Started as a mere musical joke for friends, the trio became popular on the clubbing stage in St.Petersburg (2002) and Moscow (2003). Their program combines cover versions of Tom Waits’ songs, author’s compositions, American Gothic, own life experiences, stories told by friends and urban mythology. The Billy’s Band musicians call their style Funeral Dixieland with an Infinite Happy End. ... See their official website: http://www.billysband.ru/
Tackling anything by Tom Waits is like wrestling an alligator: do it well and you`ve got a new pair of shoes:, screw up and you`re dead, Jack. Describing themselves as a Dixiland funeral with an infinite happy end, Billy`s band is on the fringe in its St.Petersburg home and will be on the fringe of the fringe here. Bandleader, Billy Novik heard Waits` “Early Years, vol.1”, and that is all she wrote. Novik barks gruff and hip (in Russian and English) just like Waits – or perhaps Cookie Monster on a vodka bender. A great deal of the band`s repertoire is Waits` stuff, and when the band ventures out on its own, the genius, the oddity, and the antiquated charm still shines, just like those alligator shoes I was talking about.
Billy's Band, the Tom Waits-inspired outfit from St. Petersburg, Russia, was held up at the Canadian border Friday while on its way to the Rochester International Jazz Festival. But fest co-producer John Nugent, who has a lot of experience in dealing with passport issues and paper problems, managed to talk the guys into the country in time for their shows at Max of Eastman Place. Safely onstage, they stole the night with their blend of beat-poet ballads, off-kilter rhythms and comedic timing. CDs were snapped up by consumers hungry for the band's brand of compelling weirdness. All of the English-language ones were gone by the second show, but I bought two, anyway: Anybody out there speak Russian?
The word on the street, which I picked up rather late, was that the guys from St. Petersburg, Russia were tearing down the house over at Max. Having had plenty of straight-ahead jazz from the Hammers, I left early to see what the fuss was about. And now, after the fact, I'm kicking myself that I didn't heed the advice sooner.
Billy's Band is like a combined Dixieland and polka band that plays almost jazzy. When you hear a big smash, it's one of the dudes crashing cymbals over his head to a crazy march. The lead singer/bassist (yeah, it's a bassist heading the ship) Billy Novik has a voice that can only be compared to Louis Armstrong. It's gritty and feels like it comes straight out of his gut. But he's a funny little white guy with a funny hat and even funnier stories about being told the difference between a bass and a coffin ("the dead guy's inside of the coffin").
They were wearing worn-down trench coats and no shirts, letting their bellies show for everyone. You might call them strange, but just call them special. They were that kind of underground street band that's got oodles of talent, but you don't want them to be too big because that dark atmosphere really suits their style. The crowd went wild for these guys, bringing them out for an encore and standing ovation. might pick up a CD tomorrow -- they were that good.
If Thursday night is the unofficial start of the weekend, Friday is the real thing. Go out, enjoy the late-night stuff. If any of Billy's Band gets up there, I'm gonna be lovin' it.
В Этом Городе
Billy's Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Непризнаных гениев, шлюх и воров
Где надежда - любовь, хоть и всё это зря,
Найдётся местечко в баре и для тебя.
В воскресенье - четверг, в понедельник - среда,
И домой возвращаешься в девять утра...
Полупьяный местами, в остальном пьяный в хлам.
Почему переулки не ведут никуда,
И соль на ботинках и с соляркой вода...
Перекопаны улицы и так будет всегда.
Отчего плачет небо, не поймёшь никогда.
Когда в жилах играет весенняя кровь,
И ты хочешь подняться, но падаешь вновь.
И всё меньше друзей и всё больше столбов,
И куда б ты не ехал - возвращаешься вновь.
Эй, приятель, плесни - бар не станет бедней.
Да, стопочкой меньше, но гораздо теплей.
Ты же помнишь, что трус не играет в хоккей.
Наливай до краёв и не думай о ней!.
Помнишь та, что играла с парнями в буру
Вышла замуж за дворника и упала в Неву.
А ту, с глазами, что опухли от грёз,
На запрошлой неделе совратил Дед Мороз.
А Андрюха женился, Серёга в тюрьме,
Вовка в больнице, а Колян на войне.
И так было всегда, только жалко чуть-чуть -
Тех, кто ушёл, невозможно вернуть.
Эй, приятель, плесни - бар не станет бедней.
Да, стопочкой меньше, но гораздо теплей.
Ты ответь мне, скажи, ну а что делать нам?
Да, конечно, я помню - с получки отдам!.
The song 'В Этом Городе' by Billy's Band captures the essence of life in a city of white nights and winds, with unrecognized geniuses, prostitutes, and thieves residing there. The hope for love in this city is futile, but one can always find a place in a bar. The lyrics describe the routine of returning home at nine in the morning, sometimes half-drunk, sometimes completely drunk. The city's streets are dug up, and the roads lead nowhere. The sky cries, and one can never decipher why.
The song touches upon how we feel stuck in life and wish to rise but end up falling. Friends become lesser, and loneliness sets in, making us return to the same place, again and again. The lyrics mention individuals who played with boys, got married to a caretaker, and drowned in the river, and those whose eyes swelled up from dreams, and were corrupted by Santa Claus. Andrew got married, Sergei imprisoned, Vovka hospitalized, and Kolyan went to war. The lyrics highlight the fact that once someone leaves, it is impossible to bring them back, and all we can do is raise a toast to their memories.
Line by Line Meaning
В этом городе белых ночей и ветров
This city is home to white nights and winds
Непризнаных гениев, шлюх и воров
It is full of unacknowledged genius, prostitutes, and thieves
Где надежда - любовь, хоть и всё это зря,
Where hope, even though futile, is love,
Найдётся местечко в баре и для тебя.
A place for you can be found in the bar.
В воскресенье - четверг, в понедельник - среда,
From Sunday to Thursday, and on Monday and Wednesday
И домой возвращаешься в девять утра...
You return home at nine in the morning...
Полупьяный местами, в остальном пьяный в хлам.
Semi-drunk in some places, completely drunk elsewhere.
Ты порой - Jonny Walker, а порою - Агдам...
Sometimes you are Johnny Walker, other times you are Agdam.
Почему переулки не ведут никуда,
Why do alleys lead nowhere,
И соль на ботинках и с соляркой вода...
And salt on your shoes and solar water...
Перекопаны улицы и так будет всегда.
The streets are dug up and will always be that way.
Отчего плачет небо, не поймёшь никогда.
You will never understand why the sky is crying.
Когда в жилах играет весенняя кровь,
When the spring blood is flowing through your veins,
И ты хочешь подняться, но падаешь вновь.
And you want to rise, but fall again.
И всё меньше друзей и всё больше столбов,
And you have fewer friends and more columns every day,
И куда б ты не ехал - возвращаешься вновь.
And no matter where you go - you always come back.
Эй, приятель, плесни - бар не станет бедней.
Hey friend, take a swig - the bar won't become poorer.
Да, стопочкой меньше, но гораздо теплей.
Yes, there are fewer shots, but it's much warmer.
Ты же помнишь, что трус не играет в хоккей.
But remember, cowards don't play hockey.
Наливай до краёв и не думай о ней!
Pour it to the top and don't think about her!
Помнишь та, что играла с парнями в буру,
Remember that girl who played a game of bura with the boys,
Вышла замуж за дворника и упала в Неву.
Got married to the janitor and fell into the Neva.
А ту, с глазами, что опухли от грёз,
And the one with eyes swollen from dreams,
На запрошлой неделе совратил Дед Мороз.
Was seduced by Ded Moroz last week.
А Андрюха женился, Серёга в тюрьме,
And Andryukha got married, Seryoga is in prison,
Вовка в больнице, а Колян на войне.
Vovka is in the hospital and Kolyan is at war.
И так было всегда, только жалко чуть-чуть -
It's always been this way, just a little sad -
Тех, кто ушёл, невозможно вернуть.
Those who have left cannot be brought back.
Эй, приятель, плесни - бар не станет бедней.
Hey friend, take a swig - the bar won't become poorer.
Да, стопочкой меньше, но гораздо теплей.
Yes, there are fewer shots, but it's much warmer.
Ты ответь мне, скажи, ну а что делать нам?
You answer me, tell me, what do we do now?
Да, конечно, я помню - с получки отдам!
Yes, of course, I remember - I'll pay from my salary!
Contributed by Charlotte S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.