"Make tractors, not war"

The Leningrad Cowboys, one of the most iconographic cult bands, along with The Blues Brothers and Spinal Tap, were formed in the late eighties. The ten man band is despite their name, from Helsinki, Finland. Their music have roots in Polka, Finnish and Russian folk music, and their sound is unique, as they blend electric guitar with instruments as the harmonica and tuba. Equally unique is their look: black suits (mostly) and huge unicorn hairstyles, matching their long pointed shoes.

In 1989, Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki made the first of three films about this legendary band with “Leningrad Cowboys Go America”, his to date most popular film, starring the original line-up of the band, and telling the story of how the band went from Russian tundra failure to a top band in Mexico. It was followed by “Leningrad Cowboys Meets Moses” in 1994, where the band returned to Europe and toured France, Chzeck republic and Poland, before returning home to the tundra. The third and last installment was the concert film, “Total Balalaika Show”.

In 1993, the Leningrad Cowboys performed live in Senate Square, Helsinki in front of 70,000 ecstatic fans, along with the Russian Red Army Choir. In the spirit of glasnost (Russian: openness), the concert embraces East meeting West, thru Russian Folk music and Finnish interpretive Rock music, with classics like Kalinka and The Volga Boat Man (Russian), and Delilah and Gimme All Your Lovin (Rock).

As in the two prior Leningrad Cowboy films, Kaurismäki once more notes upon the importance of musical roots. Where other rock bands took to Moscow and performed their music, the Leningrad Cowboys invites the Russians to share their musical legacy and history.

Ok, so the Leningrad Cowboys aren’t the best band in the world, but there wont be any concert like this again. It is full of great music and the love for it, and isn’t that in the end what a great concert is all about? Warmly recommended.

Henrik Sylow