hey, sorry to have abandoned the page for a bit. to make it up (or further insult you, depending on yer perspective), there's a rough mix of a new tune, "sober and un-upsetting," up on the player. please enjoy.

next gig in september at the middle east.

The Russians Are Coming To Sonicbids Spotlight
May 30, 2008
Story by: Liz Pelly

This week's CMJ/SonicBids Spotlight Artist is the Russians, a five-piece alternative rock band from Boston. With songs that have been rightfully described as updated takes on the Beatles sound, or a simplification of the Flaming Lips' intricacies, the Russians have self-released two EPs, and hope to tour later in the year after the release of their debut LP.

On the band's most recent EP, many of the songs are ones that frontman Scott Janovitz has been working on since as early as 2002 in his studio in Cambridge. Eventually, he started playing the songs live with some musician friends from around Boston, and the Russians were born.

Janovitz says that his other projects have influenced the Russians' simple, stream-of-conscious songs: a collaborative band called the Great Bandini, which is more "guitar-rockin" than the Russians; The Figgs, where he plays keyboard; and Graham Parker's the Latest Clowns, with whom he has toured and recorded.

"I think there can't help but be some osmosis between the different projects I do, but I really try and keep them unique from each other," says Janovitz.

"I love Boston," he says, confirming he has played his best shows in his hometown, despite having toured all over the country and overseas. "I feel like it's all circumstantial though. I could go back to one of these places and maybe have a terrible time. But if there are twenty people there who really give a damn, it's going to be good."

hello fiends, below is a nice review from a cool blog called "rock and roll meandering nonsense", a name appropriate to the russians, i think. please enjoy. russians have been on a short break since the defection of patrick emswiler to LA in january, but will be back in top form shortly.

The Russians' founder Scott Janovitz is a veteran of the Boston music scene and recently lent his talents to Graham Parker as one of the Latest Clowns, so the well-crafted pop of their second EP should come as no surprise. They aren't shy about their love of the Beatles (even segueing each song into the next a la side two of Abbey Road), but they draw on a range from vaudeville and baroque pop to power pop to ambient. The best part is that they find their own voice in their hooks. They might draw a lot from some great bands, but in the end, it's their signature catchiness that makes this EP a great listen.

Just some updates! First of all, The Russians EP is finished. It is streaming over at the russian embassy. Take 17 minutes and check it out. You deserve it. Here on the myspace, the sound is quite crapola, so I've left just one song from the EP up on the player.

We've got some good shows coming up in October. The first is at the Lizard Lounge with Emergency Music. Later in the month, we'll be playing at the Paradise with young upstarts Dear Leader. Oh, the good times we will have.... oh, and the EP will be available at those gigs!

What else? This being a blog, I am now going to write some things that I have been enjoying lately:
1. Matthew Sweet's "100% Fun". Awesome.
2. "A History of Violence". Running on cable now, I believe. Sit back and enjoy.
3. "From Dusk 'til Dawn". The "Grindhouse" precursor. Salma Hayek. Nice. Nice.
4. Food. Man, I love to eat.

Alright.
sj

UPDATE: alright, i added another song.

HEY.....so........got a gig coming up in a coupla weeks. Should be a real real time, with some great bands. We will be running on fumes, in terms of rehearsal time, but that is truly when THE RUSSIANS shine brightest. Imagine how good it'd be if we practiced with anything resembling regularity. Maybe it would suck royally. I think we may never know. Working on one or two DELIGHTFUL cover tunes. April 13th at The Middle East.

So busy, so busy. I am hitting the road at the end of April as part of Graham Parker's backing band THE LATEST CLOWNS and I'm really looking forward to it. But I have songs to learn before I sleep / and songs to learn... before...I...sleep. Lots of songs. Also comprising The Latest Clowns are pals Mike Gent on drums (!), Ed V on the four-string bass guitar, and Brett Rosenberg on the six-string tenor bass guitar.

And this weekend, I'll be holed up at THE MOONTOWER with Will Kennedy, who mixed "Your Only One", getting some songs ready to be released on an EP, which will probably be available at future gigs as well as online. Stay tuned.

SJ

hey, there's a brand new mix of "your only one" up here, and it will soon be on therussianembassy.com site, so you can actually hear a not-crappy version. honestly, why can't myspace master the mp3 player technology?

this song has popped up on myspace and on the russians site before, but only in various rough mix versions. this is the ONE. mixed only yesterday by the talented mr. will kennedy in sunny california.

more mixes to come, culminating in an album that i hope to release in...april?

come have a few drinks with me on monday, february 5th, when i'll be performing at tt the bears for their "other side of the bear" acoustic series.

thanks
sj

yeah, we're playing again with the very sexy group called FRANK SMITH and the legendary pink DAMNWELLS. november 30. be square or be square.

i never liked fritos before, but i think i can get into them now. they are the workhorse of salty snack chips.

s

www.thephoenix.com/article_ektid16152.aspx

a nice little primer on the goings on of...me. thanks, sarah! glad they went with the ramen picture. but DO keep an eye out for more great bandini shows!

sj

4 FREE! all i have to do is click on a link above to accept. i'll be right back.

fuck, now i need a new computer. but you're all invited over when the TV gets here.

details about gigs:
1. the russians! - show on july 7 at the paradise lounge with the blizzard of 78. this will be shockingly good.

2. the great bandini - june 23rd at bill's bar with mobius band and curtain society. also awesome.

3. the dirty ticket - june 14th at tt's. sitting in on wurlitzer with corin ashley's band for his record release. this band also features matt b from the bandini.

see you there, and there, and there.
SJ