Red Elvises

There’s no doubt about it: Red Elvises are Siberia’s greatest surf-rock band. Granted, the frigid Russian hinterlands probably don’t produce much in the way of hang-ten rockabilly, but the Red Elvises rule anyway. Founding members Igor Yuzov and Oleg Bernov have built an underground following that can’t get enough of the Elvises’ old-school approach to modern music. Though the group has a slew of indie releases, movie appearances (including the cult classic Six String Samurai), television cameos (yes, it was on Melrose Place) and commercials under its collective rhinestone belt, the hard-touring outfit has made its name on the road. The quartet cites Elvis (and his wife, Priscilla), the Spice Girls, Chuck Berry and Fidel Castro as primary influences. All of these elements collide in a concert setting, where the band’s vodka-fueled tomfoolery takes flight like the Lisa Marie.