EasyCure
Live in Lugano - 30/07/2004

Despite the sweltering heat, a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere filled the two Debaser days here in Lugano. Many people attended: Vaniglia, Rocky, Josi_, Donz, Humax, Solomon, Mr. Orange, Frantz, Emily, Zzzzz, G, Antimo, and Turkish... I'm not going to describe each and every detail of what happened during these two days. I'll leave the floor to the participants in the comment section. Ultimately, not much was done, but everything unfolded spontaneously and with the pleasure of being together.

The concert

The EasyCure, very kind people, were delightful and patient despite the technical difficulties during the soundcheck, which lasted longer than expected. Live, they are really excellent. In fact, among the audience (who was very attentive, by the way), I heard many compliments; even the most intransigent attendees and Cure fans were satisfied. Capable, professional, despite the church hall sound system and minimal stage available, EasyCure offered a “cool,” professional show with a high emotional impact.

(flashback) I look around, the evening is clear and mild, the lake is like a mirror, there are lots of people around... there's a nice atmosphere, even if no one is moving... oh no, there's Frantz who dances and jumps for most of the concert, a show within the show, legendary! Meanwhile, I am pleasantly introduced to Magomarcelo, who joined us from Milan for this evening. In total, we are now sixteen Debasers (including Easy who is playing), a real assault troop!

The concert keeps getting better, the singer Luca as a Robert Smith understudy is truly convincing, not to mention the rest of the band. This tribute band doesn’t mimic by “imitating” The Cure but immerses themselves with heart and soul into the music, interpreting it with a lot of emotion and respect. The title of "official tribute band" here is more than deserved.

It's encore time. Now many are dancing, both the Debasers and the locals present (i.e., the die-hard audience that attends all the concerts in the region), and even some young people from a group of wheelchair-bound disabled people are twirling around, following rhythms only they can feel. In the final phase, everyone is involved. I see many bright eyes, even G and Turkish are swaying... in fact, they're subtly dancing, our "little giants." A great moment, extended by half an hour beyond what was allowed, but who cares, it's impossible to interrupt the magic...

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the setlist of the songs performed, so I hope Easy will write it down here, as I also look forward to the comments on the concert from the other attendees.

The de-meeting

More than two weeks have passed since the meeting, and I apologize to everyone for the delay in this review. Some unforgettable moments remained engraved in my memory: for example, the Margarita and snacks aperitif, during which we “sniffed out” each other. For me, it was an important moment since I was the only one who didn’t know everyone else (except Frantz). At first, I was a little embarrassed, but right after, I felt perfectly at ease, and I think it was the same for everyone else. Then the concert. It didn’t seem real that they were all there, and so many, in the square in Lugano. Who would have thought? This is such a boring, anonymous, provincial town... for one evening, the De-smiles lit it up with many colors and lights. Beautiful!

According to some of my friends present, the bond between us Debasers is immediately perceptible, “You are like a fan club...” they told me. This admission perfectly describes the atmosphere that prevailed during the meeting.

I also have a pleasant memory of the evening after, when we went to the “grotto” (a typical tavern). A very nice evening. Two tables full of cheer and laughter. Luganighe (yes, it’s true, they are sausages of Lucanian origin - you’re right Turkish - but transplanted here like risotto and polenta... even Ticino is a bit of Italy, thankfully!), and then little cheeses, gazosa, wine, grappa, limoncellos in large quantities, with the grand finale of G singing “La Montanara” and showing off his belly, getting Solomon, Mr. Orange, and Frantz to stroke it...

Total delirium that finally - when we fully took over the venue - also involved the waiter. The evening then concluded at the Casino where some of us won at roulette and slot machines, thus covering our travel expenses. Lucky us!

From an idea by Hal, during Saturday night's dinner, I asked everyone to write down comments on the meeting in a notebook. Here they are:

• Frantz: I have no words... but sometimes it's better not to have any! Great concert. Great de-meeting. Debaserioti... De...ioti!
• Antimo: It's a compliment! G has the biggest beer belly I've ever seen... There’s a lot to learn from G!
• Humax: Unforgettable days, I love you all. Long live Debaser!
• Rocky: Delightful and extremely nice people, but destiny does not warp its shadow that will cover this useless missed abortion.
• Josi_: I drawing myself the ideal crash... I’ve always written it... yet maybe it is this very de-meeting that is the “ideal crash.”
• Turkishmael: It was a really nice de-meeting.
• Sol O Mon: How Lugano smiles at night. And then the people, the voices, the faces you don't expect. It doesn't seem like it, but then you surprise yourself as a friend, and suddenly you find yourself in the family.
• Mr. Orange: Words, smiles, cigarette smoke, shouts, and laughter. Profiles, looks, gestures. How to describe what we are experiencing except through details? p.s. I'd like to remind you that for me, all of this is a look. I had come to Switzerland for a drug deal, then I met these strange people...
• Emily: Great presences and great absences... aside from that, great de-meeting!!! Kudos to EasyCure and fewer accolades to the barbera I was missing!
• Vaniglia: What a nice meeting! What nice people! What great EasyCure! What great little giants! What a nice lake! What a nice site! But the nicest thing... the Montarina hostel (I told you so)... Awesome!
• Donzic: Great site, great people, great Easycure, great everything! Ah no! This is Ishmael! :) It feels like we've known each other forever... It's all so natural... smile, and life will smile back at you!
• G: Dim my Meeting as new Meeting / My Meeting. succeded = true / My Meeting . close / Mr. Orange = Cool … Haloa!
• Zzzzz: We are all different, or we are all the same. Long live Switzerland. Hooray. It seems, but it isn't.

It was an intense and special weekend. I unfortunately couldn’t be present on Saturday afternoon, and I feel like I missed something there, by the pool of the Montarina hostel. Anyway, it was a great pleasure to meet everyone, such capable and interesting people, even though I couldn’t get to know everyone deeply. But I'll make up for it... because this is an experience that must be repeated. I can't wait!