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Rating: "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll!!!!!!"
And yes, my dear friends, it was an evening filled with excellent Music and rowdy fun, with the concert of these three young, fierce Americans, who were completely unknown to me until about ten days ago. One of those nights so unique in their simplicity that they reconcile you with the true essence of the concept of Rock, at least from my point of view.
Few attendees, about fifty people not more, but almost all of us from the "Old and Young Guard" of the province of Verbania were there:
there's Alessio (Alex Cimi) who picks me up in his car and in the few kilometers that separate us from the venue, plays the new album of my PRIMUS on his stereo system... and things already start with the wind in our sails;
there's Alberto, whom I haven't seen in ages, telling me about his meeting a few years ago with Peter Buck, guitarist of R.E.M, at a Tom Waits concert in Milan!!! How wonderful;
there's Piero "The DJ" who delights us before and after the concert with a musical set to perfection... as always;
there's Luca who wonderfully manages this little gem of ours and place of worship called "La Loggia del Leopardo"... what a cool name!!! Happy Days docet;
there's Maurino who renews my entry card to the venue, offering to pay the small fee... thanks, friend;
there's Roby Kappe, singer in countless local bands, an old concert-going friend, whom I also hadn't seen in a long time. And others whose names I shamefully can't recall (age is advancing, my dear, inexorably).
And finally, there are The Coathangers (translated to Italian as "the coat hangers"), hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, already authors of four albums of simple and noisy College-Indie Rock, with that explosive blend of Punk and Garage played at full blast; they've been touring Europe for about a month now in a rickety van not exactly pretty or welcoming, driven by that pinch of madness and brazenness in proposing their Music, their creed, engaging to say the least: raw and honest Rock 'n' Roll.
Crook Kid Coathanger guitar and vocals; Minnie Coathanger bass and backing vocals; Rusty Coathanger drums and vocals: and that repetition of the "last name" can only remind me of forty years ago when four young Americans from New York began their legendary musical adventure from the Big Apple (I write RAMONES even though it shouldn't, I hope, be necessary)... Gabba Gabba Hey: how can I not love these girls? It's impossible for me...
I only know one track from their repertoire, seen online these days: it’s the single "Follow Me" from their latest album "Suck Mi Shirt" released this year; never has such a thing seemed less important than tonight. They hit the stage at 11:30 PM and play for just under fifty minutes; like ravaged and deviant Pixies meeting the B-52's with that broken, urgent, and nervous guitar sound. Some songs suddenly veer into no-wave territory, with the guitarist's cartoonish voice becoming shrill and sharp, and the sound of all the instruments taking on a distorted, noisy tone yet no less captivating: like Sonic Youth in the early part of their career!!!
The drummer is completely possessed in these furious moments, singing with a raspy and dark voice that closely reminds me of Nina Hagen; and seems to want to tear her instrument apart as she pounds hard on the skins. The whole short performance is like this: minimal, direct, bare, with no technical frills, with that disarming Punk energy that stuns with its overwhelming intensity. But we, the sparse audience, appreciate it and in the end, feel satisfied and happy; with the drummer practically collapsing on stage in the end, defeated by fatigue and the rivers of beer.
The girls also prove to be happy and entertained; once off the stage, of course, there are no dividing barriers, they sign autographs, sell t-shirts, CDs, and vinyl, and take photos; I participate gladly in everything, with my usual "animus pugnandi". A final comedic interlude with my PRIMUS t-shirt which I show to the petite bassist (after all her name is Minnie!!!): she knows them!!! And she really likes Les Claypool, my cousin: at this point, a kiss and a hug are quite necessary. She gives me the setlist and also tells me this is their first time playing in Italy and they will continue the tour in Rome, Brescia, Ravenna: whoever can, should go see them because they are absolutely worth it.
What a nice evening, in a word perfect in its little simplicity. "It's only Rock 'n' Roll, really!!!" And it takes very little, very little.
Returning home I think about those mega concerts in huge stadiums and arenas, with thousands of people, chaos, lines, heat, jostling, crazy ticket prices, etc. etc.. Never would I exchange a night as essential as this for all that, while still respecting those who prefer such mega gatherings that haven't been for me for many years. And then, crossing the threshold of home, it occurs to me to listen to an old song by Francesco Guccini: "L'Avvelenata" concentrating my attention particularly on the last words of the caustic text, which well encapsulate the spirit of The Coathangers and their successful concert: "E A CULO TUTTO IL RESTO"... AZZ...
Ad Maiora.
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