The prince charming of Armenian pop - Armenian Reporter

Far left: Nareg,Arman, and Arikin Shushi. Photo:Anush Babajanyan.Left above:Dressed up inhonor of JohnLennon’s birthday,the boys put on anamazing tributeshow of Beatles’covers. Left below:Playing in Gyumri,alongside originalBambir members,the band and itsmusic takes on adifferent feel.who commands attention. Hiseyes, entreating despite his broodingappearance, are never flighty.His fingers move over the stringsbeautifully and it is mesmerizingto watch as he feels the music andplays with a concentration so effortlessthat you want to jump intohis bass and become a part of it.Coming from musical, theatricalbackgrounds, the boys are armoredin natural and developedtalent that make them a joy towatch and listen to, on and offthe stage. Nareg grins coyly andtells me that they started to playin 1983. “I say it like that becausethat’s the year we were born, meand Arman,” he laughs. “We grewup on that Bambir style, youknow?”Revolutionary originsThe name Bambir is derived froma bow-stringed musical instrument(also called a qemani) thatis played much like a cello. ButNareg wasn’t referring to growingup on the style of this ancientfour-stringed instrument, nor washe talking about growing up onthe style of his own band. Bambiris more than an instrument andmore than a band – it is a musicalhistory, a legend of Armenian musicand revolutionary thought andaction. It’s a philosophy, a legacy,a culture all its own. It is rock inits element.In 1969, Angin Karer (PreciousStones), the first Armenian rockgroup of its kind, or perhaps atall, was formed in Gyumri, Armenia’ssecond-largest city, thenknown as Leninakan. Gagik “Jag”Barseghyan (nicknamed for hislove of the Rolling Stones) andRobert Kocharyan, fathers ofNareg and Arman, explored andexperimented with the arts, creatingmusic and performing intheatrical rock plays such as “Love,Jazz, Devil” (1976). “The combinationreally started somethingin the art world,” Nareg says, excitedly.“When they first startedto rehearse everyone was sayingno one would come to the showsor listen to the music because itwasn’t close to the Soviet peopleand problems of the time, butthen they did like four shows inone day. It was revolutionary.”Running with the momentumbuilt from their endeavors in thetheater, and after winning anaward at the International MusicFestival in Yerevan (1977), theyformed the group Bambir in 1978.Blending traditional Armeniancompositions, Celtic and medievalsacred sounds, and Western rockinfluences such as Jethro Tull andthe Beatles, this innovative bandsoon made a name for itself as oneof the best folk-rock bands in theSoviet Union.In 1978, when this first generationof Bambir started playing,they brought Western cultureto Armenia in a musical capacity.“They were playing regularconcerts in Gyumri at that time– covers,” Nareg reminisces. “Hearingthe Beatles from the stage, itwas just a phenomenal thing.”Perhaps too phenomenal for itsArmenian Reporter Arts & Culture 11/10/2007C3