Demigods Return to Conquer the Stage: The Band Kicks Off a New Chapter at Lucerna Music Bar

The first Monday of November began like any other day at the start of a gloomy autumn week – but certainly not for everyone. For some demigods, it was a very significant day indeed. The band Demigods, made up partly of former UDG members, has risen from the ashes, brought some fresh blood into the line-up and set out to conquer the stages. This was the first concert featuring the completely new line-up led by brothers Petr and Pavel Vrzák and Bohumil Němeček, following unfortunate internal events that led to the break-up of the original UDG at the beginning of the year. They kicked off their first tour at Prague's Lucerna Music Bar, joined by the Nymburk-based pop-rock band Crossband.

The evening was opened by the band from Nymburk shortly after seven o'clock. They took to the circular stage, with their fans already gathered below, many of them wearing the band's merchandise. They kicked off the show with Mrtvý ryby, and didn't leave out tracks such as Brácha, Krejčovská, Srdce na dlani or Rozhodčí (about the toughest profession). Of course, they also included Anděl bez peří and their most-played radio ballad, Budeš první, during which dozens of mobile phones lit up above the fans' heads. Even at an event like this, however, there was room for Lichva as well as other Samozřejmosti.

Throughout the performance, music videos and song lyrics were projected onto the screen behind them. But now it was time for the biggest moment of the evening – the premiere of their new video Vezměte dcery na pivo. They played it in the background, explaining that fans would only get to see the first half. The second half was meant to be watched the following day, when the video was officially released. (The unofficial story, however, goes that the technology let them down slightly and the second half wouldn't play.) The set then continued with Sněží, Rozmarná and Vánoční přání, before closing with the encore Pošli mi pohled.

Then it was time for the demigods. Demigods, a line-up consisting partly of former UDG members and partly of new faces, stormed the stage full of energy and opened their set with Intergalaktická. During the song, current drummer Ondra Skřivan was joined by Crossband drummer Honza Černý. The very next track featured a special guest – Jakub Děkan. By then, everyone knew that Atomy was coming.

Petr didn't forget to apologise for arriving on stage wearing the band's new merchandise. After 28 years, he needed a reminder that they now had a different name, so it was basically a little cheat sheet. He also admitted that after the disputes within the band, he had thought they would never return to the stage. But the fans had stayed with them and given them another chance.

The energy was flying in every direction as they played songs such as Někam ven, Melodrama, Ještě jednou, Buď a nebe and Duše slečny Mai. They also included their only new song so far, Slova, which reflects the band's current situation. The track was written for them by Ondřej Ládek (aka Xindl X), who personally came to support Demigods. He wasn't the only figure from behind the scenes of the music industry who had come to witness their return. The set closed with Motýl and Kurtizána, followed by the encore Hvězdář, which lit up the mobile phones throughout the entire venue.

The whole concert was charged with pent-up energy and a determination to return to the stage and prove that the band's new line-up could work. Personally, I think that because the original vocalist has remained, the band has retained its original drive and purpose. And honestly, if I hadn't known the saxophone was missing, I wouldn't have noticed it at all during the performance. At the end, the singer was encouraged to stage-dive, and apparently wasn't too worried about it, as he even enjoyed a brief crowd-surf across the audience.

Thank you to the musicians for finding the energy to rise again and continue doing what they love most. And thank you for letting us witness the phoenix rising from the ashes. We look forward to more concerts and, hopefully, new music soon.

Šári