Russian Rockabilly

I'm back in Moscow now for a day. I'm headed out on the trans - Siberian  tonight. I had a great time in  St. Petersburg. I ended up meeting a really cool guy named Vasily at a pub. I was going a little crazy having not really talked to anyone in a day or so. I bought the whole place a round of beers. There were only 4 people there so, no big deal. I did get their attention. I'll have to remember that one. So, this guy Vasily's a DJ and he took me to this really cool club later that night. It was in an old bomb shelter. There were all these narrow passageways that eventually led to pretty big room It was very dark, loud, hot and very crowded. My glasses fogged over. It was pretty intense and felt a little like I walked in on some den of vampires. I'm no kind of dancer but, the place was really interesting. It's always so great to meet a local because you're able to access things you'd never ever find. Just walking the streets with him was great because I got to see more weird areas of town. On Thursday after sleeping in a bit I found this sand sculpture contest on the beach of this old fortress. I got pictures of that stuff. I went back to Telegraph the pub where I met Vasily. I met a couple of funny guys there. One named Calvin. An Aussie. The other this older guy named Stan. Both these guys are basically here for the women. I've met guys like this before and while I too find the Russian ladies quite attractive. These guys are on a mission. Stan and ex record label exec. now lives here permanently. He's gotta be 60 and he's taking out these 25 year old girls. Calvin "just can't get enough of these russian birds" Insert aussie accent here...Last night I went for a walk by the Fontaka river before I had to catch a train. They're these embankment barges with makeshift bars on them. They usually have a grill set up and sell beer and hot dogs. Russians love to grill. This barge was a little run down but, I had a walk down. The people seemed to be having a good time. I liked the music they were playing. I start talking to the barmaid, tell her I'm from Texas and she gets real excited. She and all her friends are Really in to rockabilly music. They all are dressed kind of like greasers with slick back hair and blue jean jackets. Great guys and gals. I ran back to my room got my camera and portraits of a couple of them. They are in two different bands and ARE the rockabilly scene here. My favorite people I've met yet. We talked all about music. They love Carl Perkins, Link Wray, and Bill Haley. Some of you'll understand why that's so cool. They don't like Elvis at all. He was no Rebel Sergay says. By the looks of these guys you wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley of St. Petersburg. This guy Ilya had a mean looking scar across his face. Well, We were having such a great time I almost missed my train. I piled into the back of this old beat up Chevy Suburban and raced to the station. Me and 6-7 guys and girls. They took me all the way on board and made sure I found the right compartment. It was quite a scene me and these Greaser guys after many beers and a few vodka's stumbling around the train station. Some of my best times yet. I only wished I'd met them sooner. That's what's going on. I'm gonna go see superman in russian now.       dylan

--


dylangriffin.com
917.861.9397