Jānis Grodums R.I.P.

Man proposes, God disposes. This evening, on 17 June, a concert had been planned in Vērmanes Garden in support of the gravely ill rock band "Līvi" musician Jānis Grodums, but it became a memorial evening. Lit candles, flowers, the musician's portrait in the light of spotlights, the fateful dates (10.VI.1958. – 15.VI.2010.) and performances by several well-known and lesser-known musicians on stage. Performing were "Pērkons", "Credo", "Linga", "Bet Bet", "Colt", Aisha, Jenny May, violinist Dzintars Beitāns, young musicians from "Rock'n'Riga", Candy, Johnny Salamander and others.

Many had gathered and sang along. At first not everyone who wanted to could even see the stage, but everyone seemed to be moved. The well-known songs "Ziņģe par bailēm" ("Song About Fears"), "Dzelzsgriezējs" ("Iron Cutter"), "Piedod man" ("Forgive Me"), "Ozolam" ("To the Oak") and others rang out. From time to time the sound equipment let the musicians down, and it was also noticeable that the MC Ufo was not entirely in his element with such events. Nevertheless, the main thing was the genuine desire of those gathered and the musicians to remember and honour Grodums and his contribution to Latvian rock music.

Some lit their lighter flames and swayed to the music's rhythm, some hummed along, others dropped donations into a box for establishing a memorial place for the musician, a couple danced, someone shed a tear. Līvi forever alive, weeds never die...

Although some musicians tried to imitate him, Grodums's voice with its distinctive timbre was truly missed in his songs at this concert - Elita was right about that. It seems this vocal charm is also what determines the fact that many people know the words of his songs in full and not just the chorus. This was evidenced by the audience choir that at the end sang the most popular songs "Meitene zeltene" ("Golden Girl"), "Zīlīte" ("Titmouse"), "Dzimtā valoda" ("Native Language").

A glimpse of the concert: