Venue: Sub Sub, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Concert date: 19.05.2009
Attendance: 0
Empty gigs have become an increasingly nagging problem lately, and it has now hit French Latin-ska-punk-rock outfit Mala Suerte too. The eight-piece, who are spending May and June on a short tour of Slovenia and neighboring Croatia, played Ljubljana’s Sub Sub club on Wednesday, May 20. Despite the sad fact that their set kicked off a little before midnight in front of fewer than two dozen people, JJ (vocals, guitar), Olivier (bass guitar), Vincent (drums), Arnaud (trumpet, bass tuba), Luc (trombone, tuba, vocals), Philippe (trumpet, vocals), Jérôme (saxophone, percussion, timbales) and Audrey (vocals) gave more than anyone could have expected from them under the circumstances. Since the idea of repeating last year’s hugely successful shows in Kamnik and Postojna fell through, this gig can at least be seen as a successful public rehearsal.
The band, formed in Strasbourg in 1997, are big fans of Latin rhythms, so it’s no surprise that most of their songs are in Spanish. After two EPs, “Hay Olor A Sangre” (1998) and “Toma El Sol” (2000), they only got around to releasing their debut album “El Senor Del Mundo” in 2006, packed with fourteen colorful, varied and above all upbeat tracks. Ska-P, Mano Negra, The Ramones and Sex Pistols definitely help the cause, with their influences clearly audible in the songs. There’s no doubt the same will go for the upcoming record, which is due out next year. Despite the dismal turnout, Mala Suerte gave it everything at Sub Sub. After all, an energetic, in-your-face live show is exactly what they pride themselves on. So we got to hear their best-known songs, such as “Borracho”, “El Senor Del Mundo”, “Esperando”, “Porque Te Vas?”, “Noche de Verano”, “Que Paso”, “Loco del Bario”, “Mi Tierra” and “Chupa Me”.
Mala Suerte didn’t hide their disappointment, but they didn’t let it get to them either. What’s more, they turned the whole thing to their advantage, played that so-called public rehearsal and even joked about the crowd. Even though very few people showed up, the response was solid. With every song the brakes came off a little more, and soon the handful of most enthusiastic folks got caught up in a proper little party, which put a visible smile on JJ’s face.
So what’s to blame for the poor turnout? A free concert at the end of the “Majske igre”? The recession? Or simply a lack of ear for quality rock music? Until the next, better-attended Mala Suerte gig …
Photos: Mojca Perdih
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