Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who died in 2007, likely would have embraced the American band named after him. (AP)
Forget cool clothes, hip haircuts and awesome songs. In the Internet age, a band’s chances of success hinges largely on how easy it is to Google it. But back in 1999, when Phil Dickey was in high school, these things didn’t matter — so he thought nothing of calling his new group Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.
“Boris Yeltsin was in the news a lot at the time because he had just resigned,” remembers Dickey, who formed the band with guitarist Will Knauer and bassist/drummer Jonathan James.
“It was a nonsense name, and we actually thought we kind of cursed ourselves because no one would take us seriously. But it’s taken us on a crazy ride.”
A ride that included a recent trip to Russia. The trip came about when the Boris Yeltsin Foundation, which had started keeping track of the band through Internet searches after the 2005 release of their first full-length album, “Broom,” invited them for a cultural exchange. Their visit to Yeltsin’s hometown of Yekaterinburg, at the beginning of this year, included a tour of the Boris Yeltsin Museum, a performance at a local festival and the chance to spend time with elementary-school children. “It was cool to see them during recess because it was in the middle of winter and they were cross-country skiing across the playground!” says Dickey.
The Missouri indie-pop trio documented their trip in the film “Discussions With Russians,” due out later this summer (visit sslyby.com for screening information, as it becomes available).The band also channeled these experiences into their fourth album, “Fly By Wire,” scheduled to be released later in the year.
“Once we got back to Missouri, we went straight back into the studio,” says Dickey.
“You don’t often get to see how art can have so much power, so we wanted to make an album while we still felt that energy. We really never thought we’d get affiliated with Boris Yeltsin this way. It’s almost like he’s been guiding us the whole time.”
They’ll be previewing some of those new songs when they play the Mercury Lounge next Saturday night.
Of course, no trip of this kind would be complete without a little swig of Yeltsin’s favorite drink. Vodka was a famous vice for the first Russian president, and one that caused embarrassment at several public appearances during his 8 1/2 years in power. Fittingly, Dickey and his bandmates were gifted with no less than seven bottles of the stuff.
“I think it’s just a customary thing over there,” he says with a laugh. “Yeltsin’s translator said that if he were alive today, Boris would have definitely come to see us play. He loved music and bands.”