After a week of NSK events in Dublin as part of the EU expansion celebrations it was Laibach's task to bring NSK Dublin to a close. The venue for Laibach's first ever concert in Ireland was the Temple Bar Music Centre located in Dublin's trendiest and most vibrant area of the city. Temple Bar has developed into something of a cultural centre where most of the venues for NSK Dublin were located. Cobbled streets saturated with pubs and restaurants including the Stag's Head which became a focal point for many NSK fans with it's distinctive NSK related symbol fitting proudly above the bar. The area looked very lively and bustling with people though some of this may have something to do with the recent smoking ban sending smokers outside to smoke. Many were outside the concert venue preparing for a couple of hours without their cigarettes. Laibach's promotional posters were very noticeable on the venues' display boards. Inside there was a limited selection of Laibach merchandise on sale with the highlight being the red black Laibach tie similar to the black silver version a few years earlier; it would be good if they do a blue version.

There was a good turnout for the gig with quite a large number from UK, Europe and beyond, most were mainly drawn by the NSK Dublin event; in particular it suited many from the UK where travel to Dublin could actually be quicker and cheaper than it is to London.

Having seen WAT tour earlier last year I had a pretty good idea what to expect, still there was excitement and great anticipation of what was to come as we waited. Indications that the concert would soon be starting came via Strauss's Blue Danube playing out loud from the stage. As soon as it ended the band walked out onto the stage and B Mashina began the set starting with its slow ominous tone before crashing into the ending chorus. Next Laibach played a number of tracks from the Nato album ending with Mars on the River Drina where Milan leaves the stage, returning at the end to launch into God is God. Tanz mit Laibach starts up and the two girl drummers Eva and Natasha marched into position to deliver the pounding beats of the single which has clearly become a crowd favourite, with sections towards the front bouncing enthusiastically along to the forceful rhythm. The performance continued with the material from WAT, the highlight for me being WAT, Hell: Symmetry and Das Spiel Ist Aus. The WAT album in general works very well live with its forceful militant techno nicely compounded in the aesthetics of Laibach's stage set-up. Almost everything involved in the performance has been designed in the Laibach style, which still retains the strong totalitarian influence, if anything it has actually been toned up from the previous JCS period. It adds to Laibach's uniqueness and the live performances gain an increased intensity that makes their concerts such an incredible experience. Oddly it's the two girl drummers that are playing the major role in maintaining Laibach's steely totalitarian image compared to the more subtle approach by the rest of the band. Milan however continues the usual but distinctive and captivating stage persona, still best described as a cross between a high priest and a flamboyant dictator. He appeared to be throwing himself right into this particular performance and his voice was in great form. The crowd responded enthusiastically with some at the front going a bit wild and a few others attempting to sing along even if some of it was in German.

The fabulous WAT track ended the show and we now waited for the encore. The band soon returned; the girl drummers had ditched the hats and freed their hair from the pigtails though they seem to struggle with it as they delivered the more frantic drumming required for Anti Semitism; definitely looked more glamorous at the start than the end. Anti Semitism is one of the best tracks on WAT and it's even better live, this particular track brings together some of Laibach's best elements resulting in a more aggressive and pacy style reminiscent of Laibach's industrial era; the live effect especially the loudness, increases its power and impact. Final song of the night was Sympathy for the Devil one of only two songs not to feature from the albums of Nato or WAT and certainly a good choice to round off the concert. And that was it, the end of the concert and the end of NSK Dublin. The band acknowledged the applause from the audience as Zeta Reticula played through the sound system and then left the stage. It was a great performance from Laibach and the perfect ending to NSK Dublin.

      


Live Reviews       Home       E-mail: dhc3945@hotmail.com