The Long Awaited Return

After ten years Laibach were finally returning to Glasgow, in fact they were actually playing at the QMU of Glasgow University where the Unofficial Laibach site is hosted; very convenient for someone usually trailing all the way down to London. However I was running a little late and as I was getting frisked to enter I took in the bizarre sight of the band walking past in a line with their musical instruments and black uniforms. Inside Ivan was already in position up in the balcony and about to start the film projection. Having just entered I was not really sure about the music that was playing to an end. The musicians of band appeared on stage and B Mashina soon started, as it got going Milan entered in time to sing. The stage was quite wide with plenty of room for the band, it was certainly a much better venue than the previous Glasgow gig way back in 94. On stage tonight was Roman Decman playing the drums, guitarists Nikola Sekulovic and Matej Mršnik, then of course Milan Fras and appearing a few songs later the girl drummers Eva Breznikar and Nataša Regovec. Unfortunately Dejan was not present due to resting at home back in Slovenia having taking ill earlier during the North American tour.
There was around 500 attending and it filled the main area generating a good atmosphere. Laibach had been touring for a while and they were nearing the end of a long two-leg tour, which started in the USA however tonight they appeared as fresh and enthusiastic as ever and got the crowd going almost right from the start.
The Anthem tour was predominately the WAT set with a small number of WAT tracks dropped and replaced with some of those found in the recently released Laibach Anthems CD. There was quite a lot of noticeable changes, some subtle others quite obvious and on the whole it freshen up for those who may have seen them during the WAT tours. In general the guitar elements were expanded in many area especially the instrumentals Mars on River Drina and Wirtschaft ist Tot where the two guitarists Nikola and Matej had the audience to themselves. During Wirtschaft ist Tot a group of guys decided to chant in certain parts of it - would be interesting to know what Laibach thought about this little accompaniment but I thought it was actually better for it.
As usual Milan leaves during Mars on River Drina returning for God is God, it must have been a little on the chilly side as he kept his top on. There was a blast of cool air every now and again which was great for the audience especially those at the front. Tanz mit Laibach brought on the girl drummers, many in the crowd cheering their arrival. They have fitted really well into the Laibach style and now look fully ingrained to the role.
It was great to hear the likes of Wirtschaft ist Tot again and also Geburt Einer Nation in its revamped form with the samples from 3.Oktober. And of course Life is Life, many fans are usually disappointed if they don't hear it; I was once told it was like seeing Motorhead without Ace of Spades. I did miss Anti-Semitism, it was one the more forceful tracks from WAT although the girls worked in the same frantic drumming routine into Geburt Einer Nation. It was always going to be interesting to see how they would do Mama Leone, as I suspected the drummers Eva and Natasa took a much more involved role especially with the singing, they both downed the drumsticks for a pair of large cymbals meanwhile Milan's vocal part in the song was a little more dominant compared to the album version. Laibach brought the show to a close with Life is Life a Laibach classic that has to be heard live. As with the WAT Tour Laibach used Zeta Reticula as their outro to leave the stage after keenly acknowledging the rapturous applauses.
It was a brilliant performance by Laibach with a great set and the audience responded enthusiastically all through the show generating a great atmosphere. Who knows maybe Glasgow will be part of the next European tour.


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