Change is Good, The Next Chapter...
What's in Store for 2004? Some Fans’ Wish Lists!
By Kayt
I wrote last year around this time that change is good, but come on, guys, I didn’t expect
it to become an annual event! Seriously though, things do change, often unexpectedly, and to a
certain extent our success in this thing called Life depends on how well we adjust to all the
changes thrown at us. I’m sure I can speak for many Red Elvises fans in saying that we are sad
to have to say goodbye to Adam and Oleg-Schramm and I would like to also extend a big thank
you to both these guys for all the good times they, along with our beloved Igor and Oleg,
brought us in 2003. Both new guys got right in there and embraced the spirit of Red Elvises,
the terrific music and great fun and energy that this band is all about. We will really miss
them, just as we miss other former band members, and I think I can speak for everyone in
wishing them all the best in their future endeavors.
Now, the Ultimate Question for 2004 is what will happen to Our Favorite Band this year?
Additional questions on many minds may be: who will be added to Red Elvises, when and where
will they play, what will the new sound be like and when will there be a new CD? No one knows
much about all that yet, of course, maybe not even Igor or Oleg, unless they already have a
plan and haven’t told anyone yet. (Hints, guys?) So I asked around, took a very
unscientific, unofficial and extremely informal poll, and found out what a few fans’ “wish
lists” for 2004 include. The following comments are unedited and I don’t necessarily agree
with all of them; I simply present them as thoughts that are on some loyal Red Elvises
supporters’ minds. Now keep in mind this a “Wish List,” not a list of demands…no one’s going
to be taken hostage here! Here they are, in quotes and italics, in no particular order. The
contributors’ names are listed at the end of this article, although some may be identifiable
from what they have to say (use of the color red for alternating quotes is just to make this
a little easier to read and keep straight):
1. “Of course, I'd like to see Igor and Oleg find some musicians who fit the whole RE
thing and are willing to tour, so we can continue to see them a couple times a year. Selfish,
I know, but I really don't want to redecorate Harriet or the Red Room, and I want there to be
a Red Elvises for long into the future. That said....
Website maintenance: the home page should have the link for Red Chat right on it, with date
and time, so new fans don't have to hunt for it. The ‘news’ section should have some news in
it, such as ‘Adam and Schramm have departed the ranks’ or ‘our new members are So-and-So and
Whoosis, here's a short bio.’ Trickle-down information about major line-up changes is
depressing, because it implies that the fans aren't important enough to be informed in a
timely manner. Okay, some things might be none of our business, or none of our business
yet, but how can we spread the word about Our Favorite Band if we don't know who's in
it? Plus, ‘Just Ask Igor’ is dead in the water, and that weird problem with the forum is just
annoying.
The guys need a break, such as an appearance on the Sharon Osbourne show or Conan O'Brien;
media politics being what they are, the networks probably only book acts owned by the music
division of the same mega-conglomerate, and ‘independent’ bands get kicked to the curb, but
how many appearances by American Idols and runners-up can we tolerate? Imagine the guys doing
an interview with Sharon in her bed....
More fans! And more fans with money to spend, which means middle-aged boomers who will attend
earlier shows at more upscale venues, to dance and have a good time, instead of [writer’s
note: or possibly “in addition to…”?] college kids who stand around waiting to be impressed
and don't have the cash for a CD.
More airplay.....yes, Clear Channel owns the airwaves, but there are college and indy
stations out there. And an RE CD on the jukebox in any bar they've ever played, and on any
jukebox a fan can influence.
Basically, I wish for RE success; not stadium-rock sell-out success, but enough so they could
have a full-time manager, a road manager, and an easier time on the road with a tour bus
instead of a cramped van. I don't want them to burn out from overwork, and decide to stay
home and play local bars for the rest of their lives, or move to Thailand and retire.
They said they'd be my entertainment for the rest of my life........I want more Rokenrol!
Well said, I do agree with wanting more Rokenrol!
And here’s more:
2. ”What do I wish? I wish we could go back in time -- when Igor, Oleg,
Zhenya and Avi were making beautiful crazy music together and Vladimir was
managing things behind the scenes. Back when Your Favorite Band had an
interesting website -- up to date. Back when the music you heard live
sounded just like the music you listened to on the CDs, or even better.
I'm 99.9% sure that won't happen -- but -- you said this is a wish list.
So, as long as I'm wishing...
I wish those four crazy guys could have gotten a TV show like the Monkees
did. Watching a rerun of the Monkees recently, I thought our Russian
guys could have been easily exchanged for those four Brits.
I don't think that will happen either, so.... I wish only that they are
happy and enjoy what they do...and...please each and every one of our
wishes :)”
3. “My wish list would include a new Studio CD, a new concert video, and more
touring in the Midwest, and the chance to see them at Rusty’s again this year.”
4. “My wish list? A steady lineup and a new album! :)”
5. “Get Avi back!!”
6. “My personal wish list for RE includes Igor and Oleg to do a Reunion Tour of
Limpopo with Yuri and Igor K. They could perform Limpopo songs of course, but also RE songs
‘unplugged.’ I know the guys were working on a new album, I can't wait to hear it!!! Hopefully
there are some Russian songs on there, and they will sing them on tour in Russian! Apart from
that, I wish them loads of success both here and in Russia! I think they should be superstars
in Russia if they aren't already!”
7. “Enthusiastic media coverage and publicity, television exposure. A less rigorous
tour schedule (as long as they still come to Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco), bigger
audiences in larger venues. More than four people onstage with a bigger variety of instruments, horns and violins even. try new stuff (like adding a female vocalist, featuring members of other goups). Most of all, see them get the recognition and MONEY they deserve. I think if they got filthy rich they'd still be cool guys who took care of their fans like they always did.”
And last but not least:
8. Official Red Elvises exercise video (or choreography video), shirts that actually
fit -- the XL (or 2XL) workshirts for the big boys who want them and the large (not super
large) girlie tees and tank tops, Red Elvises purses, wallets, tote bags, and the like, cute
(talented) girls in the band, a permanent Vegas casino show, more frequent visits to the
chatroom from band members, an updated web site.”
The people have spoken… Well, a few of them, anyway. And as for me, my own Wish List for this
year is simply that Igor and Oleg are happy and healthy and can find some talented, nice guys
who are up for the long haul; some Rokenrol-loving individuals who can handle travelling the
country like maniacs in a Big Red Van and playing to throngs of admirers night after night, so
that the good times can continue for everyone, fans and band members alike. I too would like
to see a new studio CD and maybe have a new DVD to watch. I’d love to be in another Red
Elvises video, Belly Dance was a lot of fun. I still want to write a movie for them to star
in or see them star in a good movie that someone else writes. I would love to see “Mail Order
Bride” be theatrically released everywhere. I would also like to see them play a few more
shows near me and for everyone to find much peace and happiness this year. I did recently get
one of my big (non-Red Elvises-related) wishes – I got a new job, at a place I’ve wanted to
work for a really long time. So keep dreaming and wishing, everyone, because dreams
really can come true!
One other wish I have, related to the band but not for the band itself exactly, is that I wish
more people would submit photos and concert reviews/articles to the Red Pages. We always need
content; fans like to see other fans’ photos of shows and read about shows in other towns! If
you take a camera with you to the next show you see, please share your photos with us. Think you can’t write
an article or concert review? Think again…just write down what you saw, heard and felt the
same way you would tell a
friend about the show – don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or grammar if you’re not great
at any of that, we can fix those things – your thoughts, feelings and experiences are what
matter, so tell us about it. This is Your Favorite Band, everyone, get involved! I also wish
for more Fan of the Month nominations -- all of you guys who are loyal supporters deserve it but
if I don't know you I need to hear from you!
As far as Red Elvises is concerned, I believe that if we accept this latest change in Our
Favorite Band’s lineup and keep wishing good things for the future, we will all have a very
good year. Who knows what will happen? Watch and see!
Contributors of wish lists for this article included (in alphabetical order by first names,
and no, the order of names does not match order of wishes above): Anne (Thesis Girl),
Our Fearless Leader Ealasaid, Heidi Rojo, John Saranto, Linda (Jackdaw), Lisa Defalco,
Valerie Gilb and Willie Dixon. Special thanks to you all!!
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