Laibach @ The Crystal Ballroom
Once upon a time I was an angst-ridden youth like the rest of you. To part with some of this pent up frustration, like many young people, I listened to music. I remember going to concerts by Nina Hagen, The Plasmatics, Dead Kennedys, X, Echo & the Bunnymen…the list goes on. And sometime in the 80’s there was this emergence of a sound that was a bit darker, more gothic, something that sprouted from the seams of bands like Bauhaus, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Ministry, Coil, Sisters of Mercy and many others. One of the bands that kept a somewhat low profile, but has been at it since 1980 is the Slovenian outfit Laibach. They emerged (or eclipsed) alongside others like Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Front 242, Bigod 20 and KMFDM. This was a newer, even socially darker, perhaps more grey than black, take on the scene…though there was still a lot of associated eyeliner. These bands shared a common grasp of politics, links to martial law (uniforms, aesthetics), what eventually would emerge as the industrial scene. And tonight they played the Crystal Ballroom.
Here they showcased much of what appeared on their 2006 recording Volk (national anthems) and highlighted this with upcoming material from Laibachkunstderfuge, their interpretation of Bach’s Die Kunst der Fuge. And after nearly thirty years in the biz they delivered with a visual wallop (to a 1/2 filled hall no less, but one suited up for the evening in various shades of drab and military motif). The lighting and video kept the theater at hand tactfully captivating, while the drastically alternating male (Milan Fras)/female (Mina Špiler) vocals were highlighted by a powerful percussion that had both a rock hard beat and a pivot in its pop soul. The sound was loud and proud, and though I sat in the front row of the balcony under the grandiose chandelier, I’m unsure if this type of show appeals to me as much now as it once did. It certainly drew the kids of the night. I’m less interested in the overall “image” projected by the band, and moreso about their history as visual artists, performers (cover artists and original composers), ambiguous socio-politico MTV bad boys, and their hybrids into the neo-classical realm. Overall, as the recipient of a contest win (thanks e* and PICA) the show was worth seeing in hindsight of my past and their heyday.
Tags: Crystal Ballroom, Laibach, Laibachkunstderfuge, Milan Fras, Volk