“Saviour of Belarusian rock” is 9 years old
On the eve of the 9th anniversary of a legendary snackbar “Graffiti” ERB decided to find out how Belarusian rock musicians got there for the first time and what “Graffiti” meant for all of them. Paval Kashyryn, a former art-director of the “Graffiti” club and the current administrator of the “Krama” band, arrived in Kalinin Lane, 19 for the first time in 2001:
“I spent 4.5 years there. “Graffiti” received a small special “Rock Crown” “For contribution to the development of Belarusian culture and rock music” in 2006.
By the way, an orange ring-buoy with the inscription “To saviors of Belarusian rock” can still be seen above the entrance to the club.
Paval Kashyryn thinks that the most significant concert was the first one. The current administrator of “Krama” got acquainted with Ihar Varashkevcih, the leader of the band, over the phone. Varashkevich got to know about “Graffiti” during his phone talk with Kashyryn:
“I was simply given Varashkevich’s number and I got acquainted with him on the phone. Ihar did not even know anything about “Graffiti”. He entered and said: “Effin’ gay! Where will we perform here?!”
The art-director who replaced Paval Kashyryn was Yan Busel - he organized the first party for his project “Art House” in “Graffiti”:
“The first time I got to know about “Graffiti” was when they told me it was not far from my house. It was time to make my virtual project “Art House” real – I came to “Graffiti” to organize my first party there. I started organizing parties of “Art House” and even concerts there in the course of time”.
Yuan Busel thinks that the most significant performance in “Graffiti” was the story about a Russian band “Billy’s Band”. The thing is the musicians got there by accident and came to give a concert there a few days later:
“Billy and Ryshyk from a Russian band “Billy’s Band” entered the club one day. They had arrived in Minsk to take part in the shooting of some novella and then asked Minskers about an underground club they could visit. They were told about “Graffiti”. “Altanka” was performing in the club that night. They even asked for musical instruments and performed a few songs then. And they played to capacity in “Graffiti” a few days later.
The “Nuero Dubel” band managed to present its latest album “Shtasi” in “Graffiti”. They had to do it several times because there were not that enough seats in the club. The leader of the band Alyaksandr Kulinkovich says:
“In my opinion, the main thing about “Graffiti” is the grate atmosphere. No other Minsk club can offer such coziness and interaction with the public. It may be explained by the small size of the room or it may be the club’s zest. In any case, I always feel very comfortable in “Graffiti”.
At the same time, the musician says that the first impression made by “Graffiti” was horrible. However, Kulinkovich changed his mind after his first performance:
“Our drummer phoned me one day and said we would give a concert in some “Graffiti”. He also added that the club lacked room. I was really surprised when I got there for the first time – how can musicians perform in such a small room?! In fact, “the Dubels” performed in many small clubs but only “Graffiti” has its special atmosphere and it is really wonderful”.
The leader of the “Addis Ababa” band Dzima got his nick name “Cook” thanks to the legendary club:
“Kashyryn invited us to some concert there and we performed there too some time later. I was jobless at that time and “Graffiti” was looking for a cook. I spent several years there. My idea about “Graffiti” is that the club is a big family. Clients and the staff are wonderful there, one can’t even describe it”.
It is worth mentioning that it is impossible to describe the atmosphere of the legendary club. It should be visited in any case. The next opportunity is a party dedicated to the club’s birthday on June 20. The address is Kalinin Lane 16, Minsk.
“I spent 4.5 years there. “Graffiti” received a small special “Rock Crown” “For contribution to the development of Belarusian culture and rock music” in 2006.
By the way, an orange ring-buoy with the inscription “To saviors of Belarusian rock” can still be seen above the entrance to the club.
Paval Kashyryn thinks that the most significant concert was the first one. The current administrator of “Krama” got acquainted with Ihar Varashkevcih, the leader of the band, over the phone. Varashkevich got to know about “Graffiti” during his phone talk with Kashyryn:
“I was simply given Varashkevich’s number and I got acquainted with him on the phone. Ihar did not even know anything about “Graffiti”. He entered and said: “Effin’ gay! Where will we perform here?!”
The art-director who replaced Paval Kashyryn was Yan Busel - he organized the first party for his project “Art House” in “Graffiti”:
“The first time I got to know about “Graffiti” was when they told me it was not far from my house. It was time to make my virtual project “Art House” real – I came to “Graffiti” to organize my first party there. I started organizing parties of “Art House” and even concerts there in the course of time”.
Yuan Busel thinks that the most significant performance in “Graffiti” was the story about a Russian band “Billy’s Band”. The thing is the musicians got there by accident and came to give a concert there a few days later:
“Billy and Ryshyk from a Russian band “Billy’s Band” entered the club one day. They had arrived in Minsk to take part in the shooting of some novella and then asked Minskers about an underground club they could visit. They were told about “Graffiti”. “Altanka” was performing in the club that night. They even asked for musical instruments and performed a few songs then. And they played to capacity in “Graffiti” a few days later.
The “Nuero Dubel” band managed to present its latest album “Shtasi” in “Graffiti”. They had to do it several times because there were not that enough seats in the club. The leader of the band Alyaksandr Kulinkovich says:
“In my opinion, the main thing about “Graffiti” is the grate atmosphere. No other Minsk club can offer such coziness and interaction with the public. It may be explained by the small size of the room or it may be the club’s zest. In any case, I always feel very comfortable in “Graffiti”.
At the same time, the musician says that the first impression made by “Graffiti” was horrible. However, Kulinkovich changed his mind after his first performance:
“Our drummer phoned me one day and said we would give a concert in some “Graffiti”. He also added that the club lacked room. I was really surprised when I got there for the first time – how can musicians perform in such a small room?! In fact, “the Dubels” performed in many small clubs but only “Graffiti” has its special atmosphere and it is really wonderful”.
The leader of the “Addis Ababa” band Dzima got his nick name “Cook” thanks to the legendary club:
“Kashyryn invited us to some concert there and we performed there too some time later. I was jobless at that time and “Graffiti” was looking for a cook. I spent several years there. My idea about “Graffiti” is that the club is a big family. Clients and the staff are wonderful there, one can’t even describe it”.
It is worth mentioning that it is impossible to describe the atmosphere of the legendary club. It should be visited in any case. The next opportunity is a party dedicated to the club’s birthday on June 20. The address is Kalinin Lane 16, Minsk.
