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Melkweg, Amsterdam, the Netherlands12 December 2007
Laibach
A year after they have been in the Netherlands for their show in Tivoli the Slovenians from Laibach are back for yet another leg in their 'Volk' tour. The people slowly filled up the venue and the band kicked off their show right after the 'Wilhelmus, the Dutch National Anthem.
Controversial, provocative, accused of all sorts of right wing associations, but really this band is just making music that takes a little more time to understand. People that judge them by just a few words have never really looked into the lyrics, the sarcasm and the idea behind the band. Laibach, inspiration to bands like Rammstein and Nine Inch Nails, is still making music that stirs up the ignorant. With their 2006 album 'Volk' they have tried out another style. The 'Volk' tour started in 2006 and is still continuing, fortunately.
Music & Performance
When you have made so many albums with very danceable music it's just a guess how people will react to an album based on national anthems of some of the world leading countries. But Laibach likes to challenge their listeners and looking at the reaction of the people in the venue they have succeeded to attract a wide range of people to their concert. They started out with songs from the 'Volk' album, as they should, and the audience seemed to sink deep into the music to absorb all the critic, disgust, sarcasm that Laibach so carefully put into their music. Singer Milan Frans took centre stage and grabbed the audience by the throat only to let go after part one of the concert. Very intense singing with deep vocals, supported by slightly adapted versions of anthems with a well balanced sound made this part of the concert close to perfection.
That is without taking into account the great graphic projections shown on the two screens in the back, all these were in sync with the music and especially the lyrics. Even if the lyrics would have been unknown, the message was brought to light through the visual part of the concert. Even though the stage at the old hall of de Melkweg is very small and Laibach had filled it up completely with musicians and their equipment the performance was spot on. Interaction with the audience was minimal, but the occasional eye contact suited the music well. After the break the band switched from playing rather mellow music to the pumping beats of dance music. The atmosphere changed completely and still it was clearly still Laibach. The audience started to dance, the girls left and right from teh stage hit their drum kits and Laibach just stayed in full control of the crowd, giving them what they came for: Laibach in all its facets.
When you have made so many albums with very danceable music it's just a guess how people will react to an album based on national anthems of some of the world leading countries. But Laibach likes to challenge their listeners and looking at the reaction of the people in the venue they have succeeded to attract a wide range of people to their concert. They started out with songs from the 'Volk' album, as they should, and the audience seemed to sink deep into the music to absorb all the critic, disgust, sarcasm that Laibach so carefully put into their music. Singer Milan Frans took centre stage and grabbed the audience by the throat only to let go after part one of the concert. Very intense singing with deep vocals, supported by slightly adapted versions of anthems with a well balanced sound made this part of the concert close to perfection.
That is without taking into account the great graphic projections shown on the two screens in the back, all these were in sync with the music and especially the lyrics. Even if the lyrics would have been unknown, the message was brought to light through the visual part of the concert. Even though the stage at the old hall of de Melkweg is very small and Laibach had filled it up completely with musicians and their equipment the performance was spot on. Interaction with the audience was minimal, but the occasional eye contact suited the music well. After the break the band switched from playing rather mellow music to the pumping beats of dance music. The atmosphere changed completely and still it was clearly still Laibach. The audience started to dance, the girls left and right from teh stage hit their drum kits and Laibach just stayed in full control of the crowd, giving them what they came for: Laibach in all its facets.
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9
More photos on page 2
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