Prague's Old Town Square rocks out to raise funds

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll may be all some bodies need, but it's certainly not a healthy way to live. So it's fitting that some of the biggest names in Czech music are coming together on Old Town Square for a fundraiser to help drug addicts work toward a better life.

Drop In, an organization helping drug addicts rebuild their lives, is celebrating 20 years in existence and has called in some friends to ring in the date in the center of Prague. The Ivan Hlas Trio, Cartonnage, Laura a Její Tygři, Gypsy.cz, Ohm Square and several other groups are taking part in the all-afternoon event, which will include 30-minute sets from each group and also a one-song promo from each at the end of the evening to be filmed and broadcast on Czech TV. The event marks a very special day for one of the longest-running charity organization in the country, and also marks a return for one of Prague's best-loved and longest-running musical acts, Ohm Square.

Formed in 1996, Ohm Square is a group that's hard to pin down. The group's four albums, Ohmophonica (1997), voted Record of the Year in Rock and Pop magazine; Scion (1999); Love Classics (2005); and Taking Shape (2007) have all varied widely, from techno-infused pop to dance, to downtempo and back. Singer and founding member Charlie One, hailing from the United Kingdom, has remained a steadfast presence whose voice is commanding yet tender, demanding to be heard but not giving a damn if you're not listening.

While Ohm Square is a well-loved, seminal band on the Czech electronic and dance music scene, they have famously taken their time producing each album. Since touring to promote the release of Taking Shape, the band has been on an unofficial hiatus and only recently resurfaced, with a new lineup, with a performance in Olomouc.

"We're playing in a different format now, just two of us: myself and Jan Čechtický on guitar along with Mirek Lacko [on] piano. We've also been using some new software and using a lot of loops," Charlie One tells The Prague Post.

Fans of Ohm Square have always reveled in their ability to morph their sound - always producing music that is danceable, fluid and textured, but shrugging off genre labels almost as soon as they are applied. The group's new incarnation is its most stripped down yet, having changed over the years from a quartet to a trio to a duo plus one. The singer says Ohm Square's newest music is "more groovy" than much of their previous material, and adds that the band's new software has become something of a fourth member, allowing them to explore different directions during live performances.

"We're testing out a new method of playing with more improvisation. Now we can build tracks as we're going along, so if we're vibing on something, you can go off in a different direction than you did at the last show," she says.

After the benefit concert on the square, Ohm Square will be launching a tour, including a multimedia show at Akropolis Oct. 21, which will include visual projections linked to the sound. The band is also recording a video that will be launched along with their tour. But for now, Charlie One says they are focusing on getting their chops up for their gig alongside other favorite local acts.

"We are happy to support such an event and it will be an experience to play in such a prestigious place in the city, especially for unsuspecting tourists," she says.

If seeing Ohm Square and the rest of the fantastic lineup for free weren't enough, this concert will let you rock out for a good cause, too.

Stephan Delbos can be reached at
sdelbos@praguepost.com