BAN host talks about one CD that influenced his show.
How does one become interested in gypsy and eastern European folk music? In my case, my neighbor simply handed me a CD. At the time, I was fully engrossed in Irish folk music. By fully engrossed, I mean my own musicianship was dedicated to learning all the session tunes possible and listening to the Dubliners at all times of the day as well as the Pogues and an awesome band from Chicago called the Tossers. So for a good year of my life, I listened to pretty much these three bands.
In any case, my neighbor was the one that introduced me to the Pogues. After mastering a bunch of sessions tunes on the mandolin and banjo while learning how to sing the great Irish tunes of yore, I figured this is where I was going to focus my musicianship. I even went to Ireland on a silly notion of exploring but also blindly hoping to find a session bar so awesome that I would force me to stay and not come back. That didn’t happen, but what did was my neighbor giving me a CD to check out. That CD was Gogol Bordello’s Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike.
After hearing that album, everything about my music tastes shifted. With music based on Rom gypsy and klezmer music, Gogol Bordello illuminated (brownie points if you get the reference) everything that I consider music. While Gogol Bordello is a rock band more than anything, their roots are based on traditional music, exactly as what the Pogues were to Irish music, although the Pogues were more rooted in their traditional music than Gogol Bordello. And although Gogol has shifted their musical style in their most recent albums, they still gave me that bit of curiosity as to what actually drives Rom music. From there I discovered that the Rom play many types of music; pretty much the music I showcase in my show all revolves around the Rom culture and people to some extent.
Long story short, when someone tells you that you should listen to an album because they think you may like it, I’d suggest listening to that album.
Last two weeks playlists:
January 26th, 2012
Meda Sijum Temori by Esma Redzepova
Legenyes by Csokolom
Csardas by Muzsikas
Áháj Devlá by Ando Drom
O Bijav by Bela Lakatos
Gradi Moma by Valeri Dimchev Trio
Roma Dance by Laver Bariu
Rahelika Baila by DeLeon
Move It by Balkan Beat Box
Serbian Cocek by A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Bratislava by Beirut
Vengo! Vengo! by DeVotchKa
January 19th, 2012
Dança do Desprazer by Melech Mechaya
Siki, Siki Baba by Kocani Orkestar
Chimariotiko kalamatiano by Kikiriakos Kostoulas
Put Em Up by Soulico
Golem Hora by Golem!
Satan/Dance you Fukr The Zydepunks
Rromano bijav (Romany Wedding) by The Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar
Sa’ Dawi by DeLeon
Pusztító by Besh O Drom
Carolina by Taraf de Haidouks
Rodava Tut by Kolpakov Trio
Hats Off to Kolpakoff by Gogol Bordello
by zachery graham
tune in to the balkanization of the american nation every thursday night from 7 to 8 p.m.