Neither the humid, sticky summer air in the early evening or the temperature higher than 30 Celsisus did not stop the huge gathering of citizens of Nova Gradiska  and their guests or their memory of Antonio Lazic motorcyclists, a man for whom the motorcycle club Diablo from Nova Gradiska say he was a true friend and a man who truly loved his town and who initiated many charitable actions whose life was extinguished on 11.04.2009 in severe car accident on the eastern ring road at the entrance to Nova Gradiska.
Programme announced for 19 hours started around 20:30 after it seemed, infinitely long soundchechs, with the band from Nova Gradiška, Crna kronika, a trio that sounds very promising but when on stage you expect Gibonni, and before him the finalist and in opinion of many people winner of the last years season of the show Hrvatska traži zvijezdu (Croatian Idol, op.a.) Zoran Misic their short set seems to be very long. After Crna kronika and short tuning on stage comes Zoran Misic with his band. After Zoki greeted the audience followed the scream of girls from the audience. Expected. Despite of the fact that the finalist of the last years season of mentioned TV show is mcuh more than shor-term attraction for youngest female fans of rock music. He proved that already by the song Highway To Hell by megapouplar Australians AC/DC…. severe, persuasive and very confident by letting his voice pardon, his great vocie to echo all over the plan and forest. Nothing less thrilled the audiece was after the phenomenal performance of Creams „Sunshine Of Your Love“ or the song „A ti još plačeš“, one of the most iconinc songs of the legendary band from Vinkovci, Majke, timless hit „Smoke On The Water“ by eternal Deep Purple on which effective performance almost coul Ian Gillan congratulate to Zoran Mišić or the song by Parni valjak „Sve još miriše na nju“ he sung on his now already recognizable „Mišić“ way.But the song that literally thirlled the crowd was Zokis debut single “Gdje si sad” from his, I hope, upcoming album when the audience from the beginning to the end sung together with Zoran.  In the Zoki Queens song “Show Must Go On” in the truly unique performance Zoran and his band dedicates to Antonio Lazic, and leaves the stage.  They return quickly to the call of the audience and performing a’capella with the audience the refrainn of the song „Tri rijeke“ that Zoran recorded with the band Opća opasnost. There was also encore and then he laves the stage for Giboni. Or to be more precise for masaDANCEbox, dance group that should, in  my opinion, appear at the very beginning of the evening as after a good rock warm up show by Crna kronika and excellent cut through some of the most popular rock pieces of all times performed by great Zoran Mišić, dance show followed by Rihannas or Michael Jacksons’ hits were like fist in the eye.
Gibonni, man of whom is really unnecessary to spend too many words, on the stage appears exactly at 22:00 and hits straigh to the head with the song „Toleranca“ from his same titled album. Within the minute he is down there, in front of the audience, shaking hands with the front rows. In the next two hours, Gibonni, thrills the audience that immidiately created intense pressure on the front rows, by his timless songs like „Ovo mi je škola“ „U ljubav vjere nemam“ or „Činim pravu stvar“. Then he’s taking the guitar and what follow is one of the most emotional moments in the song „Zamoli me“ that under the starry sky sounds really special, filled with nostalgia and hope. Loudly greeted „Judi, zviri i beštimje“ is overture to always again by the screams followed appearance of Damir Urban on the stage. Gibonni behind the guitar, Urban behind the microphone, „Moja voda“ and the audience in a delirium. Nothing less transatic was welcomed „Anđeo u tebi“ when on stage,we welcome Ivana Husar-Mlinac,  “Slavim ove dane što si tu” or  “Posoljeni zrak i razlivena tinta“ that performed by Gibonni-Urban-Husar Mlinac has launched the audience at the border of possible.  Timeless “Libar” in the total darkness on the stage, listening to beats of silence and looks upon at the starry sky is a feeling at the border of reality, but the moment is very real and tangible. Like Gibonni.  “Zlatne godine” an anthem of an entire generation, to my surprise, followed in the first part of the concert, and Gibo is turning to the audience by few words about life and work of Antonio Lazić who he hasn’t chace to meet. But our actions in life are saying about us when we are gone.  Gibo with his unique and recognizable deep honesty ask us to light the candle of love for all those special ones we love but who are no longer with us. The audience and Gibo in emotional trance united in the chorus… unique!  For the end of yet another of his performances which will become a legend Gibo leaves “Mirakul”, “Oprosti,” “Vrime da se pomirim sa svitom”, “Toleranca“…… and after the full 120-minutes of emotional show he says goodbye to  Slavonians and their guests leving behind, on his very own Gibonni way, hearts filled with positive thoughts and emotions.
Wet and sticky of the Satrudays early evening was replaced by a pleasant refreshing night  air when we were living Strmac. We promised to come back as Antonio Lazić memorial, with the upcoming name of Croatian music scene Zoran Mišić and one, only and unrepleacable Gibonni, isn’t only worthly remembrance of a young man whose life is unforutunately turned off but also with his high organizational level it is might also be a great example to some more popular events. However, we note this memorial event in our calendars with „must go“.

Until next year!

Report & photo: Ivana Sataić (ivana@venia-mag.net)