The Red Elvises, a Russian rockabilly band, formed in southern California about 10 years ago.
Their theatrical personas culminate onstage in red costumes or animal-print suits and a gigantic red triangle bass weighing 35 pounds, and sometimes all four members drum on one set during a drum solo.
Drummer Adam Gust said there are plenty of opportunities for the audience to get involved.
"The conga line - that tends to be pretty memorable for people," he said. " We don't take ourselves too seriously, and no one else does, so it sort of helps people loosen up and have a good time."
They perform tonight at the Launchpad at 618 Central Ave S.W. Gypsy jazz band Le Chat Lunatique opens the show at 8 p.m.
Red Elvises' frontman Igor Yuzov and bassist Oleg Bernov grew up under Soviet rule in Russia. Elena Shemankova plays the keys and lives in Moscow when not touring with the band.
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"I played in a swing band, and we had the same manager in Russia," Shemankova said. "He introduced me to them, and they probably liked me, and they invited me on tour in Europe."
They tour eight months out of the year.
"United States - best country for touring," Yuzov said. "The roads are the best, so it's easier to get from one place to another."
He said it's easier to tour in the States than in Russia or Western Europe.
"We were stopped by the cops, and we freaked out 'cause there was alcohol in the van," he said. "He asked for an autograph 'cause he liked the band. But we freaked out. And now we don't carry open containers."
Bernov said it's more fun to play in Russia, regardless of the road quality.
"We just played one month in Russia," he said. "New York City is like a little kindergarten compared to Moscow these days. There's party nonstop. If you want to get a beer, it's available any time you want. If you want to find a party, it's available anytime you want."
Yuzov played in the Russian army band when he was 18 years old, for two years.
"Not like a professional band in the army," he said. "You do your army things, and when you had free time, you play in the band. It's kind of the opposite. We don't have outfits, and they can't play at all. I played pretty much everything, like guitar, bass and drums or keyboard or whatever."
Bernov claimed he was a bed wetter in order to get out of the army. And one of the original band members, Zhenya Rock, who won't be playing on this leg of the tour, took on behaviors so bizarre that he ended up in the psychiatric ward for two weeks. That was a stint to get out of the army as well, he said.
Bernov came to the States with a theater group.
"My whole life is a theater," he said. "I've done a lot of street theater. That's what I was doing back in Soviet Union. It was my group of people."
Yuzov said it's impossible to get away from the sound of Russian folk music, even though they're playing American rock.
"I think we kind of purposely sound European because that's where our roots are," he said. "We don't sound like a Memphis blues band or something. There's enough of blues band in U.S."
