Reinvention, Capabilities, and Lagartija Nick

On February 1, 2020, I left Joy Eslava impressed by the live performance of “Los Cielos Cabizbajos” by Lagartija Nick. Shortly after, the resounding sound of Monster Magnet left a deafening silence that has lasted too long. A time during which I thought nothing would ever be the same again.

Lagartija Nick in June 2021

Tonight I resume live shows as I left them, with Lagartija Nick.

The concert will be a family celebration, a birthday, the 3-decade anniversary of “Hipnosis” (1991) and 25 years of “Omega” (1996) among others. Over three decades, I have attended more than a dozen concerts, remembering the years I lived abroad or when my “petits cuiners” were born as blank years.

Lagartija Nick in June 2021

Reinvention and Inertia

This time it’s at Conde Duque, and I feel restless like the first time I saw them in the 90s. Restless because it will be outdoors, seated, with distances, and having to contain my urge to jump when songs like “No lo puedes ver”, “Gansterville”, “Hipnosis”, and many others play. But above all, restless to face the symbol of normality restoration that a Lagartija Nick concert represents for me.

Some bands mature (for better or for worse), while others transform (often following trends). They have matured professionally and along the way managed to reinvent themselves by incorporating influences as diverse as Bauhaus (from whom they stole their name), The Stooges, Lorca, Val del Omar, Morente, Buñuel, or their beloved Jesús Arias.

Their reinventions have not followed market demand, sometimes sticking to their previous style and resisting changes, nor the interest in gaining new fans by following current trends. Their reinventions have been based on their musical abilities, various inspirations, creativity, personal moments (and excesses), the availability of great musicians to collaborate with, etc. They, with their capabilities, have paved a path that often clashed with their record label, expert recommendations, and even their audience at that time.

I admire their ability to reinvent themselves in an honest way, their nonconformity, their search for novelty within what they know how to do, their way of getting back on track after mistakes, and their ability to incorporate external capabilities to enhance their own.

What I describe is not exclusive to a rock band but applies to companies and all of us. Sometimes we deny change, let ourselves be carried away by past successes, and think we can keep moving forward thanks to an inertia that drives us. The reality is that every day, there are more forces opposing that inertia.

We live in a changing world where evolution is starting to be insufficient, and we must strive to incorporate capabilities that allow us to reinvent ourselves. I believe we are at a turning point where Technology, Society, and Companies cannot be sustained by the inertia of the past.

If you want to reflect with me on this idea of reinvention, I suggest reading the post “What is Digital Transformation?” where I describe the difference between Digital Transformation and Digital Reinvention, and the post “KODAK VS FUJIFILM: Capability-Centric Digital Transformation” where I illustrate with two examples the fundamental role of capabilities in reinvention processes.

The End of Inertia

I call this moment of change “The End of Inertia”. It is a term that describes the current turning point. The End of Inertia forces us to forget past successes and seek forces that drive us as individuals, society, and companies.

The End of Inertia reflects that need for reinvention that Lagartija Nick has displayed and is also inspired by the title of their second album: Inercia.

Inercia ” Lagartija Nick ” 1992

“It’s the inertia that takes us to the dazzling side
as dazzling as a fish eye,
as invisible as transparent,
avoiding the …
the panic, the temptation,
the connection to panic”

That strange inertia (Amphetamine), Inercia, Lagartija Nick ” 1992

Soon, I will continue talking about The End of Inertia.

Lagartija Nick ” Inercia

I won’t talk about them anymore; I leave you with Inercia (unofficial video).

Post-concert

An impressive concert where they once again reinvented themselves with a carefully crafted audiovisual show. They selected songs from different eras, many not usual in their concerts, to create a coherent thread around characters like Morente, Buñuel, Lorca, Val del Omar, Picasso, and Jesús Arias.

Lagartija Nick at Conde Duque

Lagartija Nick at Conde Duque