Vancouver - Richard on Richard's

19th November 2004

Review by Sovietnimrod

We just got home from the Laibach show tonight. Musically and visually it was much better tonight than back when I saw them perform here in 1997 at The Town Pump - although the crowd was more subdued tonight. A lot of people there appeared unsure just how to move about and re-act to the music (if in doubt, marching is usually a good option).

Song selection was excellent - the bulk from WAT and NATO albums as well as sprinklings from Kapital, Opus Dei and one track from Jesus Christ Superstars. Real nice blend and shift between anthemetic and hard, between techno and more guitar based (although the JCSS track God Is God was really the only true metal song they played); granted they still play songs in album blocks and then again often in album sequence. Interesting versions of Wirtschaft Ist Tod and a more techno-influenced open to Geburt Einer Nation, their cover of Queen's One Nation.

The show was divided into three 'acts' separated by two instrumentals. They used piped-in Strauss for their pre-intro and then launched into B Mashina as their opener, followed by a sequence from NATO which included Dogs Of War and the DAF cover Alles Gegen Alles - which then lead into the old Serbian nationalistic hymn March On River Drina from the First World War. During that piece, Milan Fras (the lead singer) left the stage to then return with the two Fräuleins who took up positions behind drum heads on the left and right flank. Yum yum yum... gorgeous to behold... even Bug was chiding me about them... And then started the WAT portion of the show with the boppy Tanz Mit Laibach.

During the second instrumental - which was an awesome rendition of Wirtschaft Is Tod - Milan and the Fräuleins vacated the stage again until the next song - the women undergoing a costume change by shedding their jodhpurs and Bosnian fezzes for boots and skirts... later on in the encore they lost their 'Heidi' braids... (Reminder to self, must get jodhpurs for Bug to wear...)

Granted, the two women were definitely there more for eye candy and props department than for the music content, but I felt they did actually add more 'showmanship' to the show compared to the 1997 concert. Laibach as a rule don't move around all that much except to brood, so apart from the visuals projected on the back screen (which were better than 1997 as well) there's not always much variety to look at (although personally I don't have an issue with this). The two women essentially took over the kitschy teutonic drumming duties that the guitarist and bass player often handle in their music videos (if those two are shown in music videos playing instruments, it's generally with a snare drum or a trumpet of some sort). Other times the Fräuleins would just do this stiff mechanical handclapping - kind of like if go-go dancers came from the old silent film Metropolis. They also had a session drummer, and the usual fourth regular male member of the band I believe was actually running the sound and lighting console - or at least it looked like him or someone I've recognised from the band in interview video.

They had a decent selection of Laibach/NSK stuff to buy (more than just the lone T-shirt and nothing else on the last tour). Posters, CD singles, NSK condoms, stickers, ties, etc. Bug shelled out some cash for one of their leather belts ($50) but I now regret buying their DVD - it is PAL-formated and thus doesn't work on our DVD player so now I'm out $30... I'm actually kind of pissed off about this because you'd think they mention this when selling them in North America (or have NTSC versions for sale instead). I was also eyeing their Laibach ties for sale - if I had of known about the DVD not working, I would have definitely bought one of those NSK ties instead (I didn't have enough cash for both) which Bug really liked. Oh well.

Sound was good - I forgot to take my ear plugs but actually didn't require them - my ears weren't ringing at all afterwards even though I was right up at the front. Milan would often make eye contact to those of us immediately in front of the stage when singing and his charismatic, piercing gaze feels like it's going right through you - kind of creeped me out a few times because you can almost sense a silent acknowledgement of eye contact being made.

After ending their encore with Life Is Life (this was my guess as to what the final song of the night would be), Milan and the rest then got the crowd going in a brief clap-along to an instrumental clip from Tanz Mit Laibach broadcasted on the soundsystem before a short wave of thanks, turning and then walking off. That was probably the most "human" act I have ever seen come from the band's otherwise stark, cold distant imagery they try to present to the audience. Actually, as a long time fan (since 1985) of the group, I thought that was a nice touch for a change.

The opening "group" was some woman playing nothing but a "cello only" (along with some background tapes) and struck me as a cross between Franka Potente (Run Lola Run) and Björk. She was interesting and all but not my cup of tea and soon became tiresome; thankfully her set was brief due to the time restriction at the club (Laibach had to be done and off by 10:30).

This was the first live show I have seen in over four and a half years - breaking from my otherwise usual boycott of live music now. It was definitely worth going and I would go again and again to see them. Hopefully it is not another seven-year wait - I love this band.