Posted on 08/21/2025 7:10:57 PM PDT by fidelis
New release by the Russian cover group, 'Leonid & Friends, a beautiful cover of Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed.
I’m a HUGE Stevie Wonder fan and this version of one of my all time favourite tracks is absolutely GREAT 👌!
I always wonder if the (I assume) classically trained cellists + violinists in those sessions enjoy playing “pop”. In that video, it looks like they do.
I've always wondered that too. In all of Leonid's videos, when there a string section, it always looks like they do. Like in this one:
So Very Hard to Go – Leonid & Friends (Tower of Power cover)
They are very good live. I saw an online concert during covid with each member in a different location. Impressive.
Love Leonid & Friends. I think what they do is incredible!
Saw them in South Denver a few years ago, they lost a few Uke member to go fight....
It’s a fantastic band..
I’ve met at least 5 of the band members several times - they’re very nice people
I went to see them live in Phoenix. Although they are known for their Chicago covers, I especially enjoyed Steely Dan’s “My Old School”. Great show. Great performers.
We stayed at the same hotel there were at this year when they performed in Orlando. Great group. Incredible musicians. Fan friendly and they do original stuff but their cover work might be better than the original artists’ treatment.
I made almost the same comment on the Leonid and Friends facebook page. I’ve always enjoyed the song.
It’s unusual for Leonid to do such a pared down song.
The band is in America prepping for their fall concert tour. If you’ve never seen them live it’s worth every penny.
Great find.
I liked them in the beginning but when they lost Serge, their lead guitarist and lead vocalist, I didn’t enjoy them anymore.
Yes, a lot of Leonid fans, especially women it seems, mourned the loss of Serge. And really, as good as Constantine is, Serge was such a marvel on the lead guitar, especially his covers of Chicago’s Terry Kath solos, that he was hard to replace. But I think their two current main vocalists, Daniel and Michael, surpass Serge’s vocals in power, range, and versatility.
8~)
Met Ksenia first time I ever met the band.
It must have been the next morning after I met the drummer Igor and guitarist Konstantin. Leonids’s son Roman was having to translate my words for Igor who could barely speak English at the time.
This had to be 2021 or 2022. Those pictures are stuck on a phone that won’t boot - Android. The boot sector is corrupted. If I do a factory reset I’ll lose everything.
Which is bad - I had a nice photo of me with several in the band including Ksenia.
Ksenia was as nice as could be - she was embarrassed because she had just run down and bought a strawberry shake and was afraid her hand was all sticky from the cup - this was as she reached to shake my hand. She was wearing glasses which I didn’t expect.
A year later I passed Roman on my way to the hotel room and was hollering back at him to do “One Fine Morning” by Lighthouse. Which they did do. Told him they were perfectly set up for it.
After I turned away here came Ksenia and she almost ran me over with her cart of luggage. She was in a hurry to get to the van for the trip to their next gig. She was wearing the light green dress she was wearing at the previous night’s performance.
As she’s zooming by I asked her if in fact that was Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody” the night before - she confirmed that it was. Best version I’ve ever heard.
On the stage she said, I have a little surprise for you - I had no idea what was coming. Then she launched into “Ain’t Nobody” - wow
Last year Konstantin was walking by after a show and came over and asked if I went. I said unfortunately no, bro, I didn’t have tickets. First time I’ve missed them since they started coming. Konstantin said you should have found me I would have given you tickets. Dang.
They’re coming this year. Lord willing I’ll get to go. If I can find Konstantin, he’ll take care of me.
Wish I could revive that phone. Nothing was backed up to Google so......I don’t know if I’ll have any luck if I pull the SIM card and try to put it in another phone.
It was my main phone and it’s been down for 3 years now. Dang it.
Lotta great pictures on that phone.
Oh yeah, Ksenia is a princess. (grin)
That is cool. Thanks
They’re all pretty cool 😎
I’ve only heard one story about one guy wanting stuff at 1 or 2 a.m.
I got a couple of pictures with him.
Over the years I’ve met Leonid (we’re about the same height), Ksenia twice including when she almost ran over me, Igor and Konstantin (both several times), Oleg (saxophonist 🎷) and Roman. A few roadies were in the pictures on that messed up phone 📱.
2021(?) I think 🤔 Igor was telling me he studied drummer Buddy Rich.
Got a picture with John Waite earlier this year. And a separate picture with Alan his drummer. 2nd time I’ve met Alan.
Kyle Cook from Matchbox 20 was unbelievable on guitar 🎸 (John Waite show). He was playing a BEAUTIFUL 🤩 red Led Paul Custom. Wow
MAN could that guy play. I didn’t get to meet him but he walked by and I complimented him. He said thanks.
Outstanding...
John Waite was pretty cool about a photo too. I was surprised how tall he was - about the same as me - I remember seeing him on TV in the 1970s - always thought he looked shorter. Nope.
I won't go into all the people I've met, but Michael Brecker and Sonny Rollins were highlights.
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