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Rating: This summer, Sardinia was not at all lacking in great concerts by legendary rock icons from the '70s. And last night gifted me with another emotion.
Carl Palmer performed for free in the plaza at Ozieri for the Terre sonore festival. I arrived in Ozieri around 10:30 PM, and the concert had already started, but I could recognize the notes of "Tarkus" by ELP and heard a drum that's like a steamroller—it's truly him, Carl Palmer, with his double bass drum kit rolling like crazy at the venerable age of 58 with the energy of a youngster.
And youngsters are the members of his band as well. On guitar, there's a blond guy who could be at most 19 years old if you consider him old, playing Keith Emerson's keyboard parts—which are already difficult—on his guitar with such fidelity and some personal nuances that leave you astonished. The bassist is no less, a true virtuoso as well, who makes you forget Greg Lake.
The trio performs breathtaking versions of "The Barbarian", the iconic reimagining of a piano piece by the Russian Bela Bartok featured on the supergroup's debut album, with the lively "Hoedown" from "Trilogy" and an outstanding rendition of the legendary and historic "Pictures at an Exhibition". One of the positive aspects of the evening is the massive participation of the audience present, consisting of people of all ages who watched in awe as the trio's instrumental prowess unfolded. But naturally, all attention is focused on one of the greatest living drummers whose ever-creative drumming gives no respite, being truly a relentless steamroller. Then, for a moment, there’s an excellent showcase for the guitarist, who tackles a challenging "Flight of the Bumblebee" with the audience applauding him, followed by the bassist who demonstrates his bass-slapping and tapping skills so much that he almost seems to be playing a guitar. Remember Carl Palmer introducing all the pieces on the microphone, explaining their origins and composers with great humility and professionalism, and it’s emotional when he says he didn’t expect such a warm audience for this kind of music. However, the concert cannot end without a marvelous drum solo where Our Guy, with great technique but also with feeling and a bit of showmanship, first plays on the toms, then on the cymbals, and finally showcases his mastery with lightning-fast rolls, crossing arms to the ovation of a crowd that applauded for several minutes. And I must say, I almost managed to catch a drumstick! And great envy for MUSIC MAN who managed to get an autograph on the first album of Atomic Rooster and great regret for me not having brought the first CD of Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Anyway, yet another truly memorable concert. And thank you too, Carl Palmer!
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