Location: Ljubljana / Cvetličarna Mediapark
Concert date: 05/23/2007
Attendance: 400
Ticket price: 18 €
As part of the Limited Edition concert series at Ljubljana’s Cvetličarna Mediapark, we got another “unplugged” show, this time with Massimo Savić, an outstanding Croatian songwriter, performer, interpreter and vocalist.
Massimo was backed by his well-oiled band: Željko Romac – guitars, Saša Ismailovski – keyboards, Marko Matošević – drums, Dalibor Matošević – guitar, Luka Veselinović – double bass.
Since the release of his latest record “Vještina II” last year, Massimo and the crew have been pretty much constantly on tour. Before last night’s gig in Ljubljana, I’d already caught two from this run (Grosuplje and Zagreb), and I have to say he surprises every single time, always in a good way and always in that special way that’s all his own.
If anyone was wondering beforehand what this one would be like, I think all of us who were there came away agreeing it was fantastic. Everything, from the technical side (sound, lights, etc.) to the whole organization of the event (getting in, the offer at the venue, etc.) and the performance itself, was (as always with Massimo) excellent.
Even though Massimo’s voice gave him some trouble at moments, the crowd (about 400 people) didn’t complain and preferred to sing along on their own in those moments. The audience was mostly between 30 and 45, mainly couples, and, despite my fairly high expectations, they showed and proved to Massimo and the band that they know all the lyrics inside out.
The setlist was varied and interesting. Massimo sang us songs from all of his records (Loše vino, Odjednom ti, Da mogu, Pristao sam bit ću sve što hoće, Tu na mojim rukama, Karta devera, Gracija, Stranac u noči, Odjednom ti,…), plus a few from his Dorian Gray days (Sjaj u tami, Za tvoje oči), which the crowd received brilliantly. He also took on a medley of Sinatra songs (I’ve got you under my skin, Fly me to the Moon) and invited Zoran Predin on as a guest. Zoran joined him for Massimo’s cover of Zoran’s song “Pridi k meni” (from the album Žarnica za boljši jutri, 2005), titled “O mladom studentu i udanoj ženi” in Croatian, which is set to come out in Slovenia in June (it’s already out in Croatia). Just for the record, this is Zoran’s album where Croatian artists (besides Massimo, also Gibonni, E.N.I., Aki Rahimovski, Arsen Dedić,…) sing Predin’s songs in Croatian.
The two-hour set flew by way too fast. Massimo led the crowd through a little history of the best moments of ex-Yugoslav pop. And after the show, the real party was only just getting started …
Photo: Miro Majcen
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