Author: Aleš Podbrežnik
Location: Ljubljana / Orto bar // Slovenia
Concert date: 04.04.2013
Attendance: 150
Ticket price: €10.00
What would we do without Magnifico? There’d be no Da Phenomena! The world would be half as much fun. The world of music. The world of Slovenian “mainstream” music. And that very same Da Phenomena, who proved convincingly with two albums that this is a combo of two highly talented musicians with an excellent musical sixth sense for talking to each other, is back. Mate Brodar and Anže Petrovič Langus, rebranded as the »little Wimbish« of bass guitar, »Dagi.« The two of them last played at Orto bar almost exactly four years ago. And yes, back then too, Jure Rozman held down the rhythmic backdrop. In the meantime, Nula Kelvina happened, with whom Jure has already recorded two studio albums, and enough water has flowed under the bridge that »Dagi« and »Bro« started missing each other and decided to bring the duo back for new adventures.
»Bro« is still hot from promoting his freshly released solo effort »The Smoods,« while Dagi has lately been busy with Nana Milčinski’s musical projects. And then »Nov dan« arrived. A new single, new proof that Da Phenomena has really woken up. And more. A new album got announced. And with all that, a comeback show. At Orto Fest 2013!
The two of them dug in with everything they had. You could feel it in every second of the gig: they were bursting with the desire to once again taste that feeling only they know, of sharing a stage as Da Phenomena. Older, wiser and heavier (by a modest kilo or two), they kicked off the set seriously loud. Almost deafeningly loud (»Phenomena«). »Bro’s« Strat cut through the mix at full blast. Is a funk metal invasion brewing? (Your humble author promptly retreated to the front of the bar, to a safe distance, and found a more ear-friendly vibration.) Otherwise, all good and under control. Behind the mixing desk this time was the legendary 2.2.2.7. bassist Jani Mujič. Everything works as it should. Next up is »Nov dan.« New song. New single. After hearing it, it’s obvious the third album will be a tad more kick-ass. Well, let’s be surprised. »Nov dan« does carry hints of that. But let’s not jump to conclusions, certainly not premature ones.
The crowd hasn’t forgotten the duo’s mischievous vibe. Unlike the sorry turnout four years ago, also as part of Orto Fest, this time the audience dutifully packed Orto bar with 150 heads, showing that the duo had been missed these past few years. »Dagi« and »Bro« are oddballs in the sense that they come across as maximally positive the whole time. Everything is turned toward the positive. They have a kind of humor that can crack even the iciest heart and thaw it out. They’re contagious. Seriously contagious. And then come »In če hočeš,« »Punce – fantje,« superbly combined with a cover of John Mayer’s »Vultures,« then on to »Do sonca,« »Upam, da za vedno,« »Iznad neba,« the unavoidable »Jočem,« then »Skupaj sva,« »Rad te mam (ne dovolj)« and, right at the end, the absolute must-play »Nočem te nazaj.« In between there was room for fun cover versions, like Prince’s »Purple Rain« and/or a dub-wrapped take on The Police’s »Walking On The Moon.«
Rhythmically, the two of them have everything figured out. If the extremely precise man with the cannon-shot snare hit is Jure Rozman, then the claim that Da Phenomena has a doctorate in rhythmic figures is all the more justified. Although the Orto bar gig was first and foremost the band “feeling out” where they currently stand, how much and what still needs rehearsing and what needs building up so future shows work even better, the crowd, with excellent participation, proved that Da Phenomena can freely and carelessly surrender to the flow of the moment. The hits stayed anchored in people’s hearts. And even if a goof happens or some uncontrolled bit of sound sneaks into the stage execution of the songs, the crowd keeps the band going through the whole set in an »erectile position,« since they know the lyrics to the evergreen songs cold. And since girls make up the majority of their audience, it’s clear they remain aimed at the core of Slovenian “mainstream” music.
In short. The vibe of Da Phenomena’s signature musical hairdo shone! Clearly highlighted, precisely measured funk and disco rhythms, crowned with »Bro’s« instantly recognizable boyish vocal, sweetened with pop forms on one side, spiced with dub-reggae and even crunchy rock riffs on the other. Everything is in its place. The occasional escalations of an especially addictive hybrid nature that sneak into the Da Phenomena story “from the background” naturally smelled of funk fused with metal. Da Phenomena remain in the thick of it. A really nice gig, goofily seasoned and full of great vibes, that just wouldn’t end. These two could have kept playing and playing. And playing. Well past midnight. There was even a visit from the boys in blue, but that doesn’t fit into rock ‘n’ roll anymore, does it?
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