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Rating: I hate you, I hate you all... how is it possible that a legend like TV Smith has to play in a small brewery (albeit one of the few nice venues left in Milan) in front of about thirty people (maybe 50 if you consider all the patrons of the venue)?!? I mean, I'm talking about TV Smith! The voice of a historic English punk '77 band like the Adverts! And while I'm at it, I hate myself too, with all my talk and blah blah blah about punk I knew little or nothing about TV Smith's solo career and I was wrong, very wrong. Yes, because after the Adverts broke up, TV Smith continued to play, recording several albums with the collaboration of various musicians and going on tour with his band or alone with his acoustic guitar, like a modern punk minstrel.
A great person TV Smith, he enters the venue where he has to play accompanied by John Plain, the guitarist of the Boys another historic English punk band, sets up his stall with records and books and proves to be very approachable and smiling with everyone (unfortunately few) who approach him for a chat, to buy something or take some photos.
But back to the concert, after a couple of support bands (a pretty useless Stooges cover band and a fun Psychobilly group) it was John Plain's turn to take the small stage: seated with an acoustic guitar he presents his own pieces, some covers ("Baby I Love You" by the Ramones, "Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory" by Johnny Thunders, "Tell Me" by the Rolling Stones) and some Boys pieces including the inevitable "First Time" and "I Don't Care", in short, a really enjoyable concert.
Then it was TV Smith's turn, this old thin and lanky punk who, standing on stage alone with his guitar, blew everyone away with an acoustic concert but truly devastating, an authentically punk attitude and his wonderful songs of anger and protest such as "Expensive Being Poor", "Immortal Rich", "This Year, Next Year...", or "Lord's Prayer". Not to mention the historical tracks by the Adverts, songs of the likes of "No Time To Be 21", "New Church", "Safety In Numbers", reprised in an extraordinary acoustic version that, I could hardly believe it, did not make me miss the original version, listen to "Bored Teenagers", or "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" if you don't believe me.
What else can I say, he really won me over, I was captivated and literally bewitched by his concert, even without knowing his solo pieces and that means, besides his songs being truly beautiful, that he plays really with passion and heart because he truly believes in it, and excuse me if that's not saying much.
After seeing him live, I can say that it's truly unfair we were so few, but I was joking, I don't hate you, you've already punished yourself enough by missing the concert of this great artist.
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