Over winter break, Balkan singer Devito Anonymo made a stop in Chicago during his U.S. showcase tour of his new album “Nema Spavanja.” Along with his tour was DJ Mike Ride, who made an unforgettable experience on Christmas Day.
While the majority of Americans – as well as Balkan Catholics – gather with family, eat Christmas dinner and exchange gifts, many other Balkan teens take the night of Dec. 25 as a chance to dance the night away. This is because Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas by the Julian calendar – typically two weeks later – and followers of Islam don’t celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday.
The venue – Skokie’s North Shore Holiday Inn – quickly filled up with Balkan teens and adults alike. The event opened with an electric set from Mike Ride, hyping up the massive crowd with chart-topping hits like Nucci‘s “Hilton Hotel Barça,” Breskvica‘s “Ko To Tamo” and “Blokada” by the well-known duo Jala Brat and Buba Corelli. Then, at 11 p.m., Devito made his grand entrance, erupting the crowd with his most popular hit, “Svemir.” I was able to arrive early enough to get a spot right next to the stage, giving me the chance to be fully immersed in the action. His new album had dynamic balances in energy and mood, with the catchy melodies of “Ego” and “Anxiozno,” as well as the sheer energy of songs like “DiCaprio.”
After the concert ended, fans gathered in the hotel lobby. Eventually, Devito came out of his room, stirring a massive commotion as people flocked to the staircase in hopes of getting a picture with him. Security tried to manage what was more of a mob than a line, allowing attendees to go up one-by-one to take pictures. In the end, due to safety concerns, only around 50 people got this opportunity, and I was lucky enough to be one of these people. Around 1 a.m., people began clearing the hotel.
The concert was an amazing experience. Being able to see one of my favorite artists so close to home, and so close to the stage, was truly surreal. Although it was slightly disappointing that nearly the entire concert was lip-synced, it was still a fun atmosphere, especially since I was able to enjoy a good night out with my friends. Overall, I’d give the concert a 4.5/5 stars. Given the affordable tickets and awesome energy, I would definitely go to another Devito show.
