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Rating: Seeing the Kalashnikov live is always a pleasure, so missing the Bergamo concert was out of the question. Once you arrive, you realize why the various bands will play in the afternoon and not in the evening: the Anarchist Laboratory "La Zona," which hosts the event, is indeed a social center on the ground floor of a condominium, and therefore, for coexistence reasons, a concert at eleven in the evening would be simply impossible. The place is tiny but very active, with book presentations, dinners, and concerts. It’s almost touching to see the sign displayed that informs the residents that "there would be a party during the day but that the situation would be kept under control." Very polite punks.
While waiting for the bands to start, a stop at the collective's booth reveals that material long out of circulation has finally been reprinted: the first two albums, "Romantic Songs of Dissidence" and "Songs about Amore and Revolution," published over twelve years ago, are now available as sides A and B of a single cassette (mode "nostalgia" ON) while "Dreams for Super-defeated Heroes" now enjoys a nice digipack.
The last sighting of the Kalashnikov was in September, when the new formation with Valeria on vocals instead of Valentina was introduced at Villa Vegan in Milan. Now, several months later, the group seems more harmonious and cohesive, thanks in part to relentless live activity, both in Italy and abroad. The collective is indeed back from a long tour in Russia, described by all as a success. Speaking of concerts, those in France a few months ago were an opportunity to reconnect with Milena, who spent ten years behind the mic of the group and is now involved again, albeit intermittently: she will not only make appearances during some dates, dueting with Valeria, but is also expected to be present on the new album, now nearing completion.
The performance of the Milanese group is placed at the end of the evening, and a really nice atmosphere is felt inside the Laboratory, even if the audience is very limited due to space constraints. No new songs, not yet, but a lineup of classics, taken from a bit of all the ensemble's albums, from "Bandiere da Bruciare," now fifteen years old, to the more recent "Quando le Macchine di Fermeranno" and "Vampirizzati Oggi." Pieces like "Angoscia Rock," "Belfast brucia negli Occhi di Sara," and "Metropoli," some of the group’s most popular songs, could not be missed, just as the anticipation for a piece like "Sonja contro la Grande Distribuzione," sung at the top of everyone's lungs, was palpable.
Unlike other similar contexts, the acoustics are good and the unique blend of punk and keyboards and synthesizers does not drown in echoes or semi-destroyed speakers, with the various instruments being heard quite well.
The stage, for once, is not an insurmountable barrier, and if someone wants to get on it, no one will feel offended, nor will any diligent security man come to make you get off, whether gently or not. The recent Russian tour is also an excuse to reoffer an old song by Victor Tsoi's Kino, a band that became a real institution of Soviet rock in the eighties, here honored with a reinterpretation of "Mama Anarchia." "It's simple, mom is anarchy, and dad is the glass of wine, and so far I'd say we agree": it seems so. "La Musica è un Fucile Caricato di Futuro" arrives at the end and is apparently off the setlist, if we’re being honest, but fortunately, sometimes that piece of paper stuck on stage is disregarded and rigidity is not maintained.
The expectation, at this point, is all for the new material to be released (in addition to the album, a split with Contrasto is expected soon) and naturally for further dates, preferably in Milena's company.
Great concert and a great evening and thanks to the guys of "Zona" for keeping such an interesting reality alive in a context, that of Bergamo, not always so receptive and open to these initiatives.
Kalashnikov Collective:
Valeria Disagio, vocals
Sarta, guitars
Puj, guitars
Ale, bass
Lisa, synthesizers
Don, keyboards
Loky, drums
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