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Rating: It was supposed to be a majestic free concert in Piazza Magione, in Palermo. A few days before the group Agnelli’s only Sicilian date, I set out to check on the web for news and updates. A blow to the heart! Fear! The concert will be held at the Spasimo church (near the square) and what’s more... ticket price 10 euros + 1 for pre-sale!!
More shocking news: the pre-sales and tickets can only be purchased in Palermo at specific sales points or at least a few hours before the event, risking not to find them. I mean, do you realize the mess?? For someone like me who lives outside, it was complicated.. Resignation will take me for a few minutes.. then the solution. I wonder: "do I know someone in Palermo who could buy me 3 tickets for the legendary Afterhours??" Eventually, I find this blessed person (she will be reimbursed immediately, don't worry..), okay, the tickets are already secured.. now the journey. I check if buses or trains depart at night, maybe a few hours after the concert ends.. nothing! What the heck! I remember that a few steps (so to speak, a few steps) from the square there is my place, yes the studio one I share with other guys, which at the end of August I will leave.. dusty and dirty as always, but a point of reference for waiting for the bus at 6:15 am on August 8th..
We arrive in Palermo around 19:00, from the station it is easy and quick to get to Piazza Magione, meet friends, especially the tickets and everything else. The Kals’art event, featuring interesting programs related to music, cinema, theater, and art itself, is taking place. The music section of the event closes this evening with the Afterhours scheduled at 21:30, after the Palermo group Pivirama. At 21:00.. I think we start heading towards this church, which they say is very small, but suggestive.. let's hope for the best. Someone thinks there will be seats and that the group will perform in an acoustic version.. Too many people, way too many, outside this desecrated church, the traffic was closed but some assholes passed anyway, even in the opposite direction, merging with the crowd gathered at the church door and those who were quietly at the pub in front. What a situation!! How many fans came from all over Sicily, how many without a ticket?? So many really many.
Nevertheless, we manage to get in earlier than expected, right after a couple of girls invite us to remove the caps from the plastic bottles.. all right! Then a small square with vendors selling T-shirts, food, and drinks. Nothing for free. A little further we delve inside, really particular, eagerly awaiting the concert with fan shirts already worn. First, the Pivirama perform, an interesting psychedelic rock band, complete with a violin and a woman on vocals. The stage is set low and even if you're in the front rows, you can't see much.. It's incredible the emotion that the entrance of Manuel Agnelli's group brings, with a little delay let's admit it, holding a bottle which seems to be wine and the audience saying: < drunkard!! He he he > They start with “The End is Most Important” and it’s delirium. I don't realize that I'm attending one of their concerts, so similar are they to the studio versions, really great!! Then they continue with “The White Widow”.. with that intro made of hand claps by the whole band, Manuel swings the microphone in his hands almost like Roger Daltrey of the Who, really engaging. And the audience wholeheartedly appreciates!
Then the ecstasy with “The Subtle White Line”, perhaps their most beautiful piece from “Ballads for Little Hyenas” reaching emotional peaks in the verses: “Sacred and alone, Dirty bride, Lay on your lap, White blades like dames”. Then one of my absolute favorite pieces: “On the Lips” amidst screams and mind-blowing riffs! Follows “The Blood of Judas” and everyone in chorus “there is only blood, only blood, only blood inside, only blood inside!!”.
Manuel: "Of course it's stupid to organize something like this here..".
The subsequent songs I won’t be able to enjoy given the swaying movement and the pogo that had nothing to do coming from two stoned jerks that shortly.. calm down!. Damn, the pieces were “It’s Not Forever” and “Inside Marylin”! “Ballad for My Little Hyena” and the beautiful “Milan Outer Ring Road” are sung by everyone, the latter very unique with its electronic progression, the white lights as a backdrop, Manuel's final screams. Still rock and roll with “Varanasi Baby” and “I Am Not Imaginary” before the pit stop of “How I Wish”, a masterpiece in every sense, Manuel and Roberto dell’Era on piano, Dario Ciffo with his deafening electric violin and newcomer Enrico Gabrielli on sax... the church with its lights, the sky as a roof.. an atmosphere like never before that enchants the audience happily.
Manuel: "We won't play Male di miele, it pisses us off!.."
1996 is one of those most awaited, most sung, most pogoed, most cursed moments.. introduced by that great character Roberto dell’Era, a stage animal, who for the whole evening will only jump, dance with that amazing bass and those so cool white glasses, singing lines in English before the actual song is sung in unison by the audience. Pogo pogo pogo: “On the Youth of Today I Spit.”!! Arms raised, fists clenched, screams.. I find myself forward.. then back.. we're about to fall.. we make it! A strange moment is that of “Icebox”, old song, from the English period.. practically unknown to many. The majestic sadness of “Rubber Ocean” closes the first part of the concert amidst applause and perhaps tears.. I remained embraced with my girlfriend.
The audience: "Out, out, out.. !!"
The Afterhours return for the encore singing “Dust to Dust”. Immediately afterward, we are left speechless: “What’s Not There”, the most beloved, suffered, angry, with the final breathtaking solo. Manuel forgets a line and the audience continues on their own, “Fresh Meat” which live is unique and splendid, “Simple and Trivial Things” reminds us that the concert is about to end “thanks to everyone really, but we are at the end and I missed the start..”, finally “Bye Bye Bombay”, and here I really don’t know what to say anymore.
Manuel: "We will definitely come back very soon".
They exit to a huge applause. People leave, my girlfriend and I move closer to the front where my sister was, the audience still encourages “out out out..”, I say “yeah well, they won’t come out anymore..”. They return. It’s incredible. Manuel just keeps saying thank you, they are happy and you can feel it, I feel proud of everything.
Manuel: "Thank you, thank you"
They start again with the monumental and perhaps best “You Don’t Get Out of the 80’s Alive”. Finally, the unexpected “Male di Miele” and “I Want a Splendid Skin”. I find it hard to use other words than delirium, amazing, beautiful, ecstasy..
Manuel: "We will return very soon, I assure you".
Thank you, thank you so much. Thank you!
It could have been organized better. The place was really beautiful but very small for such an event. I heard there were over 1500 people inside this tiny church, I didn't notice, I was in the fifth row at most... many perhaps non-paying..
Then the return home..
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