Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Photos: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Kamnik / MC Kotlovnica
Concert date: 18.05.2013
Attendance: 60
Ticket price: €0.00 (free admission)
Deck Janiels! A band that builds on the legacy of the rock n’ roll onslaught, the primordial bulk of the AC/DC riff, flirts with biker culture, and gets that rock and booze are blood brothers. They’re no longer a stranger in the Slovenian music-and-entertainment playground. And yet, over roughly four years of existence they mostly kept quiet, building up their first full-length original document. Then all of a sudden, with zero pomp, they burst into the open with it! The only proper way to do it. »First the barn, then the cow,« as the old biblical patriarchs like to say. “On the Rocks” is the name they gave their cornerstone!
The warm-up act was Ljubljana’s Retro Kult. As the name itself suggests, Retro Kult are a kind of heavy / hard rock revivalist outfit who love to look back at the legacy of bands from the era when hard rock was still growing. Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Guns’ N Roses, AC/DC, that’s roughly what they try to strike sparks from with their own riffs, which this time echoed into the night in the middle of Kamnik’s Kotlovnica. Maybe not the band’s most successful performance, especially compared with the one this February in Kranj, but still exemplary in every way and with good prospects for the future. The reserved feel and the lack of any real urge to shake their mojo came down to the atmosphere in Kotlovnica itself. Sadly, it was “orphaned” and yawning with emptiness. Almost nobody in the room. On top of that, once again that big pillar that ruthlessly “splits” the view of the stage into left and right. In short. This time more of a lark than a full-commitment effort from Retro Kult, though sadly I didn’t manage to catch their joint gig a few days earlier on the stage of Ljubljana’s Cirkus, so it wouldn’t be fair to the band to jump to conclusions about their true stage form.
Deck Janiels served up a show made of slightly different dough. They hit it full throttle. They radiated an energy that said the band is burning with a clear desire to prove themselves, to deliver one hell of a party! Mostly thanks to singer Tine Žnidaršič in a biker jumpsuit, who let loose an opening, almost butcher-like scream – one that for a moment even conjured the shock theater of the beastly figure of Milan Krušič (ex-Lene kosti, Dr. Evil). An explosive, authoritative performance charged with naughtiness and a nudge toward temptation. To the singer’s left stood the hugely good-humored guitarist Mitja Groznik – Mito, who whipped his long mane around wildly the whole gig, one foot planted on the right monitor as if he were pressing a pedal to the floor! The band played the debut »On The Rocks« in its entirety. As expected, the show leaned a fair bit on the evergreen elemental power of AC/DC-brand riffs, and Tine even pointed out that he has no trouble bringing his vocals close to his eminence »the Iron Chancellor«, the one and only Lemmy Kilmister (Motörhead). In short. Nailed on the first take, no »cheating«! Direct, with a full payoff of authentic rock n’ roll energy and potency, pumped through the veins by a surplus of testosterone!
The picture in the room was a touch different too. The crowd, which had only trickled in up front, showed far more spark in return, fueled by the band’s caustic rock n’ roll stature and voice! The cheerful mood in Kotlovnica was also kept up by three hot girls swaying cutely, who stirred up the air at the far right of the stage with their wiggling, statuesque figures while helping Tine out with backing vocal harmonies. An excellent addition to the gig. An excellent upgrade to the comedy-show side of things and one more proof of the band’s mischievous rock n’ roll face. What kind of mischievous? Shamelessly pouty. Deck Janiels? A band born for the stage of biker rallies. Confident, focused, with full balls. Let’s hope they ripen further and grow into their rock n’ roll punchiness. Even though Deck Janiels aren’t uncovering a musical revolution in anything, they handed over their rock n’ roll ID card in a glow of big-heartedness. And don’t worry. »On The Rocks« is an album that will automatically stiffen certain parts of your body.
Setlist
RETRO KULT:
1. Intro
2. Rising Sword
3. Deadly Love
4. Sometimes
5. Snake
6. Peku in raj
7. Simple Man
8. Tobacco Sky
9. My Love Remains
10. Rock ‘N’ Roll
DECK JANIELS:
1. Road Rage
2. Last Days Of Paradise
3. The One And Only
4. Dirty Honey
5. Mom Bouncher
6. Jack N’ Beer
7. She
8. Only My Mind
9. Where Will You Go?
10. Rock The Ground
Photo Gallery
