On October 27, 2016 Polotsk State University warmly greeted guests from Southern California (USA) – young and talented rock-group ACIDIC based in Los Angeles. The band has already won Best Band, Best LP Recording («Creatures»), and Best Video («Chicago») according to Rockwired.com’s 2016 Readers’ Poll Awards.
The concert was organized by the U.S. Embassy in Minsk and non-for-profit communication centre Fund of Ideas and held at Polotsk State University. Before the concert we had a chance to talk to ACIDIC band and to know their impressions about the visit to Belarus.
The corr.: Is it your first visit to Belarus?
AICIDIC: Yes. We are in Belarus for the first time, and we would like to thank the U.S. Embassy in Minsk for hosting us. Tonight we’re going to enjoy our concert at Polotsk State University.
The corr.: What have you already seen here today?
AICIDIC: We saw the geographical center of Europe, a monument to the lettеr «Ў» that’s only in Belarusian alphabet and we had some Japanese food. We like Polotsk very much. It’s like a European city. It’s very beautiful. Everybody is wonderful, polite and warm. We had a wonderful reception.
The corr.: Please, tell us about your band?
AICIDIC: Our name is AICIDIC. We are from Southern California, Los Angeles (USA). We started about nine years ago. This year we join touring season with the prestigious American Music Abroad program, through the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The corr.: What do you expect from the concert?
AICIDIC: First of all, we expect to meet some people. We’re going to play some music. Actually it’ll be an interactive concert: we’ll be talking about the experience with the American rock and roll. We are also going to be taking questions. This is just as much as learning experience for us representing our culture of the United States from our perspective. We want to learn about Belarusian culture. We learn about all the cities we have ever been about that are more than 1000 years old. There is a great history here. There have been so many periods of time the city has bent with. We are very honoured to be here.
Before ACIDIC’s performance the audience was introduced Mohito band, one of the brightest and most musical cover band in Novopolotsk, which gifted all the guests unforgettable emotions, positive and great mood.
After that David Simmons, a Fulbright Fellow this year at the Department of World Literature and Foreign Languages, came into the stage to present the guests from Southern California.
The ACIDIC band consists of four young, talented and perspective guys – lead vocalist Michael Gossard, bassist – Max Myrick, drummer – Matt Whitaker, guitarist Josh Bennett.
The stage was full of crazy energy and real drive. The guys have definitely proved that they are true professionals and music is not only a hobby for them but also a real passion and sense of life.
