Placebo
Live @ Castello Scaligero (Villafranca) 18.07.09

THE REVIEW

The Placebo choose the enchanting and fascinating Castello Scaligero in Villafranca as the location for their return to Italy. And what a return!!

"Battle For The Sun", the band's latest effort, has been in stores for just over a month, and Brian, Stefan, and Steve prove they can perform its songs live excellently.

Steve. Indeed. No longer Steve Hewitt (who left the group after the exhausting "Meds" tour), but Steve Forrest. I would start with him. The guy is really talented. The former versatile drummer from Evaline (also the supporting act for Placebo on the previous tour) unexpectedly opens the show by suddenly appearing on stage and announcing, to everyone's surprise, that he will entertain the audience before the show at Molko's express request. Acoustic guitar, a great voice, and lots of energy accompany the 5 songs, unknown to many, performed by the new American drummer. Not bad at all. And the crowd appreciates. 

The performance ends, and anticipation grows. The castle fills up, the sun is about to set. At 9:30 sharp, the large screen at the back of the stage starts flashing with a white light, alternating with the band's logo on an electronic base. The wait is over. Stefan, Steve, and finally Brian appear on stage in order.

The crowd goes wild, the show begins with the beautiful and powerful "Kitty Litter". Placebo is in excellent form, which is evident from the first notes. They continue with three other tracks from the latest work: "Ashtrey Heart", the beautiful and intense title track "Battle for the Sun", and the single "For What It's Worth". And it is right after this song that something strange happens: "No violence at Placebo show!!" declares the group's leader. Brian puts down his guitar, threatens not to continue playing, and invites the first two rows to step back. The cause? A wild mosh pit that led to a rather violent fight. After all, the phrase on Steve's drum is telling: "We came in peace!!". 

After this small hitch, the concert resumes spectacularly with "Soulmates", magnificently rearranged, with "Speak in tongues" (beautiful and melancholic), and with the poignant "Follow The Cops Back Home", very moving and made even more beautiful thanks to Fiona Brice, a captivating violinist/keyboardist.

Another interruption between these two songs. Technical problems this time, probably with Stefan's pedalboard. A pity, as the two pauses broke the rhythm of the concert a bit and were a bit bothersome, but they did not affect the trio's performance at all.

It's the turn of "Every You Every Me", as engaging as ever; one of those tracks that live, performs excellently, even more so when it departs so much from the studio version, and the Placebo have always shown particular inventiveness in this regard (the live performance of Angkor Wat is proof!!).

In the rest of the setlist: "Special Needs", always emotional; an intriguing "Meds" that starts slow and acoustic before exploding into its dynamism; the "new" "The Never Ending Why" (the live version makes the track more powerful and interesting than the album version), "Come Undone", the stunning "Happy You're Gone", and the iconic "Song To Say Goodbye" and "Special K", whose chorus still echoes within the Scaligero walls.

The band leaves the stage, but the audience eagerly awaits seeing the guys back in action.

After barely ten minutes of waiting, the screen starts flashing again, broken by intermittent colored waves, on the prolonged base of "Infra-Red": the "Encore" begins. The second piece of "Meds" is enveloping and energetic. Truly a beautiful version. They follow with "The Bitter End", as always appreciated by fans and "Taste In Men", deafening, noisy, and powerful as ever.

The guys put down their instruments and bow before their audience. Unfortunately, the show has ended.

A truly beautiful concert, in an ideal setting and with practically perfect acoustics.

Brian's voice was fantastic: warm, intense, sweet. The "Steve Forrest" surprise was enjoyable, charismatic, and powerful. Excellent in the new pieces, maybe a tad too fast in some of the old ones. In any case, it was a good idea to allow the audience to get to know the new band member with the pre-show performance. The rest of the band did well too. 

It's a pity it wasn't a bit longer. "Devil In The Details", "Without You I'm Nothing", "Twenty Years", "Pure Morning", "Teenage Angst" would have significantly embellished the show and made it memorable.

In November, Placebo will return to Italy on the 29th in Bologna and the 30th in Milan. I recommend not missing it!