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Rating:
The chronicle and the setlist.
With a scheduled start at 21.30, at 21 the square of the Castle of Ferrara was desolately empty.
Twenty minutes later, it was packed. At exactly 22:00, the intro begins as the band takes the stage, magnetic atmosphere, and Pocket Revolution (Pocket Revolution, 2005) starts.
The audience, which seemed a bit cold, begins to warm up, and Stop – Start Nature (Pocket Revolution, 2005), an eclectic and ironic madness, begins. Then Barman greets in Italian and dedicates Instant Street (The Ideal Crash, 1999) to Ferrara, and it's a delirium that continues throughout Fell off the floor, man (In a bar, under the sea, 1996).
A bit of a break with the calm yet tense Sun Ra (Pocket Revolution, 2005), then it starts again with Theme from the Turnpike (In a bar, under the sea, 1996), where Mauro reproduces a pitch perfectly with his shouting. Only God knows where such powerful lungs fit in that little body.
As often happens at dEUS concerts, Barman introduces a piece from his side project, Magnus: “this is a Magnus song for girls who like big...” and then it's the turn of Real Sugar (Pocket Revolution, 2005) and then: Via (Worst case Scenario, 1994) and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (Pocket Revolution, 2005). Klaas and Tom approach the audience, and the violin riff of Suds & Soda (Worst case Scenario, 1994) starts. Is there a more famous violin riff? More importantly: does a violin riff even exist?!
And still: Little Arithmetics (In a bar, under the sea, 1996), If You don’t Get What You Want (Pocket Revolution, 2005), Nothing Really Ends (Pocket Revolution, 2005) in an ultra-romantic version. On 7 days, 7 weeks (Pocket Revolution, 2005) the concert ends, the dEUS leave the stage among an ecstatic audience, and after a very short time, they return for the last two pieces, closing with sweetness and melancholy: Serpentine (In a bar, under the sea, 1996) and Roses (In a bar, under the sea, 1996).
Strengths and weaknesses.
As a HUGE fan of dEUS as I am, I say last night's concert in Ferrara was fantastic. The band was flawless, focused, always present. Tom Barman in divine grace, ironic and over-the-top, more amiable than usual, very generous. 17 hyper-energetic, tense, full, intense, volcanic, romantic, subtle, edgy songs.
A repertoire for all tastes: from the very first album to the last, through the singles and some not entirely obvious pieces from the central albums. Knowledgeable and adoring audience, from the youngest to the not-so-young; pogo straight from the '90s. Really impressive location, moreover free. Everything that makes a concert a great concert was there. Yet, even I, who am far from objective, noticed a couple of off-key notes: apart from Tom Barman, maybe the rest of the band, although really impeccable, seemed a bit tired, less engaged (see Mauro Pawlowski, who was a revelation of stage presence and elegance in Milan a few months ago), perhaps irritated by technical problems (“there’s a ghost in my pedal” - worried Alan says).
The stage is bare and the lighting insufficient and not very scenic, which normally doesn't bother at all, but tonight it's noticeable, as is the fact that the sounds are not the usual ones, and this is the most substantial flaw. dEUS is characterized by creating a very personal and unique style through a wealth of sound layers, minute but carefully crafted details, substrata, and various and different colors that blend perfectly (usually in a completely dissonant way). And usually, this peculiarity is not lost live.
However, in Ferrara a bit of that rough terrain on which the Belgians' songs grow was missing, so that some of the tracks last night seemed more like rock songs than dEUS songs.
The band.
dEUS presents themselves in a more than consolidated formation. In the center, Tom Barman (guitar and vocals with a plasticine face) and Mauro Pawlowski (an ethereal but carnal Italian/Belgian/Polish guitarist). On the sides, smartly dressed in a vest over a tank top, Klaas Jackson Janzoons (violin and keyboards/effects + a cowboy hat and an impassive face) and Alan Gevaert (bass. I'm sure they found him at the port). Stéphane Misseghens behind the drums, strong as a bull, calm and placid as always. Never seen him sweat.
Ultimately.
For me, a beautiful, exciting, engaging, energetic, fantastic, unrepeatable concert. For those who haven't listened to dEUS since '94, maybe I dare say a slightly less enthusiastic judgment. Very good, fun, engaging, it was worth it, but not illuminating on the road to Damascus.
Marble
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