Timur and the Dime Museum

Timur and the Dime Museum's audacious calliope of crooning can be as dizzying as falling in love or massive enough beat it out of you. Timur's liberated, vaudeville-style music is among the most original being made in LA today, despite his referencing of the canon from the classics to the contemporary (their cover of NIN's "Closer" is out of this world). And though the visually impactful theatricality of Tiimur's project lacks none of the post-kitsch underworld glamour and Gothic style you'd expect from the indie-operatic genre, the music makes for smart, complex listening. Get a sense of it all in the new "music film" project Autumn, a collaboration with Sandra Powers. - Flavorpill LA

They're not just bringing the laughs. On a recent night, the band Chromium Heart played heartfelt songs, while Timur and the Dime Museum put on a punk-operatic spectacle. - LA Times

Hailing from Los Angeles is Timur and the Dime Museum (TDM), a genre-bending project that blurs the line between indie rock and smoky cabaret. TDM is anchored by frontman Timur Bekbusunov, an opera singer with bombastic flair; he also lends these talents to gypsy rockers, Devotchka, in his off time, which is how I came across this band. I caught TDM for a midsummer night’s concert over at Joe’s Pub.

TDM’s theatrical influence makes them a highly interesting act to watch. Timur’s singing during some of the wilder moments is truly the vocal equivalent of a wild guitar solo. Also, each member of TDM is costumed in what could be described as a goth’s vision of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Bass, guitar, drums, and accordion & keys round out the live group. They ended the show with a cover of Nine Inch Nails’s classic, “Closer,” a more than fitting tune for the flavor of this group. Check out their last release, X-Ray Sunsets. - Short & Sweet NYC

Hailing from Los Angeles is Timur and the Dime Museum (TDM), a genre-bending project that blurs the line between indie rock and smoky cabaret. TDM is anchored by frontman Timur Bekbusunov, an opera singer with bombastic flair; he also lends these talents to gypsy rockers, Devotchka, in his off time, which is how I came across this band. I caught TDM for a midsummer night’s concert over at Joe’s Pub.

TDM’s theatrical influence makes them a highly interesting act to watch. Timur’s singing during some of the wilder moments is truly the vocal equivalent of a wild guitar solo. Also, each member of TDM is costumed in what could be described as a goth’s vision of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Bass, guitar, drums, and accordion & keys round out the live group. They ended the show with a cover of Nine Inch Nails’s classic, “Closer,” a more than fitting tune for the flavor of this group. Check out their last release, X-Ray Sunsets. - Short & Sweet NYC

The opening wall of sound had moments where there seemed to be nods to the The Tornados’ 1962 hit “Telstar,” but then these are glam and galactic people. “Asleep at the Wheel” was set up in a very winsome manner, as Timur had the affect of a precocious and louche genius, radiating the kind of sexuality that encourage men and women alike to connect with him on every level. There were times when the light caught his eyes making them a glowing reddish brown and this post-Modern Svengali took us for a ride. - Q on Stage

The opening wall of sound had moments where there seemed to be nods to the The Tornados’ 1962 hit “Telstar,” but then these are glam and galactic people. “Asleep at the Wheel” was set up in a very winsome manner, as Timur had the affect of a precocious and louche genius, radiating the kind of sexuality that encourage men and women alike to connect with him on every level. There were times when the light caught his eyes making them a glowing reddish brown and this post-Modern Svengali took us for a ride. - Q on Stage

Hey: For our neo-Weimar times, this Timur Bekbosunov is some kind of singer. Trim kid from Kazakhstan moonlighting from his opera gig, but disdaining the classical geek factor: instead substitute eye makeup, asymmetrical coif, maximum camp. And oh yeah, at least four octaves of precise power, from rib-shaking baritone to eyeball-cracking falsetto. Timur put that voice to work on his idol Kristian Hoffman's urban-sophisticated "That's Something New" and melodramatic "Total Eclipse" (famed from Klaus Nomi's interpretation), cuddling a fake ermine stole and gnawing the scenery to clown out the Hungarian weeper "Gloomy Sunday." And he plainly delighted in non-underplaying the "f*ck you like an animal" sentiments of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer." Thanks to the wink-wink civilized stylings of his Dime Museum band, Timur executed Ian Gillan screams and Justin Hawkins jet howls without ever stooping to anything so crude as rock. Love the accent, love the charm. Obvious star quality. - Metal Jazz

Hey: For our neo-Weimar times, this Timur Bekbosunov is some kind of singer. Trim kid from Kazakhstan moonlighting from his opera gig, but disdaining the classical geek factor: instead substitute eye makeup, asymmetrical coif, maximum camp. And oh yeah, at least four octaves of precise power, from rib-shaking baritone to eyeball-cracking falsetto. Timur put that voice to work on his idol Kristian Hoffman's urban-sophisticated "That's Something New" and melodramatic "Total Eclipse" (famed from Klaus Nomi's interpretation), cuddling a fake ermine stole and gnawing the scenery to clown out the Hungarian weeper "Gloomy Sunday." And he plainly delighted in non-underplaying the "f*ck you like an animal" sentiments of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer." Thanks to the wink-wink civilized stylings of his Dime Museum band, Timur executed Ian Gillan screams and Justin Hawkins jet howls without ever stooping to anything so crude as rock. Love the accent, love the charm. Obvious star quality. - Metal Jazz

With his dark, goth manner, lopsided haircut and sickly pallor, this incredible operatic, Bryan Ferry-ish tenor from Kazakhstan, the home of Borat, could well be cast in an upcoming Twilight sequel or episode of True Blood. He could well be a fusion of Tiny Tim and Enrique Caruso for the new depression. - Hits Magazine

With his dark, goth manner, lopsided haircut and sickly pallor, this incredible operatic, Bryan Ferry-ish tenor from Kazakhstan, the home of Borat, could well be cast in an upcoming Twilight sequel or episode of True Blood. He could well be a fusion of Tiny Tim and Enrique Caruso for the new depression. - Hits Magazine

Billed as a “dark glam opera band,” Timur and the Dime Museum, which also closed over the weekend, gave a lovable performance of pure camp in sequined pants and capes strung with strands of blue lights. Fronted by Kazakh tenor Timur Bekbosunov, the group’s songs called to mind David Bowie (who they covered) and the Dresden Dolls. Bekbosunov’s voice and commitment to his act — complete with a pantomimed kiss with “The Phantom of the Opera” — knew no bounds. - The Star-Ledger

Billed as a “dark glam opera band,” Timur and the Dime Museum, which also closed over the weekend, gave a lovable performance of pure camp in sequined pants and capes strung with strands of blue lights. Fronted by Kazakh tenor Timur Bekbosunov, the group’s songs called to mind David Bowie (who they covered) and the Dresden Dolls. Bekbosunov’s voice and commitment to his act — complete with a pantomimed kiss with “The Phantom of the Opera” — knew no bounds. - The Star-Ledger

Timur And The Dime Museum Offer Up Post-Punk Screaming Opera
If you put Borat and Rufus Wainwright in a band you might wind up with the unique sound that belongs to Timur and the Dime Museum, a five piece chamber orchestra featuring viola, cello, accordion, guitar and bass, and fronted by Kazakhstan-born Timur Bekbosunov. - NPR "Here and Now"

Timur And The Dime Museum Offer Up Post-Punk Screaming Opera
If you put Borat and Rufus Wainwright in a band you might wind up with the unique sound that belongs to Timur and the Dime Museum, a five piece chamber orchestra featuring viola, cello, accordion, guitar and bass, and fronted by Kazakhstan-born Timur Bekbosunov. - NPR "Here and Now"

“But only when tenor Timur Bekbosunov, a native of Kazakhstan, joined them for three popular Russian songs, written between 1919 and 1942 was the program’s promise fulfilled." (Review of the In Shadow of Stalin Festival, Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall) - The Wall Street Journal

“But only when tenor Timur Bekbosunov, a native of Kazakhstan, joined them for three popular Russian songs, written between 1919 and 1942 was the program’s promise fulfilled." (Review of the In Shadow of Stalin Festival, Los Angeles, Walt Disney Concert Hall) - The Wall Street Journal

“The German painter Walter Spies is sung with silky luxuriance by tenor Timur Bekbosunov. He is a sybaritic delight.” - The San Francisco Chronicle

“The German painter Walter Spies is sung with silky luxuriance by tenor Timur Bekbosunov. He is a sybaritic delight.” - The San Francisco Chronicle

"Bekbosunov, dressed as a man dressed a woman, exhibited a delicately lovely tenor". - The OC Register

"Bekbosunov, dressed as a man dressed a woman, exhibited a delicately lovely tenor". - The OC Register

"Bekbosunov knows what his audience likes and he is a brilliant architect of tension.
He is a fascinating Kazakh-American hybrid, a flamboyant performer with the emotive tendencies of Rufus Wainwright and a beautifully haunting voice..." - LA Weekly