Little Fyodor
Encyclopedia
Little Fyodoris the performance name of Dave Lichtenberg, an underground punk/garage musician from Denver, Colorado
, who has been on the scene for two decades. He originally performed in the band Walls of Genius, and then went on to become a solo act (now with a full band, but still carrying the name Little Fyodor). He is also known as a public radio DJ, and a reviewer of self-published music.
Little Fyodor is also notable for his association with the Elephant 6 collective. The Apples in Stereo
performed some of their earliest shows opening for his band. "Let it be known that the very first time the Apples ever performed with a real drum set, they were opening for Little Fyodor and Babushka." Returning the favor, Fyodor's record "Dance of the Salted Slug" was released on the Elephant 6 label. In 1993 he toured with Negativland
.
Before moving to Denver, Lichtenberg had a show on WTJU, the student-run station at the University of Virginia
. Now, as Little Fyodor, he hosts a bimonthly radio show, every other Saturday at 11 PM, on Boulder's KGNU
titled "Under the Floorboards", which showcases obscure artists. 2011 marks the 27th anniversary of Little Fyodor’s career as a DJ at KGNU. After an initial interview in 1997, Little Fyodor also began a column based on his radio show, "A Few of the Interesting Characters I've Discovered Under the Floorboards", in Denver-based fringe magazine CyberPsychos AOD
.
After a live appearance by Little Fyodor and Babushka at the Death Equinox
'97 convention, attendees were so enthusiastic about the performance that they requested having them play every year. Little Fyodor became the con's Audial Terror Guest of Honor in '98 as a result, and they continued to play every year. Rev. Ivan Stang
of the Church of the SubGenius
witnessed their '98 performance and asked them to play at the next X-Day
gathering.
Denver group Von Hemmling
was reportedly named by Fyodor.
Walls Of Genius - "Ludovico Treatment: Music To Cure Your Ills" (self-released 2003, originally released on cassette 1984)
Little Fyodor - "Idiots Are Closer To God" (self-released 2001, originally released on LP 1990)
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue22/fyodor01.html - Walls Of Genius - "Crazed To The Core" (self-released on CDR in 2001, originally released 1984 on cassette, WOG 0017)
Little Fyodor - "Dance Of The Salted Slug" (The Elephant 6 Recording Co. 1994, EL6-901)
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue30/fyodor03.html - Walls Of Genius - "Raw Sewage, Vol. II" (self-released 2004, originally released various cassettes, 1983–1985)
Walls Of Genius - "Before …and After" (self-released 2004, originally released on cassette, 1984)
Little Fyodor - "Beneath The Uber-Putz" (self-released 2002, originally released on LP, 1988, Small Tools Tradition)
http://www.westword.com/2009-09-03/music/little-fyodor - Little Fyodor - "Peace is Boring" Review from Westword
, September 2009
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, who has been on the scene for two decades. He originally performed in the band Walls of Genius, and then went on to become a solo act (now with a full band, but still carrying the name Little Fyodor). He is also known as a public radio DJ, and a reviewer of self-published music.
Biography
Little Fyodor is originally from the suburbs of New Jersey, and moved to Colorado in 1981. In the 1980s he was a member of Walls of Genius, which consisted of Little Fyodor, Evan Cantor, Ed Fowler and Brad Cartin, an experimental group from Colorado which produced 30 tapes from 1982 to 1986. Dave Lichtenberg later went on to work on his solo project Little Fyodor.Little Fyodor is also notable for his association with the Elephant 6 collective. The Apples in Stereo
The Apples in Stereo
The Apples in Stereo, styled The Apples in stereo, is an American indie rock band associated with The Elephant Six Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist Robert Schneider, who writes the...
performed some of their earliest shows opening for his band. "Let it be known that the very first time the Apples ever performed with a real drum set, they were opening for Little Fyodor and Babushka." Returning the favor, Fyodor's record "Dance of the Salted Slug" was released on the Elephant 6 label. In 1993 he toured with Negativland
Negativland
Negativland is an experimental music and sound collage band which originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1970s. They took their name from a Neu! song, while their record label is named after another Neu! song...
.
Before moving to Denver, Lichtenberg had a show on WTJU, the student-run station at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Now, as Little Fyodor, he hosts a bimonthly radio show, every other Saturday at 11 PM, on Boulder's KGNU
KGNU
KGNU AM/FM is an independent radio, non-commercial radio, Community radio station for Boulder and Denver, Colorado, USA. KGNU is owned by Boulder Community Broadcast Association, Inc.-Programming and operations :...
titled "Under the Floorboards", which showcases obscure artists. 2011 marks the 27th anniversary of Little Fyodor’s career as a DJ at KGNU. After an initial interview in 1997, Little Fyodor also began a column based on his radio show, "A Few of the Interesting Characters I've Discovered Under the Floorboards", in Denver-based fringe magazine CyberPsychos AOD
CyberPsychos AOD
Cyber-Psychos AOD is a book and magazine publishing venture based in Denver, Colorado, focusing on avant-garde and unusual art, culture, and writings...
.
After a live appearance by Little Fyodor and Babushka at the Death Equinox
Death Equinox
Death Equinox was a series of four conventions held in Denver, Colorado in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Sponsored by CyberPsychos AOD, and organized by Jasmine Sailing, they focused on alternative culture and art. An usual aspect was that they combined both the transgressive aspects of writing...
'97 convention, attendees were so enthusiastic about the performance that they requested having them play every year. Little Fyodor became the con's Audial Terror Guest of Honor in '98 as a result, and they continued to play every year. Rev. Ivan Stang
Ivan Stang
Rev. Ivan Stang, born Douglass St. Clair Smith August 21, 1953 in Washington, D.C., raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended the St. Mark's School of Texas. He is best known as the author and publisher of the first screed of the Church of the SubGenius...
of the Church of the SubGenius
Church of the SubGenius
The Church of the SubGenius is a "parody religion" organization that satirizes religion, conspiracy theories, unidentified flying objects, and popular culture. Originally based in Dallas, Texas, the Church of the SubGenius gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s and maintains an active presence on...
witnessed their '98 performance and asked them to play at the next X-Day
X-Day
X-Day may refer to:* X-Day , a festival associated with the Church of the SubGenius* X-Day , a 2002 manga written by Setona Mizushiro* March 20, 2003 anti-war protest, a protests against the Iraq War...
gathering.
Denver group Von Hemmling
Von Hemmling
Von Hemmling is the solo project of Jim McIntyre and one of many experimental music projects associated with The Elephant 6 Recording Company. Though Jim McIntyre is the band's primary performer, Hilarie Sidney and John Hill have both been members of Von Hemmling before becoming members of The...
was reportedly named by Fyodor.
Little Fyodor (and Babushka) releases
- Peace is Boring - 2009, Public Eyesore
- Boyd RiceBoyd RiceBoyd Blake Rice is an American experimental sound/noise musician using the name of NON since the mid-1970s, archivist, actor, photographer, author, member of the Partridge Family Temple religious group, co-founder of the UNPOP art movement and current staff writer for Modern Drunkard...
Presents:The Very Best Of Little Fyodor's Greatest Hits! - 2005, Discriminate Audio - Babushka's Naughty XXXmas! (with Little Fyodor & The Inactivists) - 2005
- Live @ XX-Day (with Babushka) - 2004
- Revolution 9 - 2000
- Dance Of The Salted Slug -1994, Elephant 6 Recording Co
- Idiots Are Closer To God - 1990
- Beneath The Uber-Putz - 1988
- Slither / Sloth - 1985/1986
Appearances/Contributions
- Madness Lives: The Walls Of Genius Compilation - 2005
- Raw Sewage, VOL. II - 2004
- Before... and After - 2004
- Ludovico Treatment - Music To Cure Your Ills - 2003
- Raw Sewage, VOL. I - 2002
- Crazed To The Core - 2001
- The Way I Feel (with Boyd Rice & Winona Righteous) - 2000
TV and Radio Appearance
- The Dr. Demento Show #86-14 - April 6, 1986
- The Dr. Demento Show #97-46 - November 16, 1997
- Setlist TV - 1 hour Staten Island Cable TV special featuring Little Fyodor and Babushka - January 2011
Reviews
http://aural-innovations.com/2004/january/fyodor02.html - Walls Of Genius - "Raw Sewage, Vol. I" (self-released 2003, originally released on cassette 1983-1984)Walls Of Genius - "Ludovico Treatment: Music To Cure Your Ills" (self-released 2003, originally released on cassette 1984)
Little Fyodor - "Idiots Are Closer To God" (self-released 2001, originally released on LP 1990)
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue22/fyodor01.html - Walls Of Genius - "Crazed To The Core" (self-released on CDR in 2001, originally released 1984 on cassette, WOG 0017)
Little Fyodor - "Dance Of The Salted Slug" (The Elephant 6 Recording Co. 1994, EL6-901)
http://www.aural-innovations.com/issues/issue30/fyodor03.html - Walls Of Genius - "Raw Sewage, Vol. II" (self-released 2004, originally released various cassettes, 1983–1985)
Walls Of Genius - "Before …and After" (self-released 2004, originally released on cassette, 1984)
Little Fyodor - "Beneath The Uber-Putz" (self-released 2002, originally released on LP, 1988, Small Tools Tradition)
http://www.westword.com/2009-09-03/music/little-fyodor - Little Fyodor - "Peace is Boring" Review from Westword
Westword
Westword is a free alternative weekly newspaper based in Denver, Colorado.Westword was established independently in 1977. In 1983 it was bought by New Times Media. In 2005, New Times acquired Village Voice Media, and changed its name to Village Voice Media...
, September 2009