FACE TOur FACE Breaks Down Barriers: Rybičky 48 and Koblížci Bring Pardubice Right onto the Stage
Mention a club gig and seasoned concertgoers and die-hard music lovers instantly picture the smell of beer, stuffy air, a stage within arm's reach, and energy so thick you could cut it with a knife. That was exactly what Rybičky 48 promised with their current FACE TOur FACE tour. From the moment the show was announced, Pardubice and its legendary Žlutý pes club made it clear they were not about to miss it. The first date sold out in a flash, so the band decided to add another. And, truth be told, the first show, on Friday, October 9, 2026, was already a night people will remember for a long time.
Koblížci took on the job of warming up the crowd, and from the very first notes it was obvious that nobody would be holding back. Frontman Josef Vařeka burst onto the stage with enough energy to make a nuclear power plant jealous. If there is one band on today's Czech scene with no shortage of raw, untamed drive, it is this lot. Vařeka gave what felt like a thousand percent, and the unwritten duty of a support act, to get every single person in the room fired up, was fulfilled with flying colours. Koblížci blasted riff after riff into the audience, and the club began to shake dangerously on its foundations.
The fact that Koblížci are about more than music, and above all about connecting with their fans, became clear during the break. Instead of disappearing backstage, the guys simply jumped off the stage and straight into the sweaty crowd. Even though the lights on the dance floor were off and photos were only possible thanks to phone flashes and a little luck, nobody minded. Anyone who wanted a souvenir in the form of a picture with the band got their chance. It was that beautiful, raw, spontaneous spirit of punk rock.
When You Get a Drum and Take Charge of the Pit
There is something utterly irreplaceable about gigs in small clubs. You are so close to the band that you can see every drop of sweat on the musicians' faces. The whole evening suddenly feels far more intimate, yet at the same time even wilder. There are no barriers, no giant screens, just you, the band, and raw music.
And the experience becomes even more powerful when the band chooses you as the "lucky one". Imagine it: for the length of a single song, you become a fully fledged member of the band. Someone puts a drum in your hands, and with every beat you suddenly command the entire crazed pit below you. Stage fright? Embarrassment? Forget it. There is no room for either on nights like these. There is only the pounding crowd and music that swallows you whole.
Hit After Hit and a Spine-Tingling Singalong
Then it was time for the night's headliners to take over. With FACE TOur FACE, Rybičky 48 are making a nostalgic return to the places where it all began. It is a tribute to small clubs and a reminder of the long, rocky road to success in the music world, a road these guys have travelled the hard way over the years.
Their set spanned singles from throughout their extensive career, from the old punk-rock anthems that so many of us grew up shouting along to in the pit to more recent hits. The place was sold out, the air was thick, everyone was having a fantastic time, and pure joy echoed through the club. One of the most powerful moments of the evening was a duet the band originally performs with Bára Zemanová. This time, the crowd took over the vocals. The mighty chorus ringing through Žlutý pes made everyone feel like an integral part of the band. Goosebumps guaranteed.
Was there anything missing from an otherwise perfect night? Musically, absolutely nothing. But we do have one tiny request: next time, please lift frontman Kuba up and crowdsurf him all the way to the bar for a shot of Captain Morgan! After a vocal and physical performance like that, his mouth must have been completely dry.
Hesitate and You'll Miss Out
If you are reading this and you were at the gig, chances are you can still feel the aftershocks of that incredible energy. But if you missed it and are still wondering whether to catch one of the remaining FACE TOur FACE dates, consider this your clearest possible invitation.
A night like this simply has to be experienced. It takes you straight back to the days when music was all about getting together with your mates at a club, leaving your worries behind, and singing your lungs out. And a word of warning: if you think you cannot make it this year and will just wait until next year, you are making a huge mistake. Next year, Rybičky 48 will play just ONE single concert. That is reason enough not to miss Koblížci and Rybičky 48 in such an intimate, up-close club setting this year. See you in the pit!
Text and photos: ta.s.krkavci