40th anniversary of “Crematorium”: played decadence with orchestra and choir
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Rock legends took their anniversary tour to Moscow
The anniversary tour of the “Crematorium” group reached Moscow, and with a concert in “Gorbushka” the musicians completed their forty-year report to their capital flock. As a rule, delicacies are expected from shows dedicated to significant dates, and Armen Grigoryan and his comrades prepared a lot of them.
In anticipation of meeting the rock legends, the public had to stand in line to enter. But if someone was cold on the street, then in the hall everyone was warmed up with emotions and songs in the amount of more than three dozen. The ambitious set list was accompanied by a very informative script, which included members of the Globalis Orchestra, guest introductions, and a stage designated as “Vodka Choir.”
However, nothing similar to the anniversary monumentality and obsessive designation of one’s place in the local rock hierarchy was noticed during the action. It is difficult to remember situations when the participants of “Crematorium” presented their hits with a serious look. They also decided to spend their fifth decade with a grin rather than with a reverent attitude towards their own persons.
“Trust me and tell them all – the roads, every single one, lead here. To the house of eternal sleep…” Armen Grigoryan was broadcasting from the stage, and on the screen at that moment the fire was blazing and skeletons were dancing, which immediately gave the whole event the right antipathetic mood.
Even the performances of academic musicians looked unpretentious that evening. The two symphonic blocks were not at all overwhelming with their significance, there were no media faces flashing among the guests, instead there were friends with their songs, and “Vodka Choir” turned out to be a spontaneous team of everyone willing and able to go on stage to sing “Garbage Wind” with minimal help from Armen Grigoryan. Probably, all this was reminiscent of a hippie cabbage show, where popularly loved hits were performed as if at a student party after a session. “Students” for the most part, most likely, no longer perceive the term “retirement” as something hopelessly distant, but at the same time they have not yet forgotten how to have fun.
Probably all music critics in their assessments of “Crematorium” clearly or transparently hinted at the fame that fell on this group contrary to logic. Grigoryan’s team never had anything that could work well in local conditions. Neither the emotional anguish of “DDT”, nor the burn-and-walk of “Alice”, nor the supernatural style as a function of the simplicity of “Kino”.
The discography of “Crematorium” resembles a winding path, where, nevertheless, a general line was always indicated. All this time Armen Grigoryan seemed to be working on an original song for those who cannot stomach traditional local bardism. As a result, there were quite a few such people. Everyday romanticism, seasoned with guitars and violins and as if shrouded in wine vapors, became the basis of the main hits of “Crematorium”, and all these songs managed to live much longer than many expected.
In big concert mode, the entire signature “Crematorium” set sounds quite smooth, despite the fact that the studio versions of these songs were recorded at different times and with different views on what was cool at that moment. In general, it is difficult to blame this group for a strategy formulated as “new songs are needed by those who have bad old ones.” The latest album, “Sweet Elvis,” was released by “Crematorium” this year, so even at anniversary shows, new music is played.
However, some rituals have become so important that it is difficult to abandon them. Hat burning is part of the mandatory program. A special headdress is sprayed with a flammable mixture to create a more spectacular flame, carried out on an iron structure and set on fire to the delight of the public. True, Armen himself no longer wears classic hats. He prefers a bandana or something leather with glasses, as if from the wardrobe of a character from a steampunk movie.
Although outfits, of course, are not the main thing here. Much more important was the rejoicing in the hall and the friendly company behind the scenes, which was waiting for the heroes of the evening with full glasses and congratulatory toasts. No film crews with the same stupid questions, no useless PR fuss and obligatory anniversary flattery. Add to this the vintage interiors of the capital’s main rock citadel, not much spoiled by reconstruction, and you get a holiday about which you can only remember pleasant things.
Newspaper headline:
Played decadence
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