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Rating: We had left Meshell in hell and here she is emerging from the Milanese fog for the only date of the WEATHER presentation tour, her tenth album.
Meshell has only made three live appearances in Italy and history has shown that one can expect anything from someone like her, from a passionate performance to pure and half-hearted routine.
That's why I approach the event with many reservations despite a truly exciting fresh album.
There's really a few people at the Salumeria della musica for a name like Meshell's and this doesn't set a good mood for me or Meshell, who, as we will see, takes the stage uninterested and rather sullen. We started off on the wrong foot.
The performance, despite the preface, starts in full force with Cohen's cover Chelsea Hotel and the first surprise: Meshell sings divinely. Incredibly in tune, precise. A voice full of colors. I always thought the grace of her interpretations on record was also due to some technical "tricks". But no. Meshell is incredible. The set continues with a bitter mule, again from "Weather," after which the four (meshell+drums+guitar+keyboards) surprise us with a dubby version of Drake's Pink Moon. Compelling.
Meshell plays almost the entire new album and picks up the bass for ¾ of the performance (another great surprise: in recent tours, she mostly accompanied). "Dirty World" and "Rapid Fire" make the few funk lovers in the place move. The more intimate pieces dominate: Oysters and Faithful (the latter from the splendid album "Bitter") fill the few enthusiasts with tears. No selections from the historic albums "Plantation Lullabies" and "Peace beyond Passion". What a shame. There’s time to listen to another funky track (Lovely Lovely from "the world has made me the man of my dreams") and we land with the only encore, a long and dragging "Dead End". Total of 13 pieces.
Technically, the concert highlighted a band that gave its best when the funk engine (bass and drums) went turbo. They opted for a slower set. Not too bad. We are still dealing with professionals and Meshell even gifted a few smiles. It could have been worse, believe me.
Side notes: the Italian audience continues to be the most rude in the universe. I don't understand why someone should spend 37 euros to go to a venue and mind their own business, disturbing those who have waited for this event for years. I inform all future attendees that I am moving to obtain a firearm license. Peace.
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