We’re lucky that the live music scene is at least barely alive right now, even if it’s just scraps of what a normal gig calendar looks like. The damage that the coronavirus pandemic (and the complete inaction of those in charge) has left — and continues to leave — behind is catastrophic. This year we’ve already lost all the summer festivals, Winter Days of Metal has sadly called it quits for good, and the outlook is anything but bright. But enough doom and gloom — let me just say sincerely that I hope organizers, bands, and everyone else working in this space make it through the crisis with as little collateral damage as possible. The audience will do its part wherever it can, which was plain to see at this well-attended fourth post-corona open-air show put on by the Dirty Skunks, featuring Dickless Tracy and Morywa.
At first glance it seemed like a slightly odd call to have the veterans from Brežice, Dickless Tracy, take the stage first. Compared to Morywa they’ve got a considerably longer career behind them — a full 23 years, no breaks! — along with a pile of studio and non-studio releases. Whatever the reasoning, the trio called up a grind storm over the Gala hala outdoor stage right at eight o’clock (unlike previous editions, this one at least stayed dry from above) and didn’t let up for the better part of three quarters of an hour. Despite the sound being a touch quiet, it was wonderful to finally see and hear a proper dose of Dickless Tracy-school grind again after a longer absence. The tight, brutal performance came complete with Cepot’s trademark wisecracks, a run through classics like The Curse of Michael Myers and They Killed Kenny, a crusher or two from the still-current Paroxysm of Disgust, and a send-off with the cult, authority-dedicated Štrajk prašičev. Ugh!
Right at nine o’clock the second band of the evening hit the stage — the Styrian djentlemen, Morywa. After a few lineup changes a year or two back the band tightened up and has been looking better than ever, which they proved again here. It was immediately obvious why Morywa closed the night: the rumble of eight-string guitars, repetitive patterns, deep grooves, and fierce vocals hit even harder and fuller with the backdrop of an intense light show — something that would’ve just been mosquito bait in daylight. In just under an hour Morywa reminded us that a follow-up to their debut is coming soon (and finally!), heralded by the single The Successor, which was of course played live. The guys also won the crowd over with superb stage energy that spilled out into the pit, sparking more movement and even a crowd surf or two. The execution was at a very high level across the board, and those massive, fat riffs were still buzzing in your ears all the way home. Here’s hoping that the concert series the Dirty Skunks have been putting on at the Gala hala outdoor stage is just the opening act for a full revival of the live scene.
Photos: Nina Grad
