Blind Lizard Balkan Band + Murdered Ghosts + The Boland Underground

@alexbarlbc

@blindlizardbalkan
www.blindlizardbalkan.com

Alex's Bar www.alexsbar.com
Sun, Sep 21, 8:00 PM
2913 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804 562-434-8292
Blind Lizard Balkan Band + Murdered Ghosts + The Boland Underground
Join us for an eclectic night of Irish, Balkan, World, and Rustic Music mixed with the new!

🎻 Blind Lizard Balkan Band

Origins & Style
Blind Lizard Balkan Band is a Los Angeles based ensemble that specializes in the lively and rich traditions of Balkan, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Klezmer music. Native influences include Romanian, Macedonian, and Serbian brass bands, along with inspirations from artists like Goran Bregovic, Taraf de Haidouks, and Fanfara De La Chetris

They fuse traditional folk with more modern or eclectic elements, for example, American jazz, reggae, cumbia, and even performance art are part of their mix. Their shows are often energetic, theatrical, and immersive.

Band Members & Identity
The band features accordionist Masha Mitkov (originally from Odessa, Ukraine) as a prominent member, among others. They emphasize a mythos in their branding: their name “Blind Lizard” is tied to folkloric ideas of “kobzars” wandering musicians in Eastern Europe historically blind, giving their band a mythical and poetic dimension in how they present themselves.

They perform covers of known Balkan songs like Mesecina, Kustino Oro, Opa Cupa, and also Russian folk when the mood strikes.

They also write original music. Their upcoming originals are intended to blend their Balkan roots with cross-genre styles.

Their performances are not just concerts; there’s often video art, theatrical elements, and sometimes visuals where the audience is part of the performance.

Blind Lizard aims to transport listeners their music is described as a “spell” to cast, creating a liminal or transformative experience. The stated goal is to harness traditional melodies and rhythms, but also to heal or address multi-generational trauma through joyful, danceable expression.