RED ELVISES

MOTHERLAND! THE MOTHERLAND! by MICHAEL TUCKER red elvises

The Eastern Bloc has more indulgences to export than Russian-mafia caviar and vodka. It has also given America the hip-shakin’, commie-crooners The Red Elvises. To get a concept of their sound, think Elvis Presley meets Josef Stalin in more than 100 unique compositions of ‘50s rock, surf and jazz.

The band is the brainchild of singer Igor Yuzov and “actor/ bass-balalaika player” Oleg Bernov. The two met at a peace walk and played in a Russian folk band together before both were politically exiled from Siberia in 1995. They moved to Los Angeles and found a guitarist and drummer, and thus, The Red Elvises were born. The band started off playing rock clubs and bars in Southern California and quickly gained a loyal fan base. Yuzov aimed high from the get go, often chanting to crowds in his jittery, Russian accent, “We are The Red Elvises and we will be your favorite band.”

The Red Elvises caught their break in 1998 when their unique, surf rock sound and heavily accented vocals were chosen to score the cult classic Six String Samurai. The band made a guest appearance in the post-apocalyptic movie, playing boozed-up roadside rockers. They entertained musician-warriors who were venturing to Las Vegas, the only American city left after the Ruskies dropped the bomb in the 1950’s. After playing a song, the band is killed for their shiny shoes by the Grim Reaper and his swordwielding heavy metal band. Yuzov still insists that the film was “the motion picture event of last millennium.”

Almost a decade later, The Red Elvises are still rocking. Having toured across America and Europe, the band has spread its sound across the world. They have cut 12 albums - a testament to the evolution and longevity of their music. In 2004, Yuzov and Oleg refaced The Red Elvises and added three new members: Ukrainian Roman Dudok on saxophone and flute, American Craig Pilo on drums, and fellow Russian Alex “Sasha” on keyboards. The band then produced their most recent work to date, Lunatic and Poets, on their own indie label Shooba-Doobah Records.

The main inspiration behind The Red Elvises is, not surprisingly, Elvis Presley. They pay homage to the King with their onstage antics and dancing, as well as in the “Ballad of Elvis and Priscilla.” Their music is also a tribute to 50’s and 60’s surf rock, noticeably influenced by bands like Dick Dale and The Ventures. “Lovepipe” and “Surfing in Siberia,” with speedy guitar riffs and energetic saxophone, are two songs sure to get your pelvis shaking.

The Red Elvises repaint the American dream; they have no problem trading a white picket fence and Fido for a bottle of hooch and some arm candy. Their lyrics echo romantic notions of love and lust in America, of rock ‘n’ roll, women and late nights. “Suzanna,” a jazzy track highlighted by saxophone and keyboard solos, shows the bands’ sense of humor: “It took me almost a half-an hour to find the zipper on her dress/And then the phone begins to ring/And some asshole’s voice from MCI tells me I can save 25 percent on my long distance calls/Why me? Why?”

The bars and rock clubs where The Red Elvises play are smaller, more intimate venues. The band members mingle with the crowd between songs, accepting drinks and constantly urging women to the front. The band’s appeal resides as much in the music as it does in the lead singer’s quirky personality and ability to work a crowd. Yuzov usually badgers the audience in charmingly broken English, omitting articles and mispronouncing words: “This song is a sing-a-long, everyone sing-along with song!” He often bursts into uncontrollable fits of yelling in his native tongue and his charismatic performances are a staple of the band’s live presence. 

; Michael Tucker is apparently too metal to write a biography for his contributions. Intially, he offended the editors with the snub, but now they think it’s relatively rad, since they get to write his bio for him. We’re making that sweet metal hand gesture just for you, Michael.