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Rating: My crusade to find an almost impossible triptych continues: good music, free and well-organized.
This time I’m at the Idroscalo where Negrita are performing, part of the initiative "Idroscalo in Festa" which throughout the summer will see the "beach of the Milanese" at the center of a whirlwind of festivals, cabaret, concerts, and various "gatherings," mostly free of charge. The evening begins under the banner of total heat and humidity, the front of the stage is sufficiently packed, the crowd is energized and eager to have fun.
Entering, I cross paths with the car carrying Pau, Drigo, and company. The concert starts with that academic hour delay but it fits just right. Negrita: a name associated for a few years now with the caption: "Italian rock" and this too fits just right. Or rather, it did until the band from Arezzo were struck by lightning on the road to Damascus, or more accurately, Salvador de Bahia. The Brazilian ethnic shift of "L'uomo sogna di volare" left many puzzled, myself included, as I dismissed it after just one listen.
This evening, however, Pau presents it as an aside, using the improper term I would say "road incident." Negrita are still unmistakably ROCK and the tracks from the latest album, rearranged in "Reset" style, acquire another light. " Destinati a perdersi", "Greta", "Alzati Teresa" and obviously "Rotolando verso sud" are proposed, but few acoustic guitars and many, many electric ones.
The public appreciates, dances, and sings, the stage is large and the lights follow the rhythm well, the sound is excellent even for those further back. Very good, I think, while Pau reels off one by one the big hits, with that "something" extra. That something, I realize midway through the evening, is the Brazilian percussionist accompanying them, not relegated to the obvious guest in the new songs but rather involved, and I’d say optimally, in proposing the older hits.
If it weren’t such a grand word, I’d use crossover: I realize that when "Magnolia" (with Pau’s dedication to the significant other) becomes a sensual bossanova and "A modo mio" almost a joyful samba. Having transformed rock into Caribbean rhythms tonight the opposite happens: Brazilian percussion insinuates itself into the bass grooves of "Transalcolico" and in the riffs of "Sex".
The acoustic moment is not missing, with "Ho imparato a sognare" (a bit sad the mental association with Aldo, Giovanni, and Giacomo, oh dear, I watch too much TV!!!) and the intense "Hemingway" accompanied by lighters and choirs. It lasts briefly, back to rock and the unmissable "In ogni atomo" sung loudly. Thus it goes on to the encores, with a very tight version of "Mama maè" to conclude beautifully.
The entire concert was recorded, the official site reports that a DVD will be made from it. Well, not bad as an idea, considering that the premises for a great evening of music were all there and not at all disappointed. Lesson to the Cornetto people who really made a fool of themselves nationally this year (also aware of the Neapolitan events)... music for FREE and done WELL must and can be done, even without high-sounding and ultimately useless sponsors.
I see the band’s car again at the exit, the guys smoke sprawled inside... I shout "ciao Pau" and he gives me a wave, but damn... after seeing him dance for almost two hours.... someone should tell him he risked sexual assault... and forget Marlboro after the act!!!!
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