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Rating: A strange evening that of last October 27th.
I've been desperately trying to broaden my musical horizons for a while now, maybe with music that can move me, and, in my wandering from one genre to another in search of my own personal musical identity, I'm assisted by my trusted shopkeeper (a saint immediately!).
This patient man, amidst our chats, informs me about upcoming events around the world, including one at the Unwound Club in Padua where a concert by Carla Bozulich is scheduled.
He also tells me that the lady in question is a tough type, a more embittered PJ Harvey, and assures me that it's worth the visit to the lovely neighborhood of Padua called "Arcella".
For a while, I let this information wander aimlessly in my brain (which, to be honest, is a bit out of phase), then I decide to learn more about the artist in question and discover that on the fateful night, Massimo Pupillo will also be present.
The decision is made: let's go!
The Arci Unwound club is, as the site states, "an industrial space from the '60s which retains its original features", practically an old factory, dark and with minimal decor (literally).
The show begins at 23:00 in front of about sixty people, maybe even fewer; practically a concert for a select few.
On stage are a hypnotic Carla Bozulich, Massimo Pupillo (I swear I've never seen a person with such an open, sunny, and engaging smile), and a guy with a violin whose name, I'm sorry, I didn't catch.
I can't say much about the type of music played, unfortunately, as I've never understood the history of musical genres, can't distinguish the various nuances, and frankly, I'm not much interested.
I can only tell you that Ms. Bozulich makes music for the soul, a tortured and bleeding soul, torn by a not too easy past (somewhere I read about drugs and prostitution) and conveyed by a voice always teetering between power and sweetness, a voice that can scratch but also caress you, and that certainly doesn't leave you indifferent, reaching the darkest and most vulnerable sides of the human spirit. A voice accompanied by sinuous movements and a desire to transport, but also to be transported, by the audience.
What to say about Mr. Pupillo. I think that the words above already imply that I have a particular fondness for this guy, who had already enchanted me with Zu; I won't dwell on his performance because, in the technical sense, I don't understand a single thing about music, I'll just say that his sound is unmistakable, he puts passion, he puts vigor (it's difficult for me to describe in words what Mr. Pupillo manages to convey with his bass, those who listen to Zu, I hope you understand me).
The concert was a fluctuation of experimental, alienating, and shocking pieces, made of distortions and screams, cacophony and silences, explosive tension and apparent calm, and more "classical" pieces, closer to the song form known to most, moments in which to let go, to be lulled by music, by Carla's sweet melancholy voice, and, in both versions, our artists hypnotically engaged the audience, immobile and completely captivated by the music, by the strong, idyllic, and suffocating emotions at the same time, transmitted by this fragile-looking woman who emits uncommon vigor.
Wednesday, October 27th, I arrived at the Unwound without knowing what to expect from the evening, without knowing what music I would listen to, without knowing where I would find myself, without knowing anything, with the childlike recklessness with which I approach almost everything that happens to me in life; a strange but indelible evening like the best memories, like the most heartfelt emotions, like the most touching encounters, and like that darn stamp they put on my hand that, damn it, won’t come off!
Curiosity: among the audience was also a very interested Luca Bottigliero, the current drummer of ODM, who indeed looks like Dave Grohl's younger brother!
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