Kontrabanda (once also known as Rokfeleriai), fronted by the well-known Lithuanian poet Gintaras Grajauskas on vocals and bass, is a phenomenon in its own right in Lithuania's only port-town Klaipėda. The band’s suggestive name and somewhat underground stance leads one to assume that its infectious blues-rock and Latin funk grooves were illegally smuggled on some ship. Although only one of the band’s five albums is properly released, Kontrabanda enjoys something of a cult following, especially among the bohemian youth of its hometown, much of it owing to Grajauskas’ wittily inventive and literate singing-rapping, as well as the masterful bluesy guitar solos supplied in plentiful quantities by Vilius Ančeris. In 2008, Kontrabanda became one of the first Lithuanian bands to take advantage of their fanbase’s support and opportunities offered by the Internet, when they released their new live release (A)Live, which could be pre-ordered by the fans.
Jurij Dobriakov
Website:http://www.myspace.com/kontrabandalt
