Scuffy Dogs
When speaking of Nova Gorica’s musical icons, it is impossible not to mention the punk rock band Scuffy Dogs, which, in our teenage years, we discussed in almost mythical terms—such was the strength and reach of their influence on the broader alternative scene. There is hardly a local alternative band that was not shaped by them. Many of the original members later went on to play in other bands such as Elvis Jackson, Pizda Materna, Man in the Shadow and Krik Disneylanda. Their strongest mark was left through their releases and concerts at the turn of the millennium.
The group of longtime friends—Tomo Kutin (vocals), Andraž Humar (guitar, vocals), Matjaž Cej (bass, vocals) and Sašo Kotnik (drums, vocals)—already had some experience, but it was only with the founding of Scuffy Dogs in 1994 that they truly got serious. Suddenly, Nova Gorica had a real punk band. Genre-wise, they were close to early-1980s British street punk, and as working-class musicians, they were also aligned with their role models ideologically. In 1995, they released their first track, Nočna kronika, followed by a European tour across Germany, Austria, Italy and Croatia, as well as a series of concerts at venues large and small across Slovenia. In 1996, the Maribor-based label Jay Walk released a split record with the band Wasserdicht, soon followed by a self-titled EP on the Italian label Nuclear Sun Punk. Their songs appeared on various compilations, from Mexico and the USA to Brazil and Japan. In 1997, Nuclear Sun Punk also released their self-titled debut album, which quickly sold out. More tours across Slovenia and Europe followed, along with performances alongside bands such as NOFX, D.O.A., Marky Ramone, Peter and the Test Tube Babies and Cockney Rejects. In 2001, their second self-titled album was released by the local label Front Rock, also bringing their first music video for the track Vesolj-ska. The video remained in the charts of Videospotnice—a cult Slovenian music TV show—for ten weeks, contributing to the boom of music video culture in Slovenia.
Following several line-up changes in the rhythm section, the band announced a break in the early 2000s. During discussions about a reunion in 2009, their last bassist, Ivan Sirk, suddenly passed away. They eventually returned to the stage in 2010 and were warmly received by a younger generation as well. A dynamic period followed, with numerous performances, plans for reissues and work on new material, but frontman Tomo Kutin fell seriously ill. In May 2014, a benefit concert titled In Tomo We Trust was organised at Mostovna, featuring many local bands, with all proceeds dedicated to his treatment. Kutin passed away after a long illness at the end of November 2014, leaving behind an invaluable legacy. Nova Gorica paid tribute to him on its 70th anniversary, when musicians from the NOVA Music Society, the vocal ensemble Reunion, the Nova Gorica Music School, Valterap, Smaal Tokk and Anže Vrabec performed a unique rendition of the song Revolucija on the lawn in front of the municipal building.
Avtor: Jaša Bužinel
