Known around Austin as Zeerock, or Zhenya, fluent accordion,slide guitar,acoustic guitar,balalaika player who is currently playing gigs with Arthur Brown, the "god of hellfire",as well as the Flying Balalaika Brothers, and the Love Pipe Trio,in addition to solo stints were and there.1- you go by several names, what is your actual birth name, and where were you born?
my real Russian name is Колыxaнов Евгений Георгиевич which is (Kolykhanov Euvgeniuy Georgievwich) and I was born in Вологдa (Vologda)
and there reason I go by Zee is simple- Женя (Zhenya) I’m happy with that, shorter the better J
2- at what age did you first become musically inclined? your father was a talented musician and he played the accordion, too. were you close to your dad?
Around 8 years of age I remember I was singing all the time -sometimes melodies that I come up with, and then get stuck with, creating and resonating through my body and the brain. First music introduction came through piano (older sister was going to the music college) then, later guitar ( my brother showed me proper chords after I tried to invent whole “new system”.
My family has 11-14 musicians grandma played the balalaika, grand dad was accordion played as well, I have tapes (which that recorded myself) of my father Georgi Vasilievich play the heck out of “Bayan” (Russian 5 row buttoned accordion with the full bass left hand system ) foxtrots, waltzes, tangos, mazurkas, early swing (which was prohibited in USSR ) and polkas- he was a composer, he left many pieces of sheet music in the style of all those somewhat forgotten genres.
I was pretty rebellious to those genres while listening to the western rock and roll growing up- kid with “no identity” in that sense, you know, living in the 1000 years country but yet digging the AC/DC She’s Got A Rhythm or “vibing off” something fresh, whatever we could come across at the time (it wasn’t in like USSR we had “record store” with variety” of rock, soul, blues or R&B)
we had go out, search for it in a black market (creepy guys selling vinyl to the kids)
3- you actually have his main squeeze box. what make, model is it, as well as the other one you have that you play onstage?
When my dad passed away Dec 12 2006 my mom gave his hat and the accordion its called “Barcarole”
5 row buttoned accordion , since its pretty heavy to play it standing up I bought lighter Gabbanelli 3 row (conjunto style) also a buttoned accordion
4- you play a number of instruments , [ balalaika, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, etc ] what all instruments do you have in your arsenal?
I play drums, guitars acoustics and electric, slide guitar, bass, acoustic and electric, jumbush (Turkish fretless “guitar/banjo”) balalaika, accordion, lately I do projects on piano and banjo
5- what bands are you playing in now,in addition to your solo act.
Flying Balalaika Brothers Russian eclectic acoustic trio (3 balalaikas), Zeerok (Lovepipe) rockabilly/early swing/roots trio (drums, bass, guitar/vocals). Arthur Brown (duo- me and him or a full 5 piece band-depending how large we wanted it to sound, sometimes intimate acoustic works the best with the listening audience )
6- you have several house gigs going on here, there, too. One is in a place that sells chocolate, I went to see you there, in the Domain. Great solo show, loved the mournful gypsy music. Is this style your first love? what style music do you write the most? how do you write music ? melody, lyrics apart, or together, for example?
I think sometimes its good to have a gig that you “recreate” yourself by placing yourself in new environment and trying to play something new, having a full night to play something challenging, exiting and get the random audience feedback and from that you create songs, new ideas and new music, and I thank the places in Austin that still have the live musicians
7- you play one of the most wicked slide guitars I have seen. in addition, you can play controlled, soft, intimate with an acoustic. what is your background, do you have a lot of classical music in there ? Are you self-taught, or did you take lessons as a youth?
I thank you Tim, I remember I was watching a blues guitarist was playing beautiful slide guitar and I was thinking wow, I want to play gypsy/roma music like that “all the notes in between” so yes the “pinky slide “ that do is something I did on my own for over 10 years.
I studied classical guitar in Moscow
6- tell us in a nutshell how you came to America, what bands you played in before settling down here in Austin.
Hmm, it’s a lot well, first visit to America was in 1989 an invitation for my rockabilly band “Tikhi Chas” that was in Moscow then I came back, then I was in a heavy metal band “Zenitza Oka” then I came to America went to University Of Delaware went through some additional English study then joined Houston band Gypsies, then Red Elvises then Zeerok and Flying Balalaika Brothers
7- you seem to have greatly helped re-invigorate the career of Arthur Brown. Where have you toured with Arthur, and where are you playing with him in 2010 ?
When i met Arthur Brown in 2008 (he came to visit his son in Austin) i liked his persona, he watched my solo show and after that we talked about we should try to put something together then i listened to his hit Fire and in 2009 when Arthur was in town we booked MusicLab here in Austin and we recorded and filmed our first EPK. Now along with the festivals that are coming up this summer, in 2009 we toured through England, Portugal, Spain and Poland. And we just finished a 12 song CD together 2020 release CD called “Two Strange”- just me and Arthur, with idea that we want to have a bouquet of concerts booked as a duo, accessible to the listening audiences
8- lets talk gear. You have a Pro-Tools setup at home. what are you powering it with, what other outboard gear do you use in tandem with Pro-Tools, do you prefer analog over digital? what amps do you use at your live shows?
Well we all went digital, no coming back anytime soon ;)
In my studio I use Pro Tools, few preamps, AKG solid tube mics, Roland automated console
Live- I use Fender “Hot Rod” and Gretch or Reverend or Strat el guitars. Some delay, Ibanez tube screamer, not much really (with Arthur I bring more it’s a long list to mention J
Acoustic gtrs 12 string Martin I go through Mackie 450 power cabinet and use it straight through Roland RC 50 loop station/ Mackie 12 channel board
9 - what make / gauge strings do you use on electric, acoustic, and balalaika?
I use heavy gage 11- 56 on guitar
balalaika 11- 18 (3 strings)
10- tell me about your solo gypsy music you play at the Domain. .. . you alternate between squeeze box, and guitars. you use pre-set drum loops to help you out, what musical gear are you using to accomplish this? do you play standards, or original compositions?
Tim, I never use and never will use anything “preset” . I use RC50 Roland loop station the whole idea or “looping” or recording on the fly, playing live and “playing it back right there” was always fascinating to me and sometime during my shows I do record if I have to, that is to help meto expand playing abilities , double and triple voicings, soloing and additional percussive sounds.
Speaking of accordion, its is the ultimate answer - here you can do bass and melodies like on piano so it’s the best for solo shows
I do play suitable for my voice some standards, lots of old romani gypsy songs (like Caje Shukaria, Jelem Jelem, Routcheechek, Bida ) gypsy songs and gypsy/roma music in whole usually helps unite different cultures as gypsy was always recognized in many cultures
11- what Austin musicians /bands have you played with in the past?
As I moved end of 2005 and began “gigging” in 2006 in Austin I played with Austin based Pat Mastelotto,(King Crimson) took him to Russia we played clubs and festivals, around Austin I backed up Leeann Atherton band as a guitarist, along with Leeann created Gypzee Heart, sat in with Flounders Without Eyes
12- you have played in small venues, but also some pretty big ones, too. What are the 3 biggest venues worldwide you have played in, and where were they at?
I played in Ukraine for 42 thousand, Milwaukee Summer Fest, Pennsylvania Musicfest, Archangeksk Russia Belomor Boogie Fest, Russian MTV, America- VH1, Penn & Teller,Melrose Place, Fastlane, UK- Blackpool Rebellion Punk Fest with Arthur Brown, Poland- Living Legends Fest
13- who would you like to work with in Austin that you haven't worked with yet?
Hmm, Joel Guzman, hope he’s cool with Romani harmonic minor scales J
14- married? single? in a relationship?
single
15- you have a new van with a cool paint job extolling the virtues of the Flying Balalaika Brothers. what happened to the old one, someone hit and run you, and was that ever resolved ?
nope, they ran off and police stopped looking, oh well, I am sure karma will get them whoever did that, but I thank you Tim, its is a great vinyl job (we highly recommend Austin Graphics if you want do a full vehicle wrap for your advertisement)
16- do you come from a big family in Russia, and besides your papa, was anyone else in the family musically -inclined ? do you ever go home and see anyone,etc?
I come from 5 people family everyone played either guitar, piano, sang, accordion so music was always a joining point
17- name 5 of your favorite Austin bands/musicians.
hmm, I feel weird, 5 is a such a small number, I don’t to put down 5 and leave the rest out, there are a lot of musicians I would mention
18- I have a pirate radio station in Yakutsk. [ Surely Yakutsk must exist, I saw it on a map in a Risk game back 25 yrs ago ]...what 5 songs of yours from your entire collection do you have for me to play?
I would take hardcore gypsy Roma songs and Bluegrass/rock versions of James Brown
Yakuts is over 3000 miles east from my hometown Vologda and its pretty cold there I heard J
And the Russians and Yakuty could speak to each other in Russian but their language is the Yakut or Sakha language belongs to the Northern branch of the Turkic family of languages.
19- tell me the names of 4 Austin eateries you go to, and what you order there. I like to Central Market, sometimes to Whole Foods or shop at HEB J
20- what are your plans for 2010,besides more Arthur Brown? I want to reestablish touring in Europe and Russia with my solo show, latest complication with the new laws between Russia and USA kind of doesn’t help me to go freely in and out, so I am working on my dual citizenship
21- who are the dudes you play with in Flying Balalaika Brothers?
the band started in 1994 in Los Angeles
current lineup for 4 years now :
Sergei Vashchenko prima balalalika, Sverdlovsk Conservatory
Alexander Kouznetzov –balalaika bass
Moscow
22- do you have spiritual or religious side?
I believe that good spirits will possess good souls and the demons will vanish in the end
22- how is it you met Gregg Kirk? he first told me about you almost 2 decades ago. . . he told me about this talented Russian band touring the states , and this amazing guitarist [ you ] ...what he didn't tell me was that you can sing. You have a beautiful voice, unlike any other, in a city full of great voices. who are your vocal influences?
Thank you Tim you are kind, I always love to sing but naturally I like singing melodies the kind you have in roma gypsy songs because they do have a lot of those waving intricate microtones that are resonating with me.
I met Greg and his band through mutual friend Larry Shwink- who brought the whole band (Tickhi Chas Rockabilly/swing band out of Moscow) under tourist visa for 6 months in 1989 to Swarthmore Pa. At that time Gorbachev opened the borders and we came to visit USA, Greg when he saw the band was a guitarist and music magazine editor and fronted the band called Killtoys operating in Delaware, New Castle, Pennsylvania, Baltimore area, Greg was a great connection for us,and the great friend we did shows together and back then for us straight out of Russia meeting true American rockers was greatest experience and I knew I have a friend for life
ok
my real Russian name is Колыxaнов Евгений Георгиевич which is (Kolykhanov Euvgeniuy Georgievwich) and I was born in Вологдa (Vologda)
and there reason I go by Zee is simple- Женя (Zhenya) I’m happy with that, shorter the better J
2- at what age did you first become musically inclined? your father was a talented musician and he played the accordion, too. were you close to your dad?
Around 8 years of age I remember I was singing all the time -sometimes melodies that I come up with, and then get stuck with, creating and resonating through my body and the brain. First music introduction came through piano (older sister was going to the music college) then, later guitar ( my brother showed me proper chords after I tried to invent whole “new system”.
My family has 11-14 musicians grandma played the balalaika, grand dad was accordion played as well, I have tapes (which that recorded myself) of my father Georgi Vasilievich play the heck out of “Bayan” (Russian 5 row buttoned accordion with the full bass left hand system ) foxtrots, waltzes, tangos, mazurkas, early swing (which was prohibited in USSR ) and polkas- he was a composer, he left many pieces of sheet music in the style of all those somewhat forgotten genres.
I was pretty rebellious to those genres while listening to the western rock and roll growing up- kid with “no identity” in that sense, you know, living in the 1000 years country but yet digging the AC/DC She’s Got A Rhythm or “vibing off” something fresh, whatever we could come across at the time (it wasn’t in like USSR we had “record store” with variety” of rock, soul, blues or R&B)
we had go out, search for it in a black market (creepy guys selling vinyl to the kids)
3- you actually have his main squeeze box. what make, model is it, as well as the other one you have that you play onstage?
When my dad passed away Dec 12 2006 my mom gave his hat and the accordion its called “Barcarole”
5 row buttoned accordion , since its pretty heavy to play it standing up I bought lighter Gabbanelli 3 row (conjunto style) also a buttoned accordion
4- you play a number of instruments , [ balalaika, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, etc ] what all instruments do you have in your arsenal?
I play drums, guitars acoustics and electric, slide guitar, bass, acoustic and electric, jumbush (Turkish fretless “guitar/banjo”) balalaika, accordion, lately I do projects on piano and banjo
5- what bands are you playing in now,in addition to your solo act.
Flying Balalaika Brothers Russian eclectic acoustic trio (3 balalaikas), Zeerok (Lovepipe) rockabilly/early swing/roots trio (drums, bass, guitar/vocals). Arthur Brown (duo- me and him or a full 5 piece band-depending how large we wanted it to sound, sometimes intimate acoustic works the best with the listening audience )
6- you have several house gigs going on here, there, too. One is in a place that sells chocolate, I went to see you there, in the Domain. Great solo show, loved the mournful gypsy music. Is this style your first love? what style music do you write the most? how do you write music ? melody, lyrics apart, or together, for example?
I think sometimes its good to have a gig that you “recreate” yourself by placing yourself in new environment and trying to play something new, having a full night to play something challenging, exiting and get the random audience feedback and from that you create songs, new ideas and new music, and I thank the places in Austin that still have the live musicians
7- you play one of the most wicked slide guitars I have seen. in addition, you can play controlled, soft, intimate with an acoustic. what is your background, do you have a lot of classical music in there ? Are you self-taught, or did you take lessons as a youth?
I thank you Tim, I remember I was watching a blues guitarist was playing beautiful slide guitar and I was thinking wow, I want to play gypsy/roma music like that “all the notes in between” so yes the “pinky slide “ that do is something I did on my own for over 10 years.
I studied classical guitar in Moscow
6- tell us in a nutshell how you came to America, what bands you played in before settling down here in Austin.
Hmm, it’s a lot well, first visit to America was in 1989 an invitation for my rockabilly band “Tikhi Chas” that was in Moscow then I came back, then I was in a heavy metal band “Zenitza Oka” then I came to America went to University Of Delaware went through some additional English study then joined Houston band Gypsies, then Red Elvises then Zeerok and Flying Balalaika Brothers
7- you seem to have greatly helped re-invigorate the career of Arthur Brown. Where have you toured with Arthur, and where are you playing with him in 2010 ?
When i met Arthur Brown in 2008 (he came to visit his son in Austin) i liked his persona, he watched my solo show and after that we talked about we should try to put something together then i listened to his hit Fire and in 2009 when Arthur was in town we booked MusicLab here in Austin and we recorded and filmed our first EPK. Now along with the festivals that are coming up this summer, in 2009 we toured through England, Portugal, Spain and Poland. And we just finished a 12 song CD together 2020 release CD called “Two Strange”- just me and Arthur, with idea that we want to have a bouquet of concerts booked as a duo, accessible to the listening audiences
8- lets talk gear. You have a Pro-Tools setup at home. what are you powering it with, what other outboard gear do you use in tandem with Pro-Tools, do you prefer analog over digital? what amps do you use at your live shows?
Well we all went digital, no coming back anytime soon ;)
In my studio I use Pro Tools, few preamps, AKG solid tube mics, Roland automated console
Live- I use Fender “Hot Rod” and Gretch or Reverend or Strat el guitars. Some delay, Ibanez tube screamer, not much really (with Arthur I bring more it’s a long list to mention J
Acoustic gtrs 12 string Martin I go through Mackie 450 power cabinet and use it straight through Roland RC 50 loop station/ Mackie 12 channel board
9 - what make / gauge strings do you use on electric, acoustic, and balalaika?
I use heavy gage 11- 56 on guitar
balalaika 11- 18 (3 strings)
10- tell me about your solo gypsy music you play at the Domain. .. . you alternate between squeeze box, and guitars. you use pre-set drum loops to help you out, what musical gear are you using to accomplish this? do you play standards, or original compositions?
Tim, I never use and never will use anything “preset” . I use RC50 Roland loop station the whole idea or “looping” or recording on the fly, playing live and “playing it back right there” was always fascinating to me and sometime during my shows I do record if I have to, that is to help meto expand playing abilities , double and triple voicings, soloing and additional percussive sounds.
Speaking of accordion, its is the ultimate answer - here you can do bass and melodies like on piano so it’s the best for solo shows
I do play suitable for my voice some standards, lots of old romani gypsy songs (like Caje Shukaria, Jelem Jelem, Routcheechek, Bida ) gypsy songs and gypsy/roma music in whole usually helps unite different cultures as gypsy was always recognized in many cultures
11- what Austin musicians /bands have you played with in the past?
As I moved end of 2005 and began “gigging” in 2006 in Austin I played with Austin based Pat Mastelotto,(King Crimson) took him to Russia we played clubs and festivals, around Austin I backed up Leeann Atherton band as a guitarist, along with Leeann created Gypzee Heart, sat in with Flounders Without Eyes
12- you have played in small venues, but also some pretty big ones, too. What are the 3 biggest venues worldwide you have played in, and where were they at?
I played in Ukraine for 42 thousand, Milwaukee Summer Fest, Pennsylvania Musicfest, Archangeksk Russia Belomor Boogie Fest, Russian MTV, America- VH1, Penn & Teller,Melrose Place, Fastlane, UK- Blackpool Rebellion Punk Fest with Arthur Brown, Poland- Living Legends Fest
13- who would you like to work with in Austin that you haven't worked with yet?
Hmm, Joel Guzman, hope he’s cool with Romani harmonic minor scales J
14- married? single? in a relationship?
single
15- you have a new van with a cool paint job extolling the virtues of the Flying Balalaika Brothers. what happened to the old one, someone hit and run you, and was that ever resolved ?
nope, they ran off and police stopped looking, oh well, I am sure karma will get them whoever did that, but I thank you Tim, its is a great vinyl job (we highly recommend Austin Graphics if you want do a full vehicle wrap for your advertisement)
16- do you come from a big family in Russia, and besides your papa, was anyone else in the family musically -inclined ? do you ever go home and see anyone,etc?
I come from 5 people family everyone played either guitar, piano, sang, accordion so music was always a joining point
17- name 5 of your favorite Austin bands/musicians.
hmm, I feel weird, 5 is a such a small number, I don’t to put down 5 and leave the rest out, there are a lot of musicians I would mention
18- I have a pirate radio station in Yakutsk. [ Surely Yakutsk must exist, I saw it on a map in a Risk game back 25 yrs ago ]...what 5 songs of yours from your entire collection do you have for me to play?
I would take hardcore gypsy Roma songs and Bluegrass/rock versions of James Brown
Yakuts is over 3000 miles east from my hometown Vologda and its pretty cold there I heard J
And the Russians and Yakuty could speak to each other in Russian but their language is the Yakut or Sakha language belongs to the Northern branch of the Turkic family of languages.
19- tell me the names of 4 Austin eateries you go to, and what you order there. I like to Central Market, sometimes to Whole Foods or shop at HEB J
20- what are your plans for 2010,besides more Arthur Brown? I want to reestablish touring in Europe and Russia with my solo show, latest complication with the new laws between Russia and USA kind of doesn’t help me to go freely in and out, so I am working on my dual citizenship
21- who are the dudes you play with in Flying Balalaika Brothers?
the band started in 1994 in Los Angeles
current lineup for 4 years now :
Sergei Vashchenko prima balalalika, Sverdlovsk Conservatory
Alexander Kouznetzov –balalaika bass
Moscow
22- do you have spiritual or religious side?
I believe that good spirits will possess good souls and the demons will vanish in the end
22- how is it you met Gregg Kirk? he first told me about you almost 2 decades ago. . . he told me about this talented Russian band touring the states , and this amazing guitarist [ you ] ...what he didn't tell me was that you can sing. You have a beautiful voice, unlike any other, in a city full of great voices. who are your vocal influences?
Thank you Tim you are kind, I always love to sing but naturally I like singing melodies the kind you have in roma gypsy songs because they do have a lot of those waving intricate microtones that are resonating with me.
I met Greg and his band through mutual friend Larry Shwink- who brought the whole band (Tickhi Chas Rockabilly/swing band out of Moscow) under tourist visa for 6 months in 1989 to Swarthmore Pa. At that time Gorbachev opened the borders and we came to visit USA, Greg when he saw the band was a guitarist and music magazine editor and fronted the band called Killtoys operating in Delaware, New Castle, Pennsylvania, Baltimore area, Greg was a great connection for us,and the great friend we did shows together and back then for us straight out of Russia meeting true American rockers was greatest experience and I knew I have a friend for life
ok
