Jaz nimam noč za spanje ponoči se znorim, ne maram le sanjati jaz sanje rad živim.

I guess I never said, but those of you who know me better than just from these posts know that I despise Facebook. Like honest to god hate it. It's became a pool of negativity, people moaning and bitching and complaining on it all day. So much hate, so much anger,..ridiculous. I recently found out another reason to ''fuel the flames of my fury''. I mean, I suppose it's not a recent thing. It's recent to me because I barely use my profile these days. The thing is there's a ''memory'' option now that allows you to scroll through posts on the day through the years. Now I've been a member of Facebook for a damn long time, and a pretty active member in the early days, so you can imagine that there's a shit ton of highly cringe worthy posts. But what really set me off was the fact that it was my birthday last week which I spent pretty much channeling my inner Bridget Jones. Cake and wine on the sofa, bitching about how last year I was celebrating at a Cher concert. Fuck you Corona. Anyways, scrolling through posts on my birthday, those ''memories'' posts? God good that was a stab to the heart. Messages from people that are no longer in my life, people that are long gone. Friendships that didn't work out…it sucks. So thank you Facebook for this ''brilliant'' idea. Can't wait for more memories I most definatelly DON'T want to see.

So instead of more complaints…I decided that sometimes you gotta write about things you know best. Well, actually, I had quite some issues writing about my own country the other day. I suppose knowing it well and looking at it differently makes it hard to really decide what to write about to make it interesting to other people. There's 50 plus pages I could write on my favourite towns in this country alone, so narrowing it down? Or even deciding which photo to post…yeah that's hard.

But this post shouldn't be. It's about my favorite Slovenian band. And though we have / had quite a number of amazing bands (especially in former Yugoslavia where there was pretty much nothing but rock bands) this one will always remain my favorite band. Plenty of reasons for that but I suppose the strongest one being that they are just badass.

''Šank rock''. The word ''Šank'' translates to ''bar''. Poetic isn't it? What do you need when you're leaning against a bar drinking a nice cold beer? Rock of course. Brilliant name to be honest. Easy, funny, cool. I wrote a bit about them before when rambling about their shows and ''my favorite boys'' but honestly I'm too lazy to check back what I wrote so if some facts repeat I apologise. Else, learn it, live it, love it right?

Now the band formed in 1982 and just looking at them would give you an idea right away why I'm obsessed. You know, leather, Harley shirts, long hair. Though this was in the 90's but… ( click me )

...you get the idea right? Hah. some things just never change. Rock ballads and singers with pretty long hair and I'm dead. While we're at it, I said it before and I'll say it again 2020 sucks so if you need me I'ma head back to the 80's if that's okay with all y'all. All the music! All the musicians! The high waisted jeans and short leather jackets with big hair. Ah! Paradise right there. Young Axl Rose, Sebastian Bach, Jani Lane, Richie freakin Sambora? I'd be a band whore we all know it. Lol. God knows why he put me on this earth 10 years later.

Ok so the band formed in 1982 as I said in a town few km away from me. A town I actually despise and always say that they are the only highlight in it, which believe me is true. First album with the original lineup titled ''Pridite na žur'' (the cover makes me crack up everytime I see it. The hair, the clothes, lol) was released in 1987 soon after they got a manager who was a musician himself. Don't you think that that is how it should be? Only actual musicans or say ex musicians should be managers? Because like there's so much exploitation and abuse of musicians by their managers it's ridiculous. So people who understand them should be the ones to manage them. People that care about music above money. Yeah I'm a dreamer I get it but it sure as hell would be nice.

Anyways with the manager the band really took of, they had a huge media breakthrough and were suddenly famous all over Slovenia while playing mostly down at the sea side. No surprise there, if I was a musician so would I. The nicest places in this country as I said are down by the sea. Is this a good time to say I miss it terribly? Not the band, sea side. Well the band obviously too, no concerts a year is worse than a death sentence for me believe me, but atm I meant sea side. The salty air, sunny skies, nicer people…sigh.

I keep getting sorta carried away, hard to stay on topic. After 1988 when first lineup changes happened and two members left, the band did two more albums ''Dobro in zlo'' which translates to ''good and evil''. I suppose I best shut up right now else I'd have a ''couple'' of things to say on that topic.  In 1990 the third album came out ''Jaz nimam noč za spanje'' / ''my nights are not for sleeping'' I guess, close enough, hard phrase to translate. It's my favourite album in my own language by far. BY FAR. All of the songs are great, all of the music is great, the picture on the back is bitchin. I love everything about it.

In 1991 they decided to replace their guitarist and brought cough my baby cough Bor Zuljan to the band. OH MY GOD you guys he is amazing. I keep saying he could chew an apple with one hand and play with the other.  Or in a naughtier version he could play with one hand and choke you with the other hah. Seriously the man is amazing, he has a god given gift. All other band member changes aside, they actually made an album in the USA back in 1995 called ''Shut up and play'' and there were some disagreements about whether they will stay in USA to continiue their career or go back home. Thank fuck they came back just saying because our music scene sucks enough on it's own without losing literally the best band we have.

It's kinda driving me mad you know. This illusion and drive and obsession with USA. Okay if you're a musician in my country and get the chance take it but say, Finish rockers? What's the point in recording in America that's already over flowing with music? Finland it literally the best country for rock and metal scene and you wanna go to US and create generic mainstreem music? Kill all your originality? Now that I just don't understand. I guess I should go see LA for myself and see what's so fascinating about it. Though I doubt I'd like it. I'm just a small town girl, pretty sure I'd be far more fascinated by the small towns down south. But never mind that back to the band.

Band broke up twice, once in 1998 and once in 2011, then in 2014 they played an ''exclusive show'' on the local festival (yearly event and I am still moping because we didn't have it this july. Fuck you corona), it was supposed to be a one time thing but thank god they decided to continiue their work together because it resulted in an album called ''Restart'' Brilliant aint it? And also my second favourite album titled ''Nekaj več'' (something more) in 2017. That album had the best tour. I saw ''a couple'' concerts and each one was too perfect for words. Wait a second, I just counted past members, literally ten of them. Lol. That's kinda crazy.

This album was recorded in ''Studio Tivoli'' in Ljubljana, which was founded in 1973, it moved some time ago into a smaller location but today it's a studio with 40 plus years of experience and it produced some many albums we love. I think it actually may be the oldest studio on this side of Europe. Thing I read that somewhere. Gosh imagine being the owner of that. The studio written down on the biggest names in music business. Or just records everyone loves. Hell. Must be amazing.

Some of the songs on this album are literally songs you can't listen to online. As incredible as it sounds but they're not on youtube. How crazy is that? Like is there anything that is not on youtube? Clearly these songs.

You can however find the three of my faves ''Le 17'', ''Jaz nimam noč za spanje'' and ''Vse je odšlo''. Le 17 of ''Just 17'' is perfect. Funny lyrics, great guitars, amazing voice and you just have to love it live. Obviously everything is better live but this one really is because the band sounds better live and they're rather ''playful'', teasing eachother, they're funny, adorable and not to mention talented af of course.

''Jaz nimam noč za spanje'' the title track of this album is just beyond badass. It's my jam you guys, the song I love most in this language. Well okay there are some I like more but this one is a solid top five fave. I love the lyrics about the lifestyle that would kill me, same days at work everyday, running home after it to catch the evening news, ''slave of life'' during the day and letting lose during the night. Washing the day off with a bottle of beer, turning the music up and turning the bullshit (politics and news in general these days) down.  Yeah okay we weren't doing much letting lose these days and we'll be doing even less of that in the following weeks if we're to believe the dark ominus things our government is saying these days. The news literally sounds like that final transmission in MCR's music videos (dramatic eyeroll). But point was, this is the song I love to scream along to most on their live shows and thank fuck they play it each time. So when it comes on, you know where I'll be. Front row, screaming along, hair flipping about hah.

I'm so used to seeing them at least once a year. Or twice…or like 10 times. Move along okay, true love is true love. it's been hell this 2020 I tell you. I keep saying and I'll say it again, I don't know how people live, without concerts, without culture, without events, because I swear on all the gods I'm about to jump out of my skin. Everything and everyone annoys me at this point. Like, I gave up on that dream of seeing My Chemical Romance next year in July or Guns N' Roses again, but I actually bought tickets to see Steel Panther. Small show in a club, which maybe, possibly could go through and I swear if anyone or anything fucks that up for me this entire city will burn. Assuming the show goes through though, still means that my first concert since last October will be in June next year…and I will die before that comes along. So y'all, pray for me. Thank you.

Opća opasnost u tebi non stop svira.

It's that time of the year again. When I go to a local event and bitch and complain about hating people. Deep sigh. I feel like I should open a bottle of Sauvignon just to get through this post and relive the trauma.

I don't know why I bother. Oh right, because I love music, and I love the bands, and I hate their listeners. There is something fundamentally wrong with concert goers. I get it, you're stressed, you don't give a fuck about music, you just wanna let some steam, you came to ''party'', all nice and dandy but hello could you possibly do that in a local bar where you bother nobody instead of on a concert with thousands of other people that will strangle you if you lean on them one more time? Well I would. The rest probably wouldn't notice. When people are this drunk it doesn't matter if you're a person or a lamp you probably serve the same purpose.

I feel like musicians on stage are just a ''distraction'' for these people. They wouldn't notice if it's youtube videos or actual people up there and it's not right nor is it fair. How do they say in Poldark? ''tisn't right, tisn't fair, tisn't fit, tisn't proper''. Or something along those lines anyways. This is a musicians job and worse their love and passion, they give their everything into every show, they love preforming, they love music, they love their fans and this is how we repay them? And people wonder why nobody plays here? Well why should they if a bunch of drunk fucks is all they get?

See I'm no angel if you follow my IG you'll see I like a drink now and then just like any other person. But the difference is that I know how to drink responsibly and actually remember where I was, what I did, who I did, the night before. Which I would say is a virtue most people don't have these days. It's not just them, it's the festival I'm complaining over as well, what can you expect when alcohol is cheaper than water and ID's are a long forgotten myth nobody bothers to check.

I don't really care you know, if you're an idiot you're an idiot, and good music is wasted on you, fine. What actually does bother me that these drunk fucks ruin the fun for everybody else. I can't enjoy a concert where people are constantly walking back and forth stepping on my feet, like can you stay put for one fucking song? Your drink will wait at the bar. Second thing is, does anything, ANYTHING on my polished hair, makeup and leather clothes scream that I want a beer shower? It doesn't does it? So why on earth do people feel like throwing beer around? Why? So I can come home with sticky hair smelling like the dirtiest, smelliest bar or the worst drunk of em all. Ugh. Why do people stand in front of the stage, with their backs turned to the stage fucking chatting? What is that? WHO does that? I'm so confused. Okay if you're not say in love with the lead singer I get you can look around a bit instead of being glued to the stage, but turned away and gosspining? That's like…I can't even. Jesus take the wheel because I've seen enough.

And probably most important question of them all, why? Why do you feel the need to get so drunk that you literally have a black out and the biggest hungover the next day? That's something I'm dying to know. God gave you alcohol to have fun and mingle and meet people and losen up a bit, not to make a complete idiot out of yourself because you don't know where boundaries are. Just like a little news flash, guys you're not cool trying to pick up women while wasted and finally brave enough to say something dumb to a pretty girl, trust me, they are not impressed, and girls there's nothing and I do mean nothing attractive about a girl acting like a bimbo or a total whore while shit face drunk. Nothing cute, cool, attractive or interesting about you at that point. And anyone worth your time would run a mile from you.

I could probably rant for 10 more pages about how I despise people and I only plan to hang out with dogs from now on but that was not the point of this blog post at all. Humans though. Ew. This is why I keep telling people to get dogs. Much nicer personalities than 80% of humans.

I guess if we go back to the post from the same festival last year there's going to be the same complaining and bitching, but honestly I can't even help it. The same things that NEVER change really do annoy me.

Anyways let's move on to music or I'll never get to it. I do keep saying how important it is to support local bands, music you have in your own country, so I never mind paying a ticket and see a local band I love that's trying their best and is really talented. Unfortunally due to all the reasons I listed above and more, managements, producers, etc, there's not many such bands. Shame. Here at least anyways.

And there is just ONE local band I am willing to suffer through literal hell for, to sing along to songs that are probably hardwired in my brain by now. A band whos gigs I'm pretty much always at. Front rown, sidestage, VIP, backstage, whatever works. I may be a bitch but I'm a loyal bitch as my friend would say. I love this band and no other local bands compare. My boys in Šank rock were super amazing as always, playing all the songs I love most except ''Nekaj več''? What was that about?

This year I wasn't a free added program for the security in the front row, I was a bit back enjoying the show from a more distant space and side stage, because as I said, people ew. But I loved this band since I was less than a year old and still love them today. Best band this country has, and probably the BEST guitar player on this side of the planet. No joke. Bor Zuljan is amazing. If you don't believe me ask Ibanez, they'd know, even if somehow they think that Slovenia and Israel share the same flag (what the hell is that about Ibanez? Go change Bor's profile and fix that flag, some official site that is).

There was a lot about the band being ''over played'' because they play at this festival every year. Dumbest thing I ever heard, first of, it's a three day festival, if you don't like them there's surely more music for your taste there and if they really were over played then I'm pretty sure the crowd wouldn't demand them and they sure as hell wouldn't have the biggest crowds at the festival. It's obvious they are absolute favourites. Some songs more than others but you know how it goes, biggest hits are always most loved too. People are sheep. God help them. No wait, Jesus, he was a shepherd no? I don't know, I'm Odins wolf not a lamb of god.

By the way, my huge respects to the bass player Cveto, playing shows with a fractured foot. Respect man, that aint easy and you're a real rockstar.

There was actually a second band I was willing to suffer for Friday night. Fell in love with this band years ago and it's all Bon Jovi's fault. Why? Because they were their support group in Croatia on that concert that probably everyone in Slovenia went to. That was so long ago though, when was it 8.6.2011, had to look up. Hell. 8 years ago. My god. I miss Bon Jovi did I say? It's really tearing my heart apart that I'm not going to see them later this month. And I miss Richie even more.

Right so ''Opća opasnost'' or if I translate ''general danger'', is a band Bon Jovi's management chose as the opening band and though I had no idea who they were at that point, the crowd knew very well. But I liked them, it doesn't happen often that I like a band I never heard of before from the get go but it did with them. They don't tour here at all, so l literally waited for 8 years to see them again. Hell. And you know what? I'm glad I even got the chance to see them again, because just two years ago during what I'd only call a fucking nightmare, the entire band could be killed in a stage accident. I have a weak stomach for those my god.

Good things come  to those who wait or something like that isn't it? Well it paid off. Waiting I mean. I loved their entire set. I loved them being total goofs, I loved the music, I loved the silliness. I loved it all. Loved the ''whitesnake'' moments on stage as well. Kill me I'm a redblooded woman like all the rest, I get hot under my collar when rockstars do a little sexy dance or ''inappropriate'' touching on stage. Or they take it a step further like Jon Bon Jovi does and dance and swap spit with their female fans. Can I just point out that THAT makes me insanely jealous? I'm just saying. What I'd do for a slow dance with Jon Bon Jovi to Bed of Roses. No wait scratch that, what I wouldn't do for a bed of roses with Jon Bon Jovi…sigh…too much info? I suppose so. Let's move on before I get hot under my collar again.

Alright, the band came on stage late, at about 1 am, and if that aint late in my book, their drunk crowd was passed out at that point. Their loss. They lost a great party if they were in fact sober enough to follow along.  The singer has an amazing voice, loves to joke, loves to ''move'', it's too much fun watching them on stage. Their songs are also great. And the little mix of ''Croatian national songs'' they do in between is perfect. Let me point out that the ''Croatian national songs'' are Guns n' roses, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Metallica, etc. Perfect.

This is actually a band every bikers girl, biker, or just a person hanging out with bikers will know. They play on so many biker meet ups it's insane that I never got the chance to see them before. Match made in heaven really isn't it? Tough bikers, Harleys, rock music? There's a lot in my life I miss right not now just Richie Sambora and Bon Jovi…

I guess it is what it is, I honestly hope I won't be waiting another 8 years for them to come back. Or forever for Richie to come home. Sigh. Let's end this post with a short video shall we?

 

One of my favourite songs, I'll leave you guessing why that may be. Cheers guys. 

Ja nemam noć da spavam

This is one of those posts where I sit back and write about a local event. Or better yet complain about people on local events. Same event as last year. And people as horrible as they were last year. Maybe I'm uptight or missing out on something but I just really don't understand what's the point of going to a concert to get drunk. Unless if you don't really go to a concert but you go to get drunk and the band on stage is just some…distraction?

Have these people ever thought about how rude that is to the bands? Like for real, this is their job, they stand there, they put their hearts into the show and this is how the crowd repays them? So fucking wasted that the next morning when you ask them what they were listening to they have no clue? Confusing. Also don't think I'm uptight, I had like three drinks last night too but I was nowhere near drunk.

Last year the festival hosted a ton of local bands as always and also of course some big names such as Airbourne, Samantha Fox and Ugly kid joe and of course there were tickets. People lost it over the fact that they had to buy tickets (I get it, who buys tickets to go to a ''bar'' and get drunk) so you can imagine how different the situation is this year when it's all free. Deep sigh. Humans. The worst kind of animals there are. I doubt anyone of them ever heard the words ''drink responsible''. Also ladies, girls way younger then me, there is absolutely nothing attractive or cool about being drunk. Really there isn't. You can get attention any other way not by acting like a drunk bimbo. And if not then those you're seeking attention from are not worth it. Also guys, buying me a drink or throwing me a stupid pick up line doesn't mean a free pass into my skinny jeans. Just saying.

The festival started early. And the first band that played were a trio from Italy called Dobermann. Not a band I knew that well before mind you, I heard of them and knew some of the songs but I wasn't that informed, but I was like ''what the hell they're a rock band so why not''. Maybe I should point out that when they came on stage the venue was completly empty there were maybe 10 of us in the front, 2 of us in the first row, the rest all hung by the bars (see what I'm on about?).

I loved them though. They have no record label no booking agency and no management and yet they put out three albums plus an EP and played over 650 shows in the past 7 years. Now if that aint amazing then I don't know what is. They have this rock n' roll sound. A guitar player to die for, a drummer that will melt your teeth and the bass player that sings perfectly and spits fire while doing so. Honey I was sold after the first song. Perfection. They also played a song that hasn't even been recorded yet asking us to please not record it (lol) and I gotta say it was a really great song, but then again they all were. Nevermind my screaming when they did the cover of Van Halens Hot for teacher. I love LOVE that song.

Of course my friends were like ''god, Nikki you're so predictable it hurts, it's not the music you like is it? It's the leather, cowboy boots and that Bon Jovi hair''. Not. It's the music I like. Though you know leather and big hair doesn't harm. Ha ha ha. While we're at it, I'm going to share a link, the boys have a chance to play with Kiss and it can only happen with enough votes, so if you'd be so kind, can you please vote for them? Thank you.

http://www.TheKISSKruise.com/Soundcheck

Now. Of course there was a reason I was there on a Thursday not Saturday when the big finale with amazing water and light show and fireworks is. Nikki is only loyal like this to one band. That she saw play about a million times too. Ha! My boys Šank rock were playing and as per usual I was in the front row losing my mind, did I mention my voice is a bit shot today? Or that I seem to entertain the security with my screaming and crying and singing along? It's a blessing and a curse to know the lyrics to basically all of the songs ever written. Well songs that matter to me anyways.

I already mentioned that the first time seeing them I was less then a year old, sleeping through the entire show, actually I've been told that I somehow managed to sleep through a lot of very loud rock shows when I was a kid. Suppose nobody could see it coming, my current obsession with rock musicians I mean. No wait, not an obsession, dedication.

My boys are the crowds absolute favorites, you can tell, the ''teachers pet'' or however you call it. This festival has been going on for the past 54 years, first time they played on stage was in 1992 (they were the ones that brought rock music to the festival in the first place) and they've pretty much played it each year, excluding a few occasions when they split up for a while. Have I mentioned lately how damn happy I am that they are back together? My god my life would be miserable without having the chance every now and then to sing along to my favorite local band.

Don't doubt that I have that entire preformance from 1992 on my external hard drive (ripped from an actual VHS tape) and don't doubt I've seen it about one hundred fucking times. Yup. It's perfect I swear. Leather and long hair? I die a little each time I watch it.

Of course the crowds favorites shows when everyone knows every word to every song and howls it along. My hair always goes up when I hear hundreds of people screaming the lyrics back to the singer. One of my favorite moments always. When the singer sings one line then lets the crowd carry on…that's just amazing. Actually, wait, this shows favorite moment was another one. A moment in which they finally after 26 years got a bra thrown on stage again. As well as some male underwear (not that they got nearly as much excitment as that bra did, which by the way is already in a special place) with someone in the crowd yelling ''I swear they're clean''.

Who's got the best party, who's got the company of real rockers, who's making us fly like eagles and live in a fairytale? My guys do of course. I'd say they played all my favorites last night but honestly, there aint a song they put out that I wouldn't LOVE. Like their song says ''there's no happiness without rock n roll'' and that's true, I'd be damn miserable without it too. Come to think of it, in the last eleven or twelve months I saw them play three times, once actually paying for a hotel in another town in my own country. Guys, if that aint dedication then I don't know what is.

Speaking of screaming and ''losing it'', if there's one thing you don't want, then you DON'T want to be next to me at their shows. Ask my family and friends. They hate it. Hah. screaming, howling the lyrics, headbanging…you know the works and I suppose I won't even mention what happens when the guitarist plays his famous solo. No really, I'm fine. Just a bit dead. He's out of this world.

Just the other day mother asked me if I'm on a mission to turn as many people as I can into fans. Well…hah. The more the merrier? I might have…uh ''infected'' a couple of people with them so far? But really, they should thank me. All I did was open their world to a completly new and unknown music.

Now before I wrap this up and go to bed, literally I went to bed at four am and got up at eight. Errands wait for no one and I am pretty sure that I'm only alive right now because of one too many cups of coffee I drank to get me through the day. Last year around the same time, in August I saw them play on a charity concert and a day after another one of my favorites, as a solo act, the band he used to be in broke up back in 93', I wrote this in the post last August…

''Sokoli played their last show in 1993 somewhere in Austria where a local reporter said that they as a band are too big for such a small country. Completly true. We have so much talent in this country and they have little to no chance in making it to the big times.''

Why am I telling you this? Tomorrow, on the finale of the festival, same band Sokoli, is playing their first (only?) reunion show. And though I won't actually be there I am excited about it. A rather big deal for our music scene.

Alright then, I'm exhausted, coffee is wearing off so I think I'm gonna go crash, meaning fall into bed face first and not move a muscle untill morning. Hah. Good night guys, have a great weekend.

Cheers!

When he walks into the room, my heart goes bang bang boom.

This is going to be one of them ''last friday night'' posts. But nothing as crazy as what you're probably imagining in your heads just now, even if there was one too many shots of Jack Daniels. Or better yet I discovered a whole new love of my life ''Jack and ginger''. It's not that it's good, it's that it's amazing. Here's the deal, local concerts are pretty much as I'd imagine open free bar events. People get so drunk, it's disgusting. I'm no saint. I like alcohol too, I like the slightly buzzed feeling but I don't understand getting so drunk at events that the next morning you don't know where you were, who with, what did you watch or even your own damn name. Or worse, wake up to a coyote ugly situation.

But this post isn't going to turn into yet another story about hating people at local shows or just people in general, which is how every single post about local events starts. Like for fucks sakes at least show the musicians a little respect if you can't show it to yourself.

Alright moving on, the concert last night was a whole new experience for me. I had VIP tickets and that was something else. A different entrance then the rest of the ''mortals'', getting a ''bracelet'' that lets you walk basically everywhere in the venue from the VIP area to the first row at the stage. There's a ''red carpet'' photoshoot going on where they took pictures of you with a couple of really pretty girls. I'm not one to be into such things but I gotta say couple of cameras clicking in front of me while I stood there was pretty much amazing.

Did I mention that the drinks were free sponsored by Jack Daniels, the floors covered in soft plush carpet and the band members were walking by me all night? First time one of them that I really like walked by I was just like ''was that...?'' I hear an ''aha'' as a reply and I was done for, nearly on the ground at his feet. Musicians. Such a weakness for me. Nevermind insanely talented and blonde musicians. Damn it.

Free booze got me in trouble as per usual. I never learn it seems. No I wasn't wasted, nowhere near it, just tipsy and ballsy. Bad. Tangling with someone I like that I shouldn't. Nothing happened, but what happened was enough for me to make my head spin. Then again his smile alone makes my head spin. Either way, as much as I don't approve drinking, I just realized that I needed a night like this, Jack Daniels taking my worries away, my favorite loud music getting me in the right mood making me forget about all the bad shit in my life at the moment. I need a get away sometimes and my mind being the way it is never lets me shut down completly. Jack Daniels helps. I hate to admit it but it does. Which doesn't mean I'd start drinking on a daily basis mind you, once every couple of months at an event to relax and have a great time is just about enough for me.

The concert though, I love my boys, Šank rock, I really do. They don't get half as much credit they'd deserve. I keep saying that and I'll keep on saying it, they are all incredibly talented musicians but the guitar player alone. Jesus christ, the man could choke you while still play the guitar perfectly with one hand. I have this theory that in a guitar battle with Slash they'd be neck to neck. Yes. He is THAT good. Slash good. This was a celebration of their 35 years as a band. I still can't quite wrap my head around that, they as a band are older then I am. Hah. Or the fact that the first time I saw them I slept through their entire set. Fine, I was only a year old but still. I have a long lasting romance going on with this band. Hah. I think they're the only band next to Guns N' Roses that I actually liked as a child and all through the years up to now, when I actually like them even more.

This was in the bands hometown. Everything is different when you listen to the band in their own hometown, the crowd is different. Better somehow, they know all the words, they scream them at the top of their lungs. And I always loved that, it's my favorite moment of any concert, when the singer sings one line and then the crowd picks up the song and they sing as loud as they can. It makes all the hairs on my neck stand up, there were a couple of such moments at the show last friday night. Some of them including my favorite songs, the crowd being really loud and it was amazing. Simply amazing. Honestly nothing makes me feel as good and as alive as that does. It's better then alcohol, it's better then drugs.

There's a song they do, that I never heard live yet and the other night they played it. It was something else. The crowd was really loud on that song, the melody, the lyrics, the voice, all of it, it just fits, it's a moment that makes shivers run up and down my spine, a moment that makes me happy and warm all over. It's about getting lost in a song, in the feeling it gives you, the emotion it makes you feel. You know what they say right, if the music you listen to makes you feel nothing, you're listening to the wrong kind of music.

I was back to kinda freaking out, oh who am I kidding, I was totally losing it. My voice was slightly broken the next morning. But, honestly, what's the point of a concert if you don't sing - scream along to your favorite songs? The problem with this band is though, that ALL of their songs are my favorite. And the problem was that they played all of them too. Not that I'm complaining of course I loved every single second of it.

It's funny that I literally wrote about them few months ago and also about another one of our locals that I also love, Peter Lovšin, remember that? Last night he was with them, came on stage way pass one am, kinda after party wibe and guess what? He still blew the roof off the place even if half of the venue was basically done for at the point *alcohol is a bitch if you don't know how to control yourself* and the rest already left. I was basically the only person in the VIP howling along to each and every song. Well except that one song ''Bandiera Rossa or Avanti Popolo'' that one seems to wake everyone up. Nostalgia or something. I love the song though, because it's provocative and most people can't stand it. You know me, always into what other people hate.

Well I'm adding this gig to my long list of concerts and also to my long long LONG list of seeing these two alone. Whatcha gonna do? True love is true love. And I do love them, maybe actually even more then some of guys you see at the side of my blog *gasps*. Yeah. Shocking but...these are bands and music I grew up with, it's different.

Also, let me point out that all the bands that played before them, Mary Rose, Prelude, Radio Jam and Monsun are great and really talented musicians. Unfortunally I only got to see Mary Rose but I know the rest and they really are good.

What was my point in this post was besides glorifying my favorite boys? That sometimes getting completly lost in the music, or anything you love really, anything that makes you forget your problems, your life, something that really weighs you down, is good. Take a breather sometimes, you deserve it. Let lose, have fun. Scream your heart out at a concert, paint your heart out, dance your heart out, whatever it is that makes you happiest. My thing is music, it's my passion, it's my air that I breathe, it's my happiness and it's the freedom I miss everyday. It's my home and a getaway from home.

Alright then, time to cut off the golden VIP bracelet and get back to the real world. Do I hate it? More then I can tell but that's the way life goes. All good things must end.

While we're at it, since it's finally January 1st...nobody is happier then I am right now, finally the world can go back to normal, no more shopping apocalypses, no more disgustingly mind numbing Christmas / New year movies. No more of that hellish music, ''Last Christmas I gave you my heart''? I will rip yours out if you play the damn song one more time. But Nikki you can't play Metallica on Christmas eve, uh? Like hell I can't. Considering Christ doesn't exist it's hypocritical to think he couldn't have been a metalhead. As if that makes any difference, I'd listen to heavy metal at the opera if I could.

What I wanted to say anyway, was, Happy New Year guys, I wish you all the happiness in the world, all the love in the world, all the kindness and patience and all the success in everything you do. Take a deep breath, you've made it this far, we've all been through some type of hell in our lives, and we got through it and we'll continiue fighting. I believe in all of you, and I'm proud of all of you, for all the things you've accomplished even if they seem like a small thing to you, they may seem impossible to someone else. But still, for all our sakes I hope 2018 treats us better then 2017 did.

And to all my metalheads, rockers, musicians, music lovers, here's a piece of advice from the man himself, Billie Joe Armstrong;

"Dear young rock n rollers. Be brave. Be tough. Spit your anger. Piss people off. Don’t be normal. Don’t be trendy. Be loud. Live out loud. Cuss. Swear. Be offensive. Tell the truth. YOUR truth. Fuck authority. Spray paint the walls with your song titles. Be dirty. Smash glass. Make a statement. Don’t be a wimp. Don’t be a follower. Unhinged. We need more young rebel heroes with loud guitars."

Did I mention that I love him lately? Because I do. Either way guys, have a great time celebrating your New years, whether you're somewhere having a great time or at home having a great time by yourself. Like I am, alone with my record collection and honestly having a better time then I could of being cold and annoyed outside. Hah. Have fun and stay safe.

Delam kar paše mi.

''Podnevi suženj sem življenja ponoči pa pozabim vse in delam kar si želim. Ritem rock`n`rolla me prevzame in mi požene kri po žilah. Jaz nimam noč za spanje, ponoči se znorim. Nemaram le sanjati, jaz sanje rad živim.''

Šank Rock - Jaz nimam noč za spanje

I decided to do something just a little bit different today. I go on and on and on about bands with worldwide fame, bands we all know or we at least heard of at some point in our lives. And to be honest it's not fair. I should pay some attention to the bands we have here. Home. Great, amazing, talented musicians. Musicians I grew up with and seen about a thousand times.

I had a really busy weekend and as I type this early Monday morning I am still exhausted. I must be getting old. Ha ha. Friday night we had a big charity concert. We were raising money for a burned down hangar. Now everyone that knows me knows that if I love anything then that's charity concerts. Not only you enjoy and have a great time you also do something good for someone else. Which of course brings us back to local concerts. Jesus Christ. The drinking. Why? WHY? Why would someone go to a concert and then get so damn drunk that it wouldn't make a difference to them if there's Marilyn Manson or Madonna on stage? I did mention that guy that slept through the entire Guns N' Roses concert didn't I? Ugh. Humans.

Nevermind, let's get back to the bands or this will turn into a full blown rant about how much people annoy me lately. And trust me they do. Like a lot.

First band that played, Nude, locals, they pretty much live down the street from me. The band started in 1993 I believe, which makes them a year younger then me. I've seen them live at least 100 times no joke. Ever since I was a kid, barely one year old, musician's daughter you know how that works, mom and dad loved music and they used to take me to all kinds of local shows and I've seen Nude so many times because I loved them most, well I still do. I never get tired of their music. Obviously. They are a really great band, they have great music with awesome lyrics and many awards including one for Slovenia's most popular artist. Well deserved too.

You know this is a band that was started by two members in high school, probably in a garage, based on mutual love for Rock 'n' roll music. And their first name was actually ''Every East'' which later sounded teenagery and not provocative enough. Now their biggest concert was local, in our Kayak club that was absolutely packed, and they were actually an opening act for Serbian singer Bajaga that was on tour at the time, they did concerts together all over our country. The name Nude was born then, as in naked, exposed, honest, straightforward and totally in style of their influences such as U2, Metallica, Nirvana, Radiohead...and they started with their own music, no more covers, and let me tell you something thank god because that music, yeah it's perfect. They play this easy pop rock, it's catchy and it's fun, makes you wanna sing and dance along.

So Friday night with them was totally fun as per usual. I just love screaming along to lyrics in my own language for a change. I enjoyed watching a fangirl too, she was freaking out, like ''if he looks at me I will just die on the spot I swear''. I couldn't stop giggling, I never looked at them that way though I must admit they are handsome. But I got a first hand view of how crazy I can be. This was a sort of ''deja vu''. Jon Bon Jovi. If I do recall I was freaking out even more, ''oh my god if he touches me I am never washing my hands again'' kinda thing. Hah.

''Ti si tok popularna, tvoje roke so zlatarna, ko hodiš po mestu, vsak se za tabo ozre. Lačna si ljubezni, jst bom tvoj ulov, dovolj si že stara, da se z mano igraš. Jst te dam na balon, pa tud če tvoja mama me sovraži, ker noče da še gdo se s tabo važi, če boš ti hotela kar takoj. Jst te dam na balon, če slučajn bo težil tvoj stari, dej povej mu naj mi ne sitnari, ker to stvar obvladam, se že leta ubadam, js te dam na balon.''

Nude - Balon

Cheers boys, I love you, see you next time.

And the second band. Locals as well. They're called ''Šank rock'' which roughly translates to ''bar rock''. I haven't seen them as many times which is ironic if you consider that my dad used to live right next door to the singer, and they're friends. But this band I love even more. They are rock n roll, they are fun, they are our very own 80's ''hair metal'' rockers and I honestly love them. They started out in 1982, their first record came out in 1987 and after that an owner of a tv station discovered them and things went up from there. Now past members aside, current members are ah-mazing. The singer Matjaž. The voice guys the voice! Those rock screams. Holy hell. So cool. And the guitar player Bor? He's our very own Slash, I am not joking. The man is amazing, the way his fingers fly up and down those strings so effortlessly. It's just. Woah. I can feel myself melting away when he plays. But then again might not be just music, might be the fact that he's kinda attractive. Okay fine, very attractive but let's not go there. Again. Hah.

In 1995 they got an offer from managers in New York to record an album there. And they did. It's called ''Shut up and play'' but things went a bit sideways then, should they stay in USA or go back...you know I get it, who wouldn't take the offer and record in USA given the chance? I know if I was a musician I surely would want just that. And also I wouldn't want them to go, they honestly are the best band we've got so you know...I'm a bit selfish here I know. Hah. No, seriously I wish them all the best. Anyways the drummer left and then in 1998 the band stopped working. And then in 2002 they're back with the drummer that left and it worked till 2006 when disagreements made Bor leave, the guitar genius! Which if you ask me is nothing short of a disaster. Look I know we have a ton of really talented musicians but c'mon none are Bor. He is all that. Plain and simple. Which brings us to 2011 when disagreements made the singer and bass player leave the band and the band broke up. There were tears I admit when I found out. I was beyond miserable at that point.

Luckily I didn't have to be miserable for too long, in 2014 they were back for what was supposed to be an exclusive show on a local annual festival but they decided to continiue and up till now they put out 2 new albums and are currently promoting the last one that came out in 2017 that I might be a little obsessed with. It is nothing short of perfect. All the songs are absolutely amazing, the slow rock ballads are beautiful, the lyrics packed with emotion, and the heavier songs are energetic and fun and full of guitar solos that could match up with some of the best guitar players in the world. Let's not even get into those vocals. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.

Fun fact, first time I saw then I was around 1 year old, slept through the entire show, which is amazing considering that was back in 1993 or 1994, speakers back then weren't as great as they are today *you'd walk out of the venue and your ears were ringing and your teeth vibrating* and these guys are loud. Really loud. I saw them a couple of times after, through the years, and on that exclusive show in 2014, one of my favorite shows really, just because they were back. But I got to say Friday night was something else. I don't know what it was but it was just completly amazing. Might be that one song ''Metulj'' or butterfly if you will, which everyone knows, and everyone sings on top of their lungs. And this one it was even louder, we were in a hangar, raising money for pilots, and the song is about flying. It was a moment that gives you shivers and makes you feel happy and warm all over. You know what I mean? It's a feeling you have to feel, I can't describe it but it's better then any kind of drug, better then that buzz alcohol gives you, and honey so much better then sex.

''Nova oblast zopet dela red, meni trd kruh, sebi mleko in med. Vsega sem sit, vse je čisti »shit«! Aj, ja, jaj, ja, jaj. Kradejo vsi, jaz naj bom pošten. Kot da sem nor, v čuden čas rojen. Šel bi drugam, nimam pojma, kam? Aj, ja, jaj, ja, jaj. Ko se stemni mi v glavi in vse me tlači dol. Na noge me postavi Rock ‘n’ Roll! Vse bo vrag vzel, Rock bo preživel! Ja, v to sem prepričan! Vse bo vrag vzel, Rock bo preživel! Pošteno, brez kiča! Jaz pa z njim, ko znorim, ko se mi utrga! Še bom pel in verjel, Rock bo preživel!''

Šank Rock - Rock bo preživel

''Ljubezen dela čudeže, le poslušaj srce in prepusti se. Verjemi v ljubezen, to je vse. Ljubezen dela čudeže, le dovoli ji spet, da objame tvoj svet, ves tvoj svet.''

Šank Rock - Ljubezen dela čudeže

I got to admit I ''lost'' it a couple of times during their set on Friday night, we're talking dancing, headbanging, singing along, or better yet howling along. Hey, I never said I'm a good singer did I? Never stopped me though, my voice was a bit shot next morning. But I enjoyed every second of it. Local heroes as a friend of mine would say. They're the best and I love them just as much as I love any of my ''big dogs'' such as GN'R and Crue and all the rest...

And then there was Saturday night. I was in that very same Kayak club I mentioned earlier, there was a kayaking competition and a concert later on. The singer that was preforming is also one of my favorite local singers ''Pero Lovšin''. Amazing rock voice, great music also. He changed quite a few bands in his career my favorite one being ''Pankrti'' meaning punks. Great band, punk rock music and they started a movment in music in former Yugoslavia, new wave? You know about these things right? After Pankrti there was another band ''Sokoli'' meaning Falcons, they put out an album titled ''Marija pomagaj'' *mother Mary help me* which aparently is still to this day one of Slovenian best sold albums. They kinda parted from everything else on the scene at the time beacause they had this hard rough sound, kinda like Motley Crue had in their early days, when it was unpolished and raw but that was exactly the thing that made it perfect.

Sokoli played their last show in 1993 somewhere in Austria where a local reporter said that they as a band are too big for such a small country. Completly true. We have so much talent in this country and they have little to no chance in making it to the big times. Lovšin actually helped a lot of young talented musicians on their way to succsses making them his support bands on tour. Then after he went solo he wrote 5 new albums that were awarded a couple of times but never quite as important as the 2000 football anthem that he wrote with two other musicians. Oh my god does that song annoy me or what? There won't be a sports event in this country without it. It's getting rather old at this point.

Now let me point out that two records ''Izlet'' and ''Happy hour'' were recorded on Jamaica with The Wailers which surely you know are Bob Marley's group and also with Brian Jobson who produced Eurythmics and No Doubt. Safe to say he is serious business. In 2014 he was on the chart of 10 best rock singers in Slovenia which was also the first year that chart happened. And no surprise too, his voice is nothing short of perfect.

I've seen him a couple of times. I actually always go see him when he's near beacuse I enjoy his music, I enjoy his concerts, specially those little comments about politics and our country and the way we live and where we're going. Those comments usually go into the song ''Bandiera Rossa'' which is more then controversial here at the moment. For those of you who don't know Banriera Rossa or Avanti Popolo is one of the most famous songs of the Italian labour movement. It glorifies the red flag, symbol of the socialist and communist movement. The text was written by Carlo Tuzzi in 1908, the melody is taken from two Lombard folk songs. And that very socialist and communist part of it is what makes it controversial in our current political state. Not that anyone cares. Everyone was singing this song as loud as they could. "Evviva il comunismo e la libertà" well...let's not go there right now, this is not a political post, even if punk and politics go hand in hand.

Sometimes letting lose and forgetting your problems and life around you is good. And I can't imagine a better way to do that then on a concert. Music is passion, it's like the air you breathe, it's that happiness and freedom I'm missing on a daily basis. It's a getaway from the prison that is work, or school, or whatever else it is that's keeping you down. Nothing is quite as good as live music, screaming the lyrics back to the band. Or as my boys would say...

''Paše družba, dobra zabava, ko rabim se znoret. Paše oder, muzka taprava, da mi da polet. Pasalo bi z mojim bandom, na turnejo it v svet, in ko v postelji sem s tabo, vem kaj nama paše počet. Delam kar paše mi, kar se mi dober zdi, vzamem si, kar si želim! Delam kar paše mi, le enkrat se živi, usodo si sam krojim!

Paše sreče, zdravja, veselja, nekomu zaželet. In paše spanje, mirna nedelja, kadar sem napet. Pasal bi miljon na lotu, ali raje štiri, pet. A najbolj v tem trenutku, paše mi z vami zapet. Delam kar paše mi, kar se mi dober zdi, vzamem si, kar si želim.''

Šank Rock - Delam kar paše me

Cheers guys, here's to a pain free as possible monday. Good luck at school to those that are starting today. Look after one another and don't forget to let lose sometimes. It's good for you.