Dagö's old and new plans

10.12.2010, Dagö, Viljandi Dark Nights Filmfestival 10th anniversary, club Puhas Kuld (Pure Gold) (Liisa Kaha - MuKriErikursus 2010 VKA)

Dagö's sixth album „Plaan Delta“ is going to come out next spring. This autumn-winter there were some concerts where all curious fans could check out new marterial included into the album. As a matter of fact, Dagö hasn't given any concerts for quite a long time and the concerts included quite many songs from the old albums. I visited the concert in Viljandi. Dagö was visiting the city for the Tallinn Dark Nights Festival PÖFF (with special events also in smaller towns like Viljandi), that was having its 10th birthday, so some of the audience had their colourful birthday hats on.

First eleven songs played were new, so the audience was devided struggled with watching and listening to the unpublished material, the last song of the album isn't clear yet even for the band members themself.  Hearing new songs before releasing is always a bit exclusive. When Dagö reached playing some older songs, people started to sing along and dancing. The crowd proved the figure of speech about Estonians: at first it is hard to get started and after hard to hold on. During one song dedicated to the Viljandi Folk festival the singer Lauri Saatpalu energetically told the crowd to raise their hands and make some noise, but the effect started only when the song came to the end. Dagö is always good to see on stage, they have catching rhythm and lyrics. So some of the audience started humming along the song „Šveits“ („Switzerland“) without even noticing it and Dagö was called back for two extra songs.

For a new album Dagö has new band members, that fresh up the performance of the old songs as well. Dagö wouldn't be Dagö without the singer Lauri Saatpalu, next to him remained as old member guitar player Peeter Rebane. The new young musicians of the band are Kristjan Priks (drums), Tarvi Kull (synth) and Henno Kelp (base guitar). The band is professional and enjoyable on the stage, at the same time helping to stick out Lauri Saatpalu's figural performance.

Dagö's bigwig Lauri Saatpalu has a very special voice, his dramatic and expressive being on the stage has always been interesting for me to observe. Although, considering aformentioned characteristics I can understand why some won't like him – maybe because of his strong and throaty voice, gestures, humor and slight irony. Some may not like it but a lot of us do. The lyrics of Dagö‘s music have always been playful, I could even say enchanting. For instance one of the new song lyrics haunted me for a while: With you I could maybe... May be. Maybe? The material of the new album is exactly what one was suppose to expect, there were no big suprises. The sound and the themes are those we are used to, this is what the Dagö fans are waiting for. On „Plaan Delta“ there are going to be various stories, some of their themes are almost „traditional“: food, love, different places... The last theme is „in the nature“ of the band – Dagö is also the historical name for the beautiful island Hiiumaa in Estonia. Places seems to be a good inspiration for the band.

Of course, first contact with the new material was too brief to give a detailed statement/analysis. After the concert I would of been glad to hear the new songs again at home. I have to say that the sound quality was really good, I wan't expecting it from this club. Also I was glad that the person I visited the concert with expirienced a good suprise comparing to previous quite negative prejudice about Dagö.

I've noticed that I tend to listen to Dagö in the spring and summer, but this concert was excellent in the snowy winter time also. So my smile from the concert/remained even the next day when I put on my headphones and listened to the old good Dagö.

Liisa Kaha (UT VCA Student of Cultural Management)