Location: Ljubljana / Celica / Slovenia
Concert date: 14.12.2007
Attendance: 20
Ticket price: free entry
Friday nights spent in the cold embrace of the autonomous zone of Ljubljana’s alternative scene, a.k.a. Metelkova, haven’t been part of my regular weekend routine for a long time, but last night I still decided to visit this hangout, which is by now way too crowded with youngsters who are more or less desperate hatchlings looking for “unforgettable” booze-soaked adventures. Celica, a hostel that’s hugely popular with foreign visitors to our beautiful capital, was hosting a gig by an interesting trio called Blues On. The trio, made up of two very funny-looking old dudes and one slightly more scared-looking lady, had plenty to say, so much and so interesting, in fact, that by half past eight in the evening about twenty of us had gathered, a bunch of randomly assembled drop-ins who witnessed a seriously colorful evening of music.
Blues On have only been playing as a trio for about a year, but according to the assurances of the undisputed bandleader Peter Pock, this is an extremely disciplined and experienced crew of musicians who spent many years honing their craft in various bands, both at home and abroad! The situation naturally calls for a thorough look into the background of these bold claims, which soon proved to be very true indeed. This is without a doubt a unique approach to musical expression, a kind of primal exploration of old motifs, sniffing around the roots in a proper unplugged style that demands a heaping dose of control, heart and, in the end, self-confidence from the performer. Blues On aren’t really setting out to discover some revolutionary redefinition of musical history, and that’s absolutely fine. But the trio is fully aware of its debt to the legacy of giants like Jimmie Cox or Sandy Denny, which you can ultimately feel in the way they express themselves.
Peter’s crew split Friday’s visit to Celica into two very different parts, the first filled mostly with covers and the second with a stronger focus on original material. The evening went by in a laid-back stroll through country and blues waters, ruled throughout by the crystal-clear slide of Pock’s guitar. Peter Pock is a brave man. Comfortably settled amid a tangle of audiophile gadgets, and no doubt emboldened by a glass of beer, he took on more and less familiar songs with confidence, and under the watchful baton of “big Pete” they always gave us plenty of reasons to be happy. In such a cozy setting, we gladly listened to heartfelt renditions of Cox’s Nobody Knows You When Your Down And Out, the traditional tune Going Down This Road Feeling Bad and, especially, the hilariously delivered Action Man, which brimmed over with a humorous take on all kinds of musical approaches. Beyond the harmonious guitar strumming, steeped in the aroma of the American South and with the slide dancing front and center, one of the band’s main strengths is also their multi-voice vocals, which, thanks mainly to their contrasting colors, add a pinch of much-needed freshness to dusty musical motifs.
The evening flew by too fast. With their distinctive performance, Blues On won over every single person at last night’s musical excursion into the musical past. A very welcome experience, and a more than tasteful journey over a glass of red wine and the seductive pull of acoustic music, which I recommend to every true lover of quality acoustic sounds!
Text: Daniel Pavlica
Setlist
1.Nobody Knows You When Your Down And Out 2.My Walkin’ Shues Dont Fit Me Anymore 3.Nine Pound Hammer 4.Action Man 5.Im Going Down This Road Feeling Bad 6.Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor 7.Big River Blues 8.House Of The Rising Sun 9.Mama Mi Ne Pusti
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