Fall Programming

[Roger -Dot- Lee(Admin)]

Originally posted by the_original_ib
[Roger -Dot- Lee Inquires:]

"Cool. Or if you have problems with individual eastern bloc countries, how about something in a "Songs from the Former Soviet Union" or "Look what happened when the communists finally got the BOOT!" type of show. A couple from Estonia, Maybe something from Latvia or Lithuania,"

[To which our favorite IB responds:]

Yeah, that's the idea. I *think* I can get two hours out of Estonia if I stretch it. I have nothing from Lithuania and don't know if anything exists. I have a couple things from Latvia, both newer. I only know of one or two bands from the Ukraine and have neither. I know of one band from Belarus but don't have it. So there's work to be done. I have a couple of good contacts for East Euro stuff so I might be able to CDR-swap my way to a show at some point but the collection won't have it.

It would truly surprise me if you couldn't find anything from Lithuania. The fact that the Lithuanian Olympic Basketball Team had their jerseys designed by the Grateful Dead less than two years after being freed from communism not withstanding, they (along with their Baltic Brethren) have ALWAYS had an independent streak. In my opinion, fertile ground for prog rock.

[TOIB Continues:]

There is one band from Turkmenistan that I have, and one artist from Tuva (not prog but what the hell). The only real problem with a "former Soviet Union" show is that these areas have little to do with each other... Latvia and Turkmenistan have nothing in common (which is part of the problem of the Soviet Union frankly).

One of the many, MANY problems, I might add. What looks good on paper doesn't necessarily work in practice, especially when you try to cram it down someone's throat. The only problem with that is you have to invest all SORTS of resources in making sure that it stays crammed.

As for Russia itself... this I could do a two hour show for but it's not at the level I want it yet. The oldest prog I have from Russia is early 80s. My East Euro contacts might be able to help me with older stuff. The main delay with these shows is wanting to do them right.

Which is one of the reasons your show rocks to the level at which it does. You take the time to make sure that you do it right.

Happily these countries all support shows. In fact I have already done a two-part series on Hungary.. one was older bands and the other "newer" bands (80s and later). Yugoslavia I am about to do a four-part series broken down into the countries as they exist today. Romania I did a show already. The Czech and Slovak stuff is in the pipeline but I still have to do the research of what was from which and how it ought to be grouped together.

Again, one of the reasons your show rocks. You take the time to do it right. That's why I keep listening, even if your french isn't up to snuff. I don't worry about that, since my french borders on atrocious.

"Andorra?"

This is a tough crowd.

Not me. I'll stick with esoteric Eastern European. Andorran music makes my hair itch.

Roger -Dot- Lee "Where the HELL is Andorra?