Live: 2Cellos @ Greenwich Music Time

Almost everyone has a bucket list. No matter if you are interested in fashion, music, travel, photography or you want to gain some personal goals. Mine contains mostly bands I want to see live for the first time. 2CELLOS has been on top of that list since a friend of mine send me the link to their video of Smells Like Teen Spirit. As a die-hard Nirvana fan, who detests cover versions, my first thought was not another miserable take on the famous song…I watched it and surprisingly I liked it.

For the very first time, I had a feeling it wasn’t another sad cover but a small masterpiece. Something fresh and absolutely different to all I’ve ever heard.  It happens that my wish to see them live was fulfilled this summer during Greenwich Music Time.

It is a sunny July afternoon at the Old Naval College in Greenwich and with it’s surrounding green open spaces it is the perfect place to host a concert with the Slovenian/Croatian duo. There is a picnic like atmosphere and as the night draws closer in, the crowd get thicker and settle into evening drinks and snacks from the many food stalls surround the old courtyard.

The group became famous in 2011 when their version of Michel’s Jackson’s Smooth Criminal took YouTube by storm. Ever since then Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić, have developed the 2Cellos idea to perform rock classics in a large stage environment. Sure, there have been symphonic arrangements before from Rolling Stones to Emerson Lake and Palmer but it is not quite the same as transferring a rock song into the world of just one instrument.  As crazy as the idea might seem to be it proved to be very successful, as appearances on many TV shows including Glee have confirmed.

Right from the start Stjepan Hauser made his purpose to have great contact with the audience. He is the one who charms, seduces and makes them in awe of his words. Luka Šulić stays calm, passive, almost in his shadow. The set starts with a classical theme, Oblivion by the great Tango composer Astor Piazolla. Stjepan jokes and small talks and mentions it was his first visit to London since he studied in the building on the left side of the stage and he feels a little uncertain with his old teacher sitting somewhere in the audience. The confession caused a storm of applause.

As soon as the band rushed into U2’s With Or Without You the temperature rose but it was good old rock that moved people from their seats and Smells Like Teen Spirit sounded as fresh as when I heard it for the very first time.

The idyllic place doesn’t quite fit to jumping up and down during a concert and in fact, the crowd didn’t quite look like one you would expect to jump either. Gentlemen in suits, ladies in dresses and plenty of young ones but music once again proved that it really doesn’t matter who you are or how you look, if you feel like it then do it!

Live Review & Photography by Edyta K

2Cellos appeared at Greenwich Music Time on 5th July 2016.

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