Après La Classe
Live @ Mad in Salento - Lecce 03/06/'06

THE REVIEW

There's nothing better than spending a vacation day in the warmth (in this case a bit metaphorical as a word) of your own home.

And if there's a concert by the Après, that warmth exceeds any weather adversity and turns into a whirling wave of overwhelming energy. The initiative (which I unconditionally applaud) "Mad in Salento" was supposed to see alternating performances over 4 days and 4 nights on the stage of Piazza Palio and in the historic center of Lecce by great Salento bands and young talents seeking glory, as well as various DJ sets to "keep spirits warm" washed down with plenty of beer and wine.

I say "was supposed" because the weather, unkind as ever, poured endless storms on the first two days, even forcing the omnipotent Sud Sound System to postpone their live set. Despite this, various activities enlivened the city, open museums, sites of interest, cultural events, local and ethnic craft exhibitions. Given the circumstances, everyone with their noses in the air on the evening of the 3rd, waiting for the Après... who at 11:30 PM took the stage igniting a fuse of ska, patchanka (or punkchanka as they call it) and rock that exploded, leaving everyone as usual breathless dancing and pogoing.
Starting with "Patchanka" itself to make it clear to all that the Après are and always will be a live-oriented group, only with frenzied fans jostling can they bring out their best. The new work "Luna park" was announced for the end of May, but Cesko stated it would be released on September 3rd. An inexplicable date change that doesn't prevent them from presenting new tracks, also allowing fans to "get used" to what was defined as a "change of sound."

Change, yes, but not upheaval, after all, LuFeru on winds was irreplaceable and thus remained. Instead of finding someone else (would that have been a happy choice?), they preferred to remove all his parts, resulting in many songs losing the shine that made them sparkle in the early days. Completely removed was, for example, the reggae-flavored instrumental interlude of "Kalinifta," reduced to a punk rush à la Ramones that has little in common with the original live version that excited with its undulating rhythm. The new pieces maintain the Après style without Ferro and his trumpet. Nothing enlightening on first listen (then jumping and pogoing, I admit I wasn't very attentive), except perhaps for "La luna cadrà," truly a great track. For the rest, make way for "Viens avec moi," "Sale la febbre," "Lu sule lu mare e lu ientu," "Ninetto Guerra" and the wonderful "Sud-est" here semi-acoustic. Delightful interludes with Puccia in great form, one with his accordion following the musical and verbal follies of Cesko and Valerio Combass. Unmissable in the encores "Un numero" (vociferously acclaimed), "Paris" and of course concluding with "Ricominciamo," an ideal farewell to the next night of madness and sweat. Keep an eye on the tour dates, this summer they play across Italy (often for free), if you get the chance, don’t miss them...
uooooh Après... uooooh Après la Classe!!!!

P.S.
Worth mentioning are the guest stars of the evening: a very tiny Fabrizio Miccoli (acclaimed "ambassador of Salento in Europe") and above all the surprise of Giuliano Sangiorgi, who in a thrilling brief reggae jam session reiterated "Vagnoni tutti intra lu core".... with due respect to the MTV EUROPE music award...