Boris Grebenshikov doesnt bring much of a Russian rock tradition to his songs, but
thats understandableuntil he and his band Aquarium began performing in the late
70s, the Soviet Union had no rock tradition to draw from. Tuesday night at the Bayou,
the much-hyped singer knew he had something to prove, and the honesty in his performance
made one forget that to Western ears, theres little thats innovative about his
music. Most of Grebenshikovs strongest material was not rock at all, but, rather,
softly shimmering passages such as "The Wind," enhanced by wind chimes and his
own mannered, lightly accented vocals. The scope of influences hes picked up stretched
beyond the expected Beatles riffs: A conga-steered, reggaefied "Mother" was
matched later by some playful ska. While the thumping keyboards of "The
Postcard" and "That Voice Again" didnt merit Grebenshikovs
overemotional delivery, no apologies were needed for "Radio Silence." Its lyrics
describe Grebenshikovs wish to tell about his country and share his music, and the
tense, quick-moving melody renders that an easy request to grant. |