Flying Balalika Brothers

• Zhenya Rock (Zheka or Z) - Accordion, Guitar, Banjo
• Derek Strahan - BassBalalaika,UprightBass
• Nick Kantar - Drums, Percussions
• Sergey Vashchenko - Balalaika, Accordion,Bass

Directly from Russia and Ukraine now Austin's own authentic gypsy band that plays Eastern European, Balcan music for parties or festivals, plus delivers American roots music to make you feel at home. Great concert/party band. Melodic version of Gogol Bordello.
Zhenya Rock, prima balalaika, accordion, guitar, banjo, main vocals; Derek Strahan, bass balalaika, upright bass; Chris Devore, guitar, balalaika-alto; Nick Kantar, drums, percussions; Sergey Vashchenko, prima balalaika, bass, accordion.

Material: Defying classification, the Flying Balalaika Brothers and their massive rotating cast of guest players take listeners on a world tour of ethnic folk music, from accelerating Old World tarantella stomps to spaghetti-Western gypsy jazz to Jewish wedding barn-burners. The infinitely interesting selections are mostly composed by the primary frontman, Zhenya Rock, who left his previous position as frontman for the successful group Red Elvises to study gypsy music for several years. Despite the enormous diversity of the pieces, a few themes emerge: epic melancholy virtuosic guitar solos, in-the-pocket jazz drums, and ethnic minor scales. About one-half of Z. Rock's compositions are sung in Eastern European languages.

Musicianship: Z. Rock's talent and dedication to the guitar, balalaika, and accordion shine as he deftly spins wistful yet energetic solos. The haunting minor key of the songs is his area of expertise, and he effortlessly bridges the Western pentatonic scale with the Eastern Hungarian and harmonic minor scales. His strong, full-chested voice is well-suited to both deeply melodic lead lines and explosive shouting choruses. Sergey Vashchenko keeps a lively pace on his Balalaika, occasionally bursting into solos that sound like something a charismatic trumpet player might have imagined.Derek Strahan demonstrates his prowess on bass by switching from the thumping Russian bass balalaika to a standart Upright Bass and back. Although the group were too large to be precise in their timing, the heady festival-like chaos of the music suits the organic folk genre.

Performance: From an accordion to a didgeridoo, finger cymbals to balalaikas, this group made use of the most interesting instruments the world has developed. Although the entire band constantly swayed to the moving ethnic rhythms, Z. Rock immediately assumed the role of ringleader and star and dominated the stage. He opened the show with an impressive simultaneous beat-box and accordion solo, and his aura was that of a seasoned performer. His intense gaze targeted the few audience members who were seated, and his enthusiastic clapping, stomping, and cattle-calling goaded the pit of dancers beneath the stage into frenzied celebration.
Summary: Magical, mysterious, and heart-pounding, this Russian 5-tet is sure to fascinate anyone lucky enough to catch their performance.

• ______________________________ - 80s______________________
• Billy Ocean - When The Going Gets Tough - The Tough Get Going
• Bow Wow Wow - C30 - C60
• Crosby - Stills & Nash - Southern Cross
• Crosby - Stills & Nash - Wasted On The Way
• Earth - Wind & Fire - Fall In Love With Me
• Earth - Wind & Fire - Let's Groove
• Escape Club - Wild - Wild West
• Genesis - Tonight - Tonight
• Josie Cotton - Johnny - Are You Queer?
• KISS - Crazy - Crazy Nights
• Lionel Richie - Say You - Say Me
• Lipps - Inc. - Funkytown
• Los Lobos - Come On - Lets Go
• Mötley Crüe - Girls - Girls
• Naked Eyes - Promises - Promises
• Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson - Say - Say
• The Police - De Do Do Do - De Da Da Da
• Ray - Goodman and Brown - Special Lady
• Rick Astley - It Would Take A Strong - Strong Man
• Teri De Sario with K.C. - Yes - I'm Ready
• Timbuk 3 - Future's So Bright - I Gotta Wear Shades
• UB40 - Red - Red Wine
• ______________________________ - Wedding_________________
• Air on a G String - J. S. Bach
• Cannon in D - J. Pachelbell
• Meditation from Thais - J. Massenet
• March from Summer Midnight Dream - F. Mendelssohn
• Ceremonial March - R. Wagner
• Serenade - F. Schubert
• Swan - C. Saint-Saenz
• Traumerei - R. Schumann
• ______________________________ - Country Western____________
• Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain - Willie Nelson
• Crazy - Willie Nelson
• Whiskey River - Willie Nelson
• Orange Blossom - Johnny Cash
• I Walk The Line - Johnny Cash
• Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash
• Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash
• Home Of The Blues - Johnny Cash
• Easy Rider - Johnny Cash
• Hey Good Looking - Hank Williams
• Lonesome Blues - Hank Williams
• Lost Highway - Hank Williams
• You're Cheating Heart - Hank Williams
• San Antonio Rose - Bob Wills
• Right Or Wrong - Bob Wills
• Key To Highway - Sonny Terry
• 2 Dollar Bill - American bluegrass
• Sugarfoot Rag - Junior Brown
• Mystery Train - Elvis Presley
• Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
• Louisiana Saturday Night - Mel McDaniel
• Voodoo Chille - Jimmy Hendrix
• Sky Is Crying - Steve Ray Vaughn
• I Put A Spell On You - Arthur Brown
• Honky Tonk Angels - Merle
• Kisses Sweeter Than Wine - Jimmie Rodgers
• Oh Lonesome Me - Don Gibson
• Rocky Top - Osborne Brothers
• Okie From Muskogee - Merle Haggard
• High Lonesome Sound - Alison Crauss
• Walking Te Floor Over You - Ernest Tubb
• Nights In The Roadhouse - Junior Brown
• My One Desire - Ricky Nelson
• Wicked Games - Chris Isaac
• At Last - Etta James
• Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Whittlers
• Love Song - The Cure
• Too Late - Little Walter
• Sleepwalk - Johnny & Santo
• Recipe For Making Love - Harry Conick Jr
• South Of The Border - Frank Sinatra
• Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra
• No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley
• Jamming - Bob Marley
• Stray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
• Blackbird - Beatles
• All My Loving - Beatles
• Little Help - Beatles
• ______________________________ - Standard/Jazz/ Latino________
• All Of Me - Louis Armstrong
• What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
• You'd Be So Nice - Nat King Cole
• Wave - A.C. Jobim
• Desafinado - A.C. Jobim
• Corcovado - A.C. Jobim
• Triste - A.C. Jobim
• Girl from Ipanema - A.C. Jobim
• Europa - Carlos Santana
• Sabor A Mi - Latino
• Besame Mucho - Latino
• Volver - Flaco Himenez
• Cumbia De La Carretera - Blazers
• Coco-Royado - Latino
• La Bamba - Latino
• ______________________________ - Ethnic Fusion______________
• ______________________________ - Italian_____________________
• Tarantella - Traditional
• It's Amore - Dean Martin
• Santa Lucia - Traditional
• O Sole Mio - Traditional
• Volare - Dean Martin
• The God Father - Henri Mancini
• Arrivederchi Roma - Traditional
• Torna a Sorriento - Traditional
• ______________________________ - French____________________
• La Vie En Rose - Louis Guglielmi
• Pigale - Traditional
• Domino - Traditional
• I Love Paris - F. Sinatra
• Autumn Leaves - Nat King Cole
• Strangers Of The Night - F. Sinatra
• ______________________________ - Jewish____________________
• Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen - Traditional
• Hava Nagila - Traditional
• Erev Shel Shoshanim - Traditional
• 7/40 - Traditional
• Sunrise, Sunset - Traditional

Anniversaries, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Church Services, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fund Raisers, Funerals, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Halloween Parties, Picnic, Private Parties, Proms, Restaurants, Sweet 16 Parties, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• The Flying Balalika Brothers did a fantastic job. I couldn't have had better responses from those attending our event. I would most certainly use them for other events in the future. I can highly recommend them. -- Kelley E, Austin, TX, 11/3/2010
• These guys were outstanding! Can't wait to work with them again. We hope it will be much sooner than later. -- Ray Y, Houston, TX, 4/29/2011
• The Flying Balaliaka Brothers were a joy to work with and brought to our theater and community the true Russian music experience. Their energy level and professional musicianship was top-notch. The crowd loved them and I heard more compliments from this concert than I have from any in my past year here at the the West Plain Civic Center. The band also did a workshop in the afternoon demonstrating their instruments and talking about the music in-depth. They were very accomodating to the audience question. I highly recommend this band for a fun, educational night of Russian flying fingers. Truely a fun time was had by all. -- Deborah D, West Plains, MO, 10/22/2011
• We are both trilled to have had the Flying Balalika Brothers perform at our wedding. All our guests, and including us, utterly enjoyed the music and danced all night long. We could not have for such a exciting time with these amazing musicians! Thank you FBB! Warm Regards, Mr. & Mrs. Chase Williams -- Stacy C, Galveston, TX, 3/10/2012

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