Bambir Rehearsal, Shant TV Studio, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007

Ahead of tomorrow’s joint concert by The Bambir and their earlier namesake at Yerevan’s Puppet Theatre, I had the opportunity to photograph the two bands as they rehearsed at the studio of Shant TV where they were also practising the sets they will perform with contestants competing for the apparently much coveted title of Hye Superstar. Although I’ve seen the two Bambirs perform together separately, this was the second time I’ve caught them performing together.

The first was in Shushi in 2001 (see here, here and here). Since then, after photographing and hanging out with Bambir the younger on many an occasion, it’s funny to remember guitarist Narek reminiscing about the advice his father, Jag from the original incarnation, gave him when he formed his first band with basist Arman in 1992.

NA (Narek & Arman) was formed at the end of 1992 when the older Bambir were in the United States. Barseghyan and Kocharyan decided to surprise their fathers by performing for them when they returned. Barseghyan’s father, however, was less than impressed, to put it mildly. Gagik Barseghyan, nicknamed Jag because of his love for the Rolling Stones, instead told them they’d never make good musicians.

Much better, he told the two budding musicians, to choose another career. “Something like agriculture, he suggested,” remembers Barseghyan, smiling.

Undaunted by parental displeasure, Barseghyan and Kocharyan wrote their first song, “I’m Crazy,” and it wasn’t long before they found another young musician to join the duo. During Christmas 1995, they discovered flautist Arik Grigoryan performing in a Gyumri restaurant. When the twelve year old said he liked the British folk-rock band Jethro Tull, that was all Barseghyan and Kocharyan needed to hear.

The newly formed trio started to write more and more material. “They were interesting songs with melodies played on flute,” says Barseghyan. “Interesting good, or interesting bad?” I ask. “Interesting awful,” Barseghyan responds, laughing. “We were shit.”

The full, somewhat alcohol drenched article on Bambir is here, and there’s many a post on the band under the relevant category on this blog. In the meantime, tomorrow’s gig by both Bambirs looks set to be quite spectacular and something not to be missed. The Armenian Patchwork by Bambir flautist Arik’s girlfriend Anush also has a few posts. There are also a few pics of Bambir playing at last week’s Fête de la Musique here.

Anyway, Bambir the younger also have a myspace page here, while the older dudes have a site here. There’s also a story and photo story I put together for EurasiaNet on rock in Armenia here.

Bambir / Hye Superstar Rehearsal, Shant TV Studio, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007

Bambir Rehearsal, Shant TV Studio, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2007