Shane’s Rock Challenge: LENINGRAD COWBOYS – 1993 – Total Balailaika Show: Helsinki Concert

Shane’s Rock Challenge: LENINGRAD COWBOYS – 1993 – Total Balailaika Show: Helsinki Concert
By Shane Pinnegar
6.5/10

It’s rock n’ roll, Jim – but not as we know it.

Those familiar with the Aki Kaurismaki film Leningrad Cowboys Go America will have an inkling of what to expect from the 13-piece Finnish rock n’ cabaret band, but chances are more likely that most of you won’t!

Formed by Kaurismaki in 1986 for a couple of short films, the aforementioned movie followed in 1989, with the band taking on a life of their own following that.

Sporting immaculate suits, quiffs and pointy shoes, Leningrad Cowboys play covers of anything from The Beach Boys (California Girls), The Stones (It’s Only Rock n’ Roll) and The Beatles (Yellow Submarine), through to Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sweet Home Alabama), Led Zeppelin (Stairway To Heaven), ZZ Top (Gimme All Your Lovin’), traditional Russian folk songs (The Volga Boatmen, Kalinka and Katyusha) with a particularly individual style which is partly homage, partly rock n’ roll comedy show, and partly clown act – and for this Total Balailaika Show they share the stage with the entire 160-person Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble.

It’s quirky, cultish entertainment at it’s finest, sounding like bar band karaoke now and then, but faring best when the full choir and orchestra are at their bombastic peak, such as on rousing arrangements of Yellow Submarine, Proud Mary, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door and Those Were The Days (turned into a Greek jig here).

Fun it may be, but with such a large part of their act visual, the album will never be as good as watching the film of the show (once again directed by Kaurismaki!)

Category: Shane's Rock Challenge