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Rating: 02/07/2004 Capriolo(BS) Beer Festival. There are quite a few people upon arrival, ergo the beer
draws them in (but that's nothing new), the real question is: can Prozac still fill the venues
where they play?
The atmosphere is very friendly, Gianmaria greets some guys who I later find out are
members of the fan club, while Eva and Elisabetta don't hide before the performance,
in fact, it seems they work more than the stage technicians. Three peculiarities are noticeable
right away: the second guitarist they used to have on tour is no longer there, there's a guy hidden behind the
service speakers who seems to be orchestrating the electronic tracks on the new album and
a new drummer who plays while reading the parts from a shamelessly lit music stand.
The concert starts without grand entrances and four songs from the new album are performed,
as reported by my partner who is a Prozac expert. It's revealed thanks to Gianmaria
that the poor drummer plays under such poor conditions because he's been enlisted for just two days
and this dramatically complicates the life of the likewise poorly-off guitarist who, between
songs, has to play a few riffs here and there and entertain the audience while waiting for
everyone to sync up. There's a crowd in front of the stage but it takes the older songs
to see the moshing under the stage, marred by red-card interventions
because of a group of gabbers who (I believe) pass by by chance. Recognizable are
Betty Tossica, Pastiglie, Angelo, and second-last song, the well-worn warhorse Acida. Towards the end, as usual, the stage is full of kids
jumping around and amidst greetings and hugs, everything comes to an end.
It can be said that, all things considered, Prozac still draw people but give the sad impression
of a band living on past successes and trying to find a new radio hit
to bring them back to the forefront of the punk-pop scene.
The drums are always 4/4 and straightforward, the bass goes unnoticed, Eva's voice remains
too much the same. On a positive note, Gianmaria seems to have fun regardless,
dousing himself with beer, offering it to the audience, and playing his guitar without too much fuss.
The attempt at evolution by introducing electronics in some pieces didn't
seem like a stroke of genius to me and it's perhaps a sign that even the Prozac have realized
they are a bit too anchored to a very specific line.
The overall judgment is thus not the best, perhaps also because I'm not crazy about the
Prozac, but all in all, the evening won't be remembered in the annals as awful, especially when I think that on the way back in the car, the radio announced that Minister Tremonti resigned.
Bye, until next time.
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