Arts & Culture
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Springfield’s indie son, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, plays Saturday at Outland Ballroom
By Brett Johnston
Mar 13 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
Phil Dickey, singer/guitarist/drummer/songwriter for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, says the band’s goals were humble. The band, founded in 1999, has toured the globe and had its music featured on television shows, commercials and major films. SSLYBY was named U.S. State Department Cultural Ambassadors to Russia. Dickey says a documentary on the band’s trips through Russia is back in production after recent political news. There isn’t a finished date set for “Discussions with Russians.” SSLYBY plays Saturday, March 17 at Outland Ballroom with Lux and Bella Donna.
417: In the beginning SSLYBY stated it was the third best band on Weller Street. What were the first two?
Phil Dickey: Will [Knauer, a guitarist] lived across from John Wilkerson who played guitar for Elvis, so we think Wilkerson is number one and Elvis is number two—by default Elvis counts. We’ve decided to stay at number three permanently because we haven’t gotten any better.
417: How old were you when the band began? Did you ever think it would take you around the world?
Dickey: We were in high school and I never thought our parents or friends would ever like us, let alone anyone outside of our street. One of our main goals was to be able to have a CD and sell it in the “locals” bin at CD Warehouse. Now we have weird connections in Russia; we met Boris Yeltsin’s translator and diplomats.
417: What’s the most unexpected response you’ve received from fans on the road?
Dickey: We played a show in Germany once, and these college students invited us over and had a Russian-themed dinner. That was the nicest thing, it was very wholesome; kind of the opposite of why you play rock ‘n’ roll music.
417: SSLYBY is able to squeeze a couple hometown shows each year. Are you excited for this weekend?
Dickey: I’m a little sad because Lux and Bella Donna have some of the best vocals and instrumentation, and I have to sing after Liz Carney of Bella Donna, Jake Rogers and Ivy Schulte of Lux. I’d say ‘come for them but stick around for us if you can.’ We love playing with those bands.
