Location: Prešernov trg / Ljubljana / Slovenia
Concert date: 26.12.2006
Attendance: 6
Ticket price: 0,00 SIT
First off, I have to apologize to all the other bands on the bill, like Leaf – Fat, Tide and Naio SSaion, who probably pulled in a good chunk of the crowd, especially the more “music”-minded folks. But the truth is that the mob gathered under Uncle Prešeren was there to party, and mostly because of Siddharta. I saw and heard Siddharta, so it’s on me to write something about it. Thankless job, don’t you think?
My guy and I showed up a bit before ten, and I saw what I already knew: this Wednesday was going to belong to Siddharta. I mean, if the boys can fill a stadium you can only get into with money, how were the little Slovenes ever going to resist free Siddharta, and right in the cheerful spirit of Veseli december! And there were a lot of those little Slovenes. They straight-up overfilled the center of Ljubljana. First came the agony of getting to the bar. Gig or no gig, a bit of hot mulled wine always hits the spot. If anyone thought that was an easy mission, think again. And Siddharta or no Siddharta, the little Slovenes probably get hit harder by booze. Before you got to your drink, there was a loooong line of thirsty souls waiting for you. And once you finally got what you wanted, there was the shoving match to get back to your spot. And because, heaven forbid, you grabbed more wine rather than less (who knew when your turn would come again?), you cursed your mom and a few uncles along the way and ended up offering everybody glasses that were only half full, since most of it had gone merrily streaming down my hands and onto a jacket or two. Ugh! But let’s leave that. When Tomi and his gang came on, the little Slovenes woke up. No two ways about it, Siddharta are a “folk-ified” band now. Everybody knows them, which unfortunately I can’t say about the bands that played before them that night. Folk-ified and therefore commercial. Smart, too, because this Saturday they put together a hefty mix from all four of their records. People went nuts during B Mašina, sang almost the whole of Samo edini by themselves, cried to Platina and danced to Ring. Yep, they know how to do it, and they showed us well that they’re masters of their genre, even if plenty of people doubt it. Why the doubts? Because they’ve become too commercial, and who even believes in the commercial anymore? But I did spot a doubter or two who at least tapped their feet and quietly sang along to Pot v X. I admit it, I fall for the feeling. And that feeling is what Siddharta made and showed us on the last Wednesday of the year. I just fall for a sea of heads happily following the singer and letting go (well, Atomik Harmonik not so much!). And Tomi has that down. A good two hours of their best songs and the crowd was euphoric
I’m not saying I’m a fan of theirs, not at all. But I still remember the young guys with their first record Id and what I think is their best song, Indija. Back then they were still unknown and way more appreciated than today (to be honest, do you really like them that much?).
I saw them live for the first time. And I’d bet that every one of you has been to one of their gigs at least once. Does that tell you anything? That we little Slovenes and Siddharta have gone very folk-ified.
Setlist
1. Mr. Q
2. Pot v X
3. Plastika
4. Napoj
5. Klinik
6. Ohm
7. T.H.O.R.
8. Domine
9. Samo edini
10. Neon
11. Homo carnula
12. B Mashina
13. Disco Deluxe
14. Rooskie
15. Brezokoff
16. Il a Modras
17. Neznano
18. Platina
19. Ring
20. Rave
21. Male roke
—encore—
22. Od višine se zvrti
23. Apokalipsa
24. Gnan
25. Tria
26. Na soncu
