Location: Orto Bar / Ljubljana / Slovenia
Concert date: 01.04.2008
Attendance: 40
Ticket price: 5,00€
As we know, Orto Bar is pretty much the last stronghold of everything that sounds a little heavier and doesn’t show up on TV every day. On top of flying the flag for rock all year round, Orto also throws its well-known month-long alternative festival, Orto fest, every year, and with its colorful, varied lineup it will once again thrill plenty of alt fans this year. This year, the third night of Orto fest was all about stoner rock, and the turnout matched, considering that stoner is one of the least commercially minded genres out there. But thanks to the small crowd, the gig was really intimate, which in its own way made it that much more special.
The first surprise of the night was local stoner rock trio Astrid Lindgren, who, despite a very shy performance, served up plenty of slow grooves, prominent bass lines and two vocalists. Unfortunately the hall was almost empty when their set began, which may be exactly why the show felt a bit reserved and why there was so little communication between the band and the crowd. But despite the thin audience, the guys stuck to their half-hour set, which had very basic drum rhythms, no long transitions and no overuse of cymbals. The mid-tempo stoner pace was dictated not only by the drums but also by the bass, which you could hear and pick out through the whole set. That’s pretty much mandatory in this genre, since the music is built on heavy low tones and so conjures up a mood of apathy and melancholic numbness. The lead vocals stood out the most, at times coming across as really unconvincing and a bit plastic. They lacked the authenticity that’s typical of this music, sounding very unemotional and somewhat forced, especially when the bassist joined in on vocals. The guitar sounds, on the other hand, were all the better, at times downright classic and at times very experimental and unusual.
In short, Astrid Lindgren delivered a 30-minute set that would get a lot of alternative rockers on their feet, along with plenty of the more melancholic souls. Technically speaking they use a basic rhythm and not overly demanding guitar work; their music is simple and not exhausting to listen to. I’d really recommend checking them out to anyone who feels close to the dark sounds of the alternative stoner rock scene.
The local act Astrid Lindgren was followed by Croatia’s Good Day To Die, who, as it turned out, did a great job presenting their latest album Hazing Through Shadows.
Their show started in a fairly unusual way, since they kicked off with a blues number and with an incomplete lineup, but soon the familiar melodies of Crush The Skies came pouring out of the speakers, a song the band itself figures has the most potential, which is why they shot a video for it.
It was clear right away that the guys were well prepared for the tour, though this was their first gig on it, so they were still fresh. Their set included almost the whole new album, and as a bonus they also played two slightly older songs that slotted nicely into the existing material.
Technically speaking, Good Day To Day were a real treat. They’ve got a great command of their instruments and a precision that’s crucial in slower music, where every mistake can be heard. They also brought a very energetic, relaxed stage presence, and there was no shortage of communication with the crowd, which was sorely missed during Astrid Lindgren. The atmosphere shifted from moment to moment, and so did the tempo and rhythm coming off the stage. The guys proved live that they’re very musically well-read, because their music is infused with all kinds of elements and styles, which takes a pretty big stock of musical capital. It’s also worth praising that as a band they feel fresh and never come across as a bad copy of world-famous acts like Queen of the stone age, which sadly isn’t a rare thing.
They also played the most ambient song, The Path of The Cross, live, and even without the speeches by Josip Broz Tito and Franjo Tuđman it came off very emotional and was without a doubt the peak of the show, at least when it comes to energy.
In short, a phenomenal performance by real Stoners who don’t sweat their own genre label and would rather devote themselves to the music, the thing they’re damn good at.
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Text: Matevž Ftičar
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