Bára Poláková in Ledárny Braník showed playfulness and interaction with the band
After a year, Bára Poláková returned to Ledárny Braník with a changed setlist. Compared to last year, she reduced the number of guests and bet more on herself and her immediacy. A trio of vocalists and slightly arranged arrangements of some songs did well for her.
Live: Bára Poláková
place: Braník Iceworks, Prague
date: June 9, 2022
setlist: 2-8-5, Cow, Turkey, Ego, If, Half-wind, She, Water, One second, After the war, Head, Turbulent, Come, Backstage, Who’s more, Vono, Generation, Just before In the end, It’s uncertain, Pas
Photo gallery
This year’s Ledárny is a little different from previous years. They are no longer under the auspices of the Lucerna Music Bar and end earlier, at half past nine. This is because last year people from the area complained about more noise. As an executive banner, Councilor Hana Kordová Marvanová drafted a decree that significantly limits concerts in Ledárny. The council will discuss it in mid-June, so I will see how it turns out. In any case, you can support the concerts in Ledárny with a petition that runs from the previous year.
© Tomas Parkan / musicserver.cz
But back to the main one, the magical and ethereal actress and singer Bára Poláková. On the day exactly a year ago, I wrote about her when she was sailing on a steamer. It’s also been some Friday since Bara released the record. Her latest work is the song “The Only Second”, which was the central melody of the film “13 Minutes” and was sung with Kat from Prago Union. Bandleader and keyboardist David Hlaváč perfectly replaced her rap line at the concert. They incorporated the names and lyrics of individual songs from the repertoire into the musician himself, including the name of the concert location. The introduction non-violently moved to the song “2-8-5”. Second, Bára and Katka Pechová recorded the notorious “Cow”. In front of “Turks and Press” David was able to quote with a view: “Even from the stones that someone puts in our way, you can build a beautiful building.” I honestly don’t know what he was talking about, and maybe Bara, as she could see from her surprised expression. At “Krosna” she revealed that she wants to keep her emotions in check, because she often touches her because she is sad, but she didn’t have to be …, which was an allusion to the end of her cohabitation with Pavel Liška. During the evening, the song “Ego” was heard, which is not usually played much, nor does it have to be much, but it is popular with the tour manager Vašík. But it was not the only dedication. The final “Passport” belonged to Tomáš, ie the one for whom it was originally intended. The singer dedicated the song “She” to a friend who has been happily entered for a year.
© Tomas Parkan / musicserver.cz
The set had several imaginary peaks. One of them was the end of the song “If”, when Bára gradually sat down with the vocalists at the edge of the stage. They also sat at “PoloVina” and sang untraditionally accompanied by a mere guitar. This song is the title track for the film “Bábovky”, which I coincidentally saw only the day before the concert (Bára has one of the title roles there). But it wasn’t the only movie tune that could be heard that evening. Already last year, “Voda” from the fairy tale “Mazel and the Secret of the Forest” was heard. The young boy Matěj Frendrych came to support her (just like last time). A solid element is the trio of vocalists and the overall harmony of the band. The male singing element is Michal Strnad, whom many know from the vocal group Skety, who released their debut solo album this year.
© Tomas Parkan / musicserver.cz
Without whom would the songs not sound as we know them? After all, without David Hlaváč, bandleader and key author (in collaboration with Bára). He enjoys grimaces and the way you play. He gives smiles and sends kisses. With “Framed”, which sounds a lot different than we know it from the radio, at the end of the raised key to caught up guitar mages in the use of their solos. Bara received her five minutes of fame at the instrument, specifically at the drum, in “Come on”.
© Tomas Parkan / musicserver.cz
The singer changed the outfit to additions and jumped in a fresh yellow short set. The redesigned “Vono” worked very well, when David took an accordion and suddenly it was a jumping Balkan brass band. If it was, according to Bara, it wouldn’t have happened. It’s great that she let herself be persuaded. It sounded great. Like the remake of “It’s Uncertain” by JAR, which took many forms from other authors on the compilation “Beaver Escalation”. Despite the fact that the concert was not attended by as many people as in previous mainstream performers, it did not hurt. The performance graduated, from shy Bars happened wild, fluffy and enjoying Bara. Melancholy songs replaced the more sparkling ones at the end of the evening. The final “Passport” traditionally passed in the pelmel of the hits “Can’t Stop The Feeling” by Justina Timberlake and the melody from the cult “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.