Riding Shotgun with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

t would almost be enough to just have one of the best band names in all of band-dom. Because, really, what name out there is better than Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin? For some, the name would do it, but it turns out SSLYBY are a pretty good band, too. These Missouri indie-popsters are funny, modest, and probably destined for greatness, but then those of you that watch the OC already know that (the SSLYBY song "Oregon Girl" was featured recently). Self-proclaimed "Drummer Guy" Philip Dickey put on his game face and let me in on what makes SSLYBY tick (Catfish Haven! National parks! Car bombs!). Read on, and then why not cure the Tuesday night blahs with a trip to the Rock'n'Roll Hotel, where SSLYBY will adorably steal your heart by the end of the evening (with the Changes - $8).

Touring is: Like searching for the Holy Grail.

Our first gig was: In high school on a Sunday night.

Our favorite venue to play is: The Outland, a bar in our hometown. And Will's house/neighborhood.

Hygiene on a tour is: Like playing baseball...you're on your own, but you should think about the rest of the team.

Our favorite thing about touring is: Clowning around. Leaving home and coming back. Arguing about dumb stuff.

And the least favorite: Parking.

City with the best audiences: Springfield (ed. Note: Missouri, kids, not the illustrious Springfield in Virginia).

Band member most likely to disappear after a gig: Me.

The tour bus/van smells like: My friend Wes.

Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: Lost in the van.

What's the most unusual item on your rider? We already look like brats, so we don't ask for much.

Who controls the music in the touring vehicle? And what do you like to listen to while tooling around on tour? Our speakers are so bad, it's kind of pointless unless you have to hear a song. You mostly read, talk, sleep, or make up a joke.

Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour? And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food? My Aunt Joan's house in Cincinnati.

Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour? Doing shots at a bar in Toronto with Big and Rich, the country music stars.

Favorite tour activity (other than the gigs themselves): National parks and monuments, exploring houses we sleep at, and annoying people with questions about Kurt Cobain.

Are there any bands you've played with that you'd like to tour with again? And/or bands that you have yet to tour with that you'd like to? We like them all, but Catfish Haven is really the band that shared the most with us. Cool dudes, too. I think they'll always be my favorite. I'd like to tour with my little brother. He's 13.

Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or if not a particular city, which venue makes your skin crawl? We're mostly opposed to jerk sound guys, not entire cities.

What's the song that you most wish was a SSLYBY song instead of another band's song? "Sliver" by Nirvana, I guess. I can't think of anything.

Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for? We use to have temporary tattoos. That's kind of an obvious answer, though.

Favorite game to pass time with on the road? Talking about Judy Blume books.

"Oregon Girl" on the OC? Like, omigod? Do you see TV as more helpful or harmful for young bands? I just got really worried. I don't want to think about this right now.

Say Boris Yeltsin wasn't Boris Yeltsin. Who would you love instead? I'd rather get a completely different band name.

Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? Nope. I'd like to go eventually. It looks funny.

What would you like people to be saying about SSLYBY in 50 years? "They were so tall."

Please recite a line of poetry:
Itsaj0k3mok3 (it's a joke, moke). That's Will's AIM screen name.

And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison? Car bomb.

More SSLYBY can be had here: www.sslyby.com and/or www.myspace.com/boris.

© 2007 BigYawn, all rights reserved