LAGWAGON/IDEM/FOUR BLACK LUNGS (Report - KINO ŠIŠKA, Ljubljana, 23.06.2025.)

 Monday evening brought back some good memories! Ljubljana, KINO ŠIŠKA, full house and a punk gig! 

First one on stage were FOUR BLACK LUNGS, a punk band from Munich. As they are no strangers to this zine, I was very much looking forward to seeing them play live - finally! And I was pleasantly surprised! These guys and a girl play some old school punk rock. No complications, no bullshit, just pure punk! Simple but strong riffs, great vocals (Celina, girl, you've got great voice!!!), melodic, mature sound and really cool energy on stage. They played their 30 minutes set, finishing with something familiar, cover of The Menzingers. Can't wait to see them again!

Next one was closer to home. IDEM, a project started by Antun Aleksa from Zagreb, turned in to a full, wild, explosive band experience that is taking the scene by storm and making everybody fall in love on the first listening. They filled ŠIŠKA to the roof, making everyone sing and dance, proving that punk is the state of mind! IDEM brought such energy and unity, it was pure madness! And the best way to heat up the atmosphere for the main thing of the evening - LAGWAGON!

So, after a short break LAGWAGON stepped on the stage of KINO ŠIŠKA, and went straight to the head: "Violins", "After You My Friend", "Falling Apart", "I Must Be Hateful", "Alien 8", "Making Friends", "To All My Friends", "Sleep", "Razor Burn" and finishing of with "May 16" and "Bye For Now".

Some would say that they "played it safe" regarding the setlist, but never the less, it was one great song after another. One singalong after another. How to decide which songs to put on a setlist that wouldn't be "playing safe" when having in mind the opus of the band and time spent on the scene? Joey was fun, his interaction with the crowd was unbelievable, Cape/ Flippin combo took me back in time... good times, some 15 years ago, when Ljubljana was living and breathing punk, when we went to a gig almost every or every other month. The good times! This was LAGWAGON from that time. This was LAGWAGON that makes you beg for air! This is LAGWAGON in it's best! Thank you guys, this was one of, if not the best gig you did in the last few years, and it was electrifying!!! 

Written by I.