Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Ljubljana / Orto bar / Slovenia
Concert date: April 18, 2016
Attendance: 80
Ticket price: €10.00
Sausages became a kind of »house fixture« at Ortofest a good while back. Last year they closed the festival; this year the program slotted them somewhere in the middle. The clock had already tilted hard toward ten in the evening and nothing much was going on around the place yet. The band still had to hit the stage, though. But that’s how it always is lately. The crowd parks itself at the bar or puffs on cigarettes somewhere out front, then rushes the stage once the show actually kicks off. This time too, they only poured in after the stage came alive. The band opened with their latest achievement, the rearranged song Poletna, where the guys successfully worked in accordion arrangements, played by Marko Hatlak. Marko had actually been invited to join the band as a special guest on stage, but had to cancel because of other commitments. This gig was where the band presented the compilation »Luni Tuns«, 19 classic songs from their catalog that Sausages re-recorded and released themselves. And of course it includes the aforementioned refreshed version of Poletna.
Anyway. The band, known for being thoroughly well-oiled in every joint, surprised right from the start by seating Breščanski behind the drums! That was a bigger surprise than the opening blues backdrop, which about a third of the way through brought Buco to the stage. He grabbed the mic, thundered in his manly voice and delivered the mocking number Buco Bluz. After that, Goran and Buco naturally swapped positions. Sausages showed up at this gig in a slightly altered lineup. Maco (Helmut Frangeš) wasn’t on stage because of an extremely unfortunate turn of events that the rock-solid guitarist is going through right now (a stroke). His boots were filled by Matjaž Marin, a seasoned guitarist who spent a fair stretch of time playing for Requiem and now plays with the Billys. In short, a young guy with a solidly built guitar approach.
So as not to overcomplicate things, dodge around, or make your life miserable, let’s say right off the bat that Sausages are still prime live bait, and unwary girls (and ladies too) keep getting hooked on it. Despite Maco’s absence, Matjaž showed, especially later on, once he warmed up and the initial tension in his fingers eased, that he’s made of the right stuff and that Sausages can count on him at any moment. At least until Maco gets back on his feet. Besides, there’s no need to spin up a theory of relativity here. The band remains incredibly convincing live. Their brazen version of rock’n’roll, generously soaked in blues, was once again served with instant swagger and seduction. Some 80 people packed into the room, half of them women, and many of them »lost their heads« and, as a result, a few spare rags too, as they shamelessly gave themselves up to the sounds and vibrations of the rock »intoxication« pouring off the stage. Goran Breščanski remains good old Goran. With that mischievous scamp attitude. His slightly nasal vocal, through which the »Ljubljana slang« rings out, brought the lucidity of the lyrics to life, along with that caustic, biting black humor that keeps you laughing nonstop. That remains a defining, absolutely mandatory ingredient of Sausages rock’n’roll.
For the song Ninam moči, the band invited Blaž Črnivec on stage, the guitarist of Rok ‘N’ Bend, who wrote a piece of Sausages history in the band’s early days and picked up Marin’s white Stratocaster for this song. Otherwise, as mentioned: a great show. As for charisma, the lineup is run, of course, by Breščanski, Buco and, a must, Čule. Buco absolutely exploded on the drums. With Hamo & Tribute to Love, he has to watch it just a little so it doesn’t get too loud, but with Sausages he lays in with everything he’s got. As much as possible, anyway. And he’s unbelievably precise in everything he does. His rolls remain flawless. Janez (Retro Kult) fit into the crew perfectly. It’s lovely to watch a Rickenbacker bass in the hands of a young guy. There’s still hope for the younger generation. No point wasting words on Čule. At the end he blew us away again with an extended solo flourish in the outro of the Lynard Skynard classic Free Bird. His fat Gibson sound and Marin’s »softer« Stratocaster sound built a juicy backdrop of guitar phrases that drives the high-octane adrenaline payoff of the band’s rock’n’roll.
As I said. A Sausages gig anywhere near you? An absolute must and a sin-worthy encounter. The men who stay true to the basic paradigm of rock’n’roll are the very same men who have unraveled all of its secrets, and the men who carry you off into the world of rock’n’roll with fire and heart. That, for a seasoned band,
Setlist
1. Buco bluz
2. Na pomoč
3. Cerkev
4. Garaža
5. Se ti laže
6. Denzi
7. Brezvezna veza
8. Ulegu z njo
9. Spal bom cel dan
10. Sama doma
11. Zafuranc
12. Izlet
13. Dolga pot
14. Poglej se v oči
15. Ne bo me več
16. Dost mam
17. Nkol počas
18. Ženska
19. Dej pel
20. Nimam moči
21. To mi deli
—encore—
22. Požgt te v rt
23. Free Bird
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