Venue: Studio 14/Radio Slovenija/Ljubljana
Concert date: 10.03.2008
Attendance: 60
Ticket price: 0
What is there left to say about someone like Tomaž Domicelj? I think he describes himself pretty well through his music and his humor, so there’s no need for me to ramble on about his significance and his achievements. A man who can stay on the scene for more than forty years and keep his sense of humor and, to a degree, his modesty, absolutely deserves attention and respect. Tomaž organized the concert at RTV Slovenija’s Studio 14 to celebrate his sixtieth birthday with his friends, colleagues and listeners.
The special night was hosted by Dragan Bulič, who knows practically every big (read: well-known) Slovenian musician. It got a bit awkward when he got his facts about Tomaž wrong quite a few times. You’d think someone of his caliber and reputation wouldn’t make mistakes like that and would prepare better for a concert. But it all came off as funny anyway, since Dragan and Tomaž are good friends and Tomaž kept stubbornly correcting him. You could also say it all felt more spontaneous and less rehearsed. And whenever Mr. Bulič wasn’t asking questions, we were treated to Domicelj’s outstanding stage presence, with his dry, biting humor always keeping everyone in good spirits.
Tomaž put music from his whole career into the set, from the beginnings in 1967 all the way to the more recent period and independent Slovenia. He clearly couldn’t care less whether he’s playing old songs or new ones. They all sounded equally convincing. But it wasn’t only Tomaž Domicelj’s own music we heard. Every now and then we also got songs Domicelj had a hand in creating that aren’t on any of his albums. That’s how we got to hear Jan Plestenjak, Neda Ukraden, Alfi Nipič and a few others. The birthday boy has worked with so many musicians already that it’s not even worth listing them.
I think Mr. Domicelj is also a bit underrated as a guitarist. You may not hear any crazy solos or anything that takes your breath away, but his playing is above average for this genre and for this kind of music. The melodies flow, and there are no big blunders. Of course, his most important instrument is his raspy voice, which almost every Slovenian, young or old, knows more or less by heart. The reason people don’t like Tomaž usually lies in that very voice, which has a negative effect on some listeners. Personally, I’ve always liked oddballs, and so it is with Tomaž, though I totally understand people who don’t share my opinion. In that sense I could probably compare him to Bob Dylan, whose vocals are also the subject of plenty of debate. And the similarities don’t end there. Just like Dylan, Domicelj has always been known for his love of the harmonica, which is his solo instrument.
Those of us who came to the concert didn’t just enjoy great music. Tomaž also made sure the audience got some treats. There were three kinds of cake and champagne on offer. The birthday boy had clearly thought of everything. Even if someone didn’t like the music, they’d still have left happy, since they got food and drink and could go home with a full belly.
Sixty Years of Tomaž Domicelj was undoubtedly a successful event for me, one that deserved a bit more attention. Still, there was quite a decent crowd. Plenty of people stayed right to the end, though I only have others’ word for that, since I didn’t make it to the end myself (some of us are at an age where sleep wins out quickly). It’s very likely that Tomaž Domicelj hasn’t said everything he has to say yet, and that we’ll be able to watch him on Slovenian and European stages for many more years. If he keeps even some of the energy he has now, there’s nothing to worry about.
Text: Rok Podgrajšek
Photos: Jani Lah
