Thanks to Chris and BAU crew for telling the story about our scene and for helping us grow.♥
For more info about EQUIPMENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE go to
http://equipmentsupportinitiative.blogspot.de/
For a hardcore scene in Novi Sad,
Serbia: More than music
equipment
support initiative
When we
crossed the suburbs of Novi Sad (population: 400,000), I am shocked.
Vacancies, collapsed
buildings, an omnipresent grey. 24 hours later, the world looks completely
different. After a successful BUSINESS AS USUAL show and a nice sightseeing
tour we sit together with Bojan (REBUILD COLLECTIVE) at the Danube (Donau) beach and joke around. It is a rare and nice
feeling to have so many things in common.
Who would have thought that
we would meet such a positive way of life here. In a society which knows
failing states, war and NATO air-raids as well as economic depression. Which
experienced nationalism and dictatorship and which managed a revolution in 1999
that had no further implications. A society formed by the politics of former
henchmen of the Milošević-regime, capitalistic exploitation, corruption and the
mafia. A society staring into a gaping abyss between poor and rich, in which
1.5 of 6 million people are unemployed. In which a lack of prospects goes hand
in hand with feelings of helplessness.
Yet, where many people
would lose all hope, the kids here just start to do something. “Unity through
diversity” is the motto of the REBUILD COLLECTIVE, a young organization of old
stagers and enthusiastic kids. REBUILD organizes hardcore/punk shows, does PR,
assists and supports bands and promotes a positive lifestyle.
This is not easy, since the
situation concerning hardcore and punk in Novi Sad is difficult. There are
fantastic bands like THROUGH THESE EYES, ALL EXCEPT ONE, FURTIVE FOREST, but
they are not able to tour and communicate their ideas to the rest of Europe.
They do not have their own places to practice; since they do not have their own
equipment, they pay for each rehearsal. For a show, they are forced to borrow
their equipment, pay the club, the technician, the security. This quickly amounts
to 150 Euros, while the entrance fee is 2 Euros. You can add up for yourself
how profitable that is. By the way, 2 Euros are pretty much contrasted with a
monthly income of 250 Euros and a juvenile unemployment lying above the
European average. Especially younger kids cannot even afford this, but if there
is a chance, they put everything together, organize carpools and come from all
over the region to see the touring and the local bands. For the bands there only
rarely remains a plus. Given these conditions it is a small wonder that a vital
scene has been founded which organizes concerts on a weekly basis.
The key to keeping this
scene alive and guaranteeing its development is the equipment. This costs as
much as the equipment in Germany, if not more than that. Due to the
protectionism import tariff must be paid which turns the expensive goods into
unattainable goods. Only if the whole scene is provided with equipment, REBUILD
would be able to save money, provide the local bands with a complete backline
and send them on tour.
Thus, our band BUSINESS AS
USUAL collects equipment with the EQUIPMENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE to bring it to
Novi Sad supporting the local subculture. We would be happy if people would
like to help us realizing this initiative. Word-of-mouth recommendations are
necessary, but real help and action is essential.
BUSINESS AS USUAL started
organizing solidarity shows to spread the idea and to collect equipment. Even a
D.I.Y. sampler has been released. The first pieces of equipment has already been
collected and the first transport is about to start. Friends and bands driving
into the region and the NGO SCHUELER HELFEN LEBEN (Students help to live)
support us. Our goal is to found a long-term initiative which first donates
equipment to REBUILD and helps to equip the club CK 13. We need everything
which belongs to a good backline: guitar and bass amps, speakers, PA (parts),
monitors, microphones and cables. Everything a band needs – for free would be best.
Please help!
Until then, we can only
recommend every band to go to Novi Sad. The historically important city at the
Danube (Donau) with its flair of the k.u.k. monarchy teaches you the beauty of
socialist mouse-grey; you see a nice historic center and drink coffee in front
of the mafia restaurant at the fortification of Petrovaradin. Alternatively,
you can have tofu-pasta-pieces of art in the university district, which you can
enjoy at the Danube beach. In the evening, Serbian bands lovingly wear out your
high-end equipment and play you off the stage with their experience and skills.
After that, you can have – if you would like to drink – tasty beer in bottles
of 2 liters.
translation by
Kevizzel from BAU
