Location: Medvode / MC Jedro / Slovenia
Date: Saturday, 23.03.2013
Adi Smolar! When Adi Smolar is announced on a concert bill, it’s a Saturday, and the gig is close to where you live, there’s no way you’re not spicing up your weekend! The Medvode club MC Jedro hosted two acts that don’t have much in common musically. They’re even on opposite sides of the gender divide. Hellcats on one side, Adi Smolar and his Mestni postopači on the other. A combo that was supposed to guarantee a decent turnout either way.
Shortly after half past nine in the evening, the hot cats stormed the stage to warm up the town nestled in a snowstorm between the Sora and the Sava. Just as expected. Plug in, full throttle from the first note, and the devil goes straight on the spit. The girls did their job exactly as you’d hope. The gigs come in handy for them, since they’re breaking in new singer Ajda, who’s a nice addition to the band! The main thing is that Ajda gets a full feel for the band as soon as possible and that the band locks in the bonds that will help Hellcats grow. Once again it was the classic foursome of originals Steelrider, Heavy Metal, Vladar noči and Hellcats, plus agility in using every inch of the available stage, and without any big effort the girls managed to entertain some 60 onlookers. Let’s be honest. Hellcats remain an attraction. No matter what. We’re waiting for the first studio release. An EP at the very least. It’s about time.
Adi Smolar is a different story. The man, known for his breadth, his depth and an innate knack for sneaking so gratefully, almost unnoticed, into the heart of the little guy with his sharp-tongued sermonizing, ran into a slightly ungrateful situation. The turnout wasn’t anything special. Adi kicked off the show with Mestni postopači harmonica player Damir Jazbec, with one of the most beautiful songs in the repertoire, »Daleč daleč je za naju pomlad«. The idea was to wake the audience up and draw it closer to the stage… A great move. He ran the first part of the concert completely alone on stage, in true singer-songwriter style. Among others, Na travniku, Svinja pijana, Rolica followed… Outstanding charisma, a gorgeous, low, warmly caressing voice with a strong, supportive note of resolve and self-confidence running through it. All of it bathed in positive vibes. In his banter, that is, between songs, Adi likes to transform into a preacher, handing out advice and warning about life’s pitfalls. He goes about it in a way that hypnotically sucks you into the world of his thoughts and associations, as if you’d landed in a parallel storytelling variety show hosted by a seasoned fairy-tale spinner.
The show jumped to a higher level when Mestni postopači joined him on stage. Without much effort, Adi got the crowd going in the last third of the concert, and it went wild singing along to the classics Jaz sem nor, Bog ne daj, Je treba delat, Tagada, Jean Claude Van Damme, Zlo počas, Neprilagojen, Povšetova. Ko te prime, Prostitutka and Gospa natakar’ca were all in the set, as were songs from the current studio album »Se počasi daleč pride« (2011): Prijateljstvo, Opozicija, Če te ona noče, te pa druga hoče, Bav, bav, Življenje se konča, Kako je bit sam, Dnevi so kratki (Noči pa dolge), Ne gre, ne gre.
Adi remains Adi. The man, who turns a fine 54 on 25.03.2013, is immune to the tooth of time. Maybe the tooth of the glass gets at him once in a while, but the tooth of time can’t touch him! A brilliant and one-of-a-kind performer who, in all the grayness of these leaden times, understands the troubles of the little guy, knows how to lift you up, carry you out of despair, and show you the point of defiance. No coddling, no sweet talk! Like quite a few Adi Smolar gigs, the Medvode one lived up to expectations. It filled us with energy. Adi Smolar concerts are simply known as energy generators! His concert is an event that gives you wings, lifts you up, infects you with optimism. At the core of that unique performance, of course, was the heartfelt delivery of the artist’s poetry and its powerful message, which was by no means missing. Happy birthday for your 54th, Adi!
author: Aleš Podbrežnik
photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
