictures in my photo set.
Links / Sources
- Red Elvises Home Page: http://www.redelvises.com/
- My Photo Set on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elilley/sets/72157627143427082/
- Rocketman (You Tube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h41AAtYQnOw