We are halfway through November, ladies and gents, and it hasn't snowed yet — which I personally am very happy about! All I want is snow around Christmas time, to really set the holiday mood, but until then I'm staving winter off with everything I can think of, and good live music is definitely on the list. So let's take a look at what's happening in our fair capital this weekend!
Friday brings us "The Herbaliser," an incredible jazz hip-hop band from Britain. Formed by Ollie Teeba and Jake Wherry back in the 1990s, these guys have certainly made a name for themselves, and not just because of their unique music style. They have released 11 albums, including two DJ mixes: one for Ninja Tune's Solid Steel series and the other for Fabric's Live Mix series, and their last album came out last year. Drawing inspiration from the funk bands of previous decades, the guys decided performing with just turntables would feel like a cop-out, and instead chose to take a seven-piece band on tour with them. This time around, Moscow is no exception, so you can expect a great show from the guys. They are taking to the stage at GlavClub on Friday at 8 p.m. sharp, so get your tickets now, before it's too late. GlavClub is located at 11 Ordzhonikidze Ulitsa, and the closest metro station is Leninsky Prospekt. Tickets start at 1000 rubles, and if you're feeling very fancy, you can even splurge on VIP passes, which will set you back about 5000 rubles.
Clubbers' Saturday will offer you the usual mix of techno, electronica, house and various other beats, but there are some unusual names on the list as well. P!PL Club is hosting Lustmord, the Briton arguably responsible for creating the dark ambient genre; 16 Tons is all about dubstep and drum 'n' bass, and Don't Tell Mamma is presenting house DJ Marie Demonte from France, so you have more than enough to choose from. But if you want your Saturday to be a bit less crazy, go check out Miles Kane at GlavClub.
The former frontman of "The Rascals" and co-frontman of "Last Shadow Puppets," Miles is currently pursuing his solo career and will be in Moscow in support of his latest studio album, released back in June. The singer has had a very busy year, playing Glastonbury solo and with the "Arctic Monkeys," and of course, touring. Why "Arctic Monkeys," you might ask? Well, when Kane was still with "The Rascals," they toured with the Monkeys, and he and frontman Alex Turner developed a strong friendship, which led to them writing some songs together, and eventually forming "Last Shadow Puppets." This indie rocker is ready to put on a great show, so don't miss it! Miles is performing at GlavClub on Saturday, Nov. 23, and tickets start at 1500 rubles.
Sunday will see one of the most famous Russian bands perform an unscheduled, additional concert, all because their Saturday gig sold out in minutes and demand was sky high. "Bi-2" has therefore agreed to perform for two days in a row, to the delight of their fans. Originally from Belarus, Alexander "Shura" Uman and Igor "Leva" Bortnik have earned critical acclaim both in Russia and abroad, and have released eight studio albums, numerous EPs and Internet releases and have successfully collaborated with a number of both Russian and foreign performers. Here's a fun fact: Shura has officially changed his last name, so his passport literally says "Shura Bi-2".
Back in 2003, "Bi-2" tried the sound of symphonic music with their songs for the first time and gained wide public appreciation. The first album recorded together with a symphony orchestra was released in 2010. This year, together with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, they are working on the next album — and their performance this weekend at Crocus City Hall will be accompanied by a symphony orchestra as well, so don't miss this opportunity and get your tickets right away, before they're sold out all over again!
The bottom line is, it's going to be a great weekend, concert-wise, so take your pick and have a fantastic time! We'll all have plenty of time to stay home, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of all the things Moscow has to offer. Have a good one!
Katerina Azarova is a radio host at Moscow FM 105.2, Moscow's English-language radio station.
Contact the author at artsreporter@imedia.ru
