FLY global music culture (09-06-06):
"Whilst our illustrious
Ed. was checking out Martha Wainwright’s pink shorts on the main
stage at Wychwood Festival last Saturday, I wandered off to the Big Top
to find out what was the alternative.
The programme tells us that they are a “15 piece group based in
Birmingham” and are “a mix of recovering escapees from Birmingham’s
Conservatoire and musical firebrands from the Balkans recently arrived
in the environs of the hallowed Bullring”. I had clearly been at
the wrong stage.
They are a big band in more ways than just their numbers. Big banks of brass, fiddles, accordions, drums, volume and by no means least, hats! Loads of hats. Anyone who got to dance to the ‘Balkan Hot Step’, well this is the roots version of that. High-energy good time and fun. Seemed particularly appropriate that they were playing in a Big Top. The Wychwood crowd were having a great time (especially in comparison to the morose Ms. Wainwright).
Later in the day I met up with one of the fiddlers, who may have been the bandleader and founder Louis Robinson, he strongly recommended seeing Farmers Market in the same tent the next day. I did and I must say, Farmers Market may have been a tighter, more jazz orientated band but not half the fun of The Destroyers.
I was so impressed; I splashed out on The Destroyers CD that were shipping like the proverbial hot ones. ‘The Hot Bulgar’ is a live recording and it sums them up. I can hardly keep still to this and type at the same time. Lovin’ the ump pah.
Not to be confused with any other band called the Destroyers, these are the current hot bulgars! Don’t be afraid, check them out and have a good time.
Reviewed: The Destroyers - 3 track CD
+ see ‘downloads’ on their website.
1. The Hot Bulgar (Trad) (6:49)
2. Django (John Lewis) (4:38)
3. Nasty Right Wing Campaign (Trad) (4:49)
Editor’s note: Martha was not in
fact morose but she was wearing pink hot pants."
FREQ Music Magazine (03-06-06):
"Suddenly, howling from the south of the arena came a full fanfare sound of a Balkan orchestra, and looking over I saw a giant red big top circus tent, like a pirate ship that seemed to float in my direction commandeered by the sound of The Destroyers. Hypnotised, I followed the music into one of the best live acts I've ever seen. A sixteen-strong stationary parade led by the fiery limbs of a dancer. It reminded me of Goran Bregovich or Emir Kusturica and the No-smoking Orchestra, but something like this really has to be seen live to be believed and their spirit was true to the ancient gatherings that used to occur in these parts. They banished the sedate atmosphere and soon had the whole tent writhing and moving, even the moths and the insects gathered round to see, through the steam rising the music of the gypsies. Do yourself a favour and check them out, live or at their website.
I skipped out of the tent with violins playing my limbs..."