•
Rating: After attending the Arab Strap concert on February 18 at the Estragon in Bologna, I can affirm one thing: Arab Strap is one of the few certainties we can rely on in life. They are faithful friends who help you in difficult times, but they also help you in good times to keep your feet on the ground and not let your head swell too much. They never abandon you, and they are straightforward, sincere, and concrete. As long as there is a band like them, we can always have hope...
In a packed Estragon, buzzing with people for the Scottish duo, I witnessed one of the most intense, passionate, and genuine concerts I've ever attended. Missing almost the entire set of the opening band (not entirely my fault, as far as I understood...), after what felt like an endless wait, Aidan Moffat and Malcom Middleton took the stage, accompanied by a drummer, a second guitarist/keyboardist, and a bassist (who, for the record, had a curious resemblance to Francesco Oppini, the son of Alba Parietti... apologies for this trashy note, but I couldn't resist!).
Compared to other times, the hirsute Moffat appeared sober and less prone to joking around, showcasing his newfound serenity, while Middleton's skill, talent, and class are inversely proportional to the amount of hair left on his head: never excessive, with his arpeggios, he weaves truly moving tapestries, over which Aidan recites his tales of ordinary madness with his characteristic Scottish accent (not a random reference, as I've always thought that Bukowski would have quite enjoyed the Straps if he'd had the chance to listen to them...).
The set was almost entirely based on the new and stunning "The Last Romance", almost performed in full, but excerpts from their other albums also had space. The group has never sounded so powerful, sparse, and essential; the tracks were tighter and stripped of all decorative embellishments: having abandoned the strings that accompanied them on the previous album's tour and the analog Roland drum machines, they relied solely on voice, guitar, bass, drums, and (occasionally) keyboards, to create a unique and truly engaging sound, which at times seemed almost like a wall.
In the first part of the concert, masterful, 11 tracks practically without a breath, with no pause between one and the other, with the group in brilliant form. The most evocative moments were when they performed "Fucking Little Bastards" (from "Monday At The Hugh & Pint"), "Don't Ask Me To Dance", which seemed to lash out at the audience with its power, the cinematic "Dream Sequence", the superb "Afterwards" from "Philophobia", incredibly evocative even without the second female voice, and the closing "Infrared" (from "The Red Thread"), which without a drum machine seemed less introspective but just as splendid compared to the album version.
After a brief exit with almost immediate return, Arab Strap appeared more relaxed and open, as if they were gratified by being called back so loudly and wanted to compensate us for it. They performed acoustic versions for guitar and voice of "Come Round And Love Me" and "Piglet", Aidan Moffat sat at the keyboard for "Screaming The Trees", they gifted us that magnificent gem called "Speed Date" and the joyful and overwhelming "There Is No Ending". Finally, they concluded with the cover you didn't expect: I believe I recognized (but someone correct me if I'm wrong...) "I'll Stand By You" by the Pretenders, a 1994 track that the revered Moffat & Middleton duo made their own, transforming it into a moving anthem for broken hearts, showcasing their great ability to handle pop material, molding it into something with a high emotional impact.
At the Estragon, also thanks to the great acoustics of the venue, the Scots gave an outstanding concert, making us laugh and cry, they gave all they could and even more. They are true and genuine, they are close to us. Monumental.
Loading comments slowly
