Prague Live Music: Good things come to those who wait

If you are wondering about the headline—though I can’t fathom why you would be—let me spell it out. The “good things” are Petra Vlková & Sonic Playground (Petra Vlková (voc), Mikuláš Pokorný (p), Libor Šmoldas (g)). “Those who wait” would be me.

Sometimes the soul just craves plain old standards. No fancy digital effects, no overproduced drama, and absolutely nothing trying to mask the original beauty of the tune. Instead, you want pure love and immense skill for the song—the kind that captures your attention because it respects the roots, yet entirely reimagined. I know that sounds like a massive pile of contradictions in one breath, and trust me, pulling it off is no easy task. That is exactly why I track this lineup across the Republic.

Last night at The Old Lady, I got everything I bargained for and then some. Petra’s incredibly characteristic voice and magnetic stage presence paired beautifully with the band. The seamless togetherness between the musicians—peppered with their brilliant little mid-set pranks—makes it impossible not to fall completely in love with the performance.

Let me repeat myself: even if they played the exact same chart night after night, it would feel entirely different every single time. That is a rare superpower. Learning a complex jazz tune is tough enough, but making it breathe differently during every performance requires that little bit of magic they simply cannot teach you at the conservatory. Of course, it keeps things interesting for the stage, but few musicians truly possess the instinct. In this lineup, you get three of them.

Then there is the sheer joy they share up there. Anyone who frequents the local scene knows the golden rule: if the band is having fun, the room is having fun. And this trio is always having a blast.

By the end of the set, the club was just a sea of happy faces. It also answered a question I get thrown at me far too often: don’t I get tired of shooting and watching the exact same band over and over? Now you know the answer. No, I don’t. You will absolutely catch me at the next gig, and the one after that. Besides, the Sonic Playground doesn’t gig nearly as much as they should, making every single reunion feel like the very first time. I left the room thoroughly impressed, happy. 😀