Location: Ljubljana / Križanke
Concert date: 22.09.2006
Attendance: 2700
Ticket price: 4.800 SIT
It’s fair to say that with their arrival, Buldožer served up an explosive mix of intellect, irony, sarcasm and utterly unique music to Slovenes and the Balkans alike. More than thirty years ago they were so radically different that they stunned critics and audiences. Their one-of-a-kind rock, packed with experiments, avant-garde explorations and goofing around, slowly but stubbornly knocked down everything in its path, winning over the ears and hearts of a growing circle of listeners. The 1975 debut “Pljuni istini u oči” was not only one of the most original records in Yugoslav rock, but in world rock too. It came out on the Belgrade label PGP RTB, which stopped pressing it for security reasons soon after it sold out. That’s why Buldožer switched to the label Helidon for their second record, “Zabranjeno plakatirati”.
It was great to see the crowd trickling in through the main entrance and, by 8 p.m., already packing Ljubljana’s Križanke pretty solidly! The forecourt… fantastic in the nice weather, and there was refreshment to be had too, of course, if you had the patience to wait in the middle of a “heave-ho” line. Buldožer should literally live up to their name! They should have bulldozed the venue (with all due respect to Mr. Plečnik), or at the very least built an extra exit, which Križanke badly needs. Did the gentlemen in charge really never ask themselves what would happen if a few thousand people had to leave the venue in a hurry?
Buldožer filled the stage in an expanded lineup made up of dr. Andrej Veble (bass), Dušan Vran – Cika (drums), Janez Zmazek – Žan (guitar), Borut Činč (keyboards), Boris Bele (vocals and guitar), Cole Moretti (vocals and percussion) and Miklavž Ašič (saxophone, vocals).
The guys confidently kicked off the concert, which ran well over two hours, with the song “Ne brini, mama”, stage-seasoned pros (what little Johnny learns, Johnny knows!). The years-long break didn’t show at all, and what’s more…the sound kept building and fully took shape by “Blues napuštenog psa”! They held on to that sonic image and complemented it with fantastic lighting. Križanke are famous for good acoustics, but that isn’t always true. I’ve heard plenty of bands at this venue with catastrophic sound. This time, though, Buldožer served up one of the better sounds, and one of the better performances, too. They played a string of legendary songs that kept even the uninitiated tapping their feet; they simply pulled us “in”. Well, to quote my colleague Aleš, there were also a few who stood stiffly still and greeted song after song with applause, “Japanese” style.
Buldožer bared their tightness for all to see: the rhythm section worked flawlessly, Borut ruled the keyboards, as always ready for anything…and Žan and Borut spiced it all up with interweaving guitars. One of the highlights was undoubtedly the song “Dobro jutro madame Jovanović”, which the late Frank Zappa would have happily joined Buldožer for.
A fun tidbit…guitarist Žan’s remark backstage before the encore:” Guys!!! I’m not going back on stage”! Naturally the band gave him a slightly odd look and asked what was wrong. “Nothing,” Žan answered, laughing, and added: “I’ve already played everything I know!”
Buldožer came back on stage and rang out the finale with
KO JEBE BULDOŽER!
Setlist
01.Ne brini mama
02.Helga
03.Yes my baby, no
04.Blues napuštenog psa
05.Jeste li videli djevojčice?
06.Smrt Morisona Džima
07.Karlo
08.Vojno lice
09.Blues gnjus
10.Šta to radiš, Buldožeru jedan?!
11.Slovenija
12.Jeftini slatkiši
13.Slovinjak punk
14.Odmah kaži da
15.Dobro jutro, Madame Jovanović
16.Doktore, pomozite
17.Novo vrijeme
18.Ko jebe Buldožer
19.Plesne cipele
20.Denarčke štejem
21.Mlad i vječan
22.Ja imam ritam
23.Šesnaest godina
24.Žene i muškarci
25.Ko jebe Buldožer
