Verdena
Live@Arezzo Wave

Then, damn it, it's a question of terms..
Concert, performance, live... What does it mean?

The Verdena present themselves in Arezzo surrounded by feverish anticipation. Their dates this summer, due to the gestation of new work, are as rare as red shirts in Fede's house, and indeed the thousands of people (among whom I involve myself) are there trying to be the first to catch Alberto's words, who, after a brief soundcheck, chats: "Today we will play new pieces.. "

Well dear singer, from "Today we will play new pieces.." to "Today we will play ONLY new pieces.." is like an Intercity train ride from Palermo-Castiglion S. Fiorentino km 1144, which I took to get there. Ours (actually now as far as I'm concerned YOURS..) play 5 pieces: 3 new ones, "Logorrea" and a cover of the wonderful Syd Barrett. The latter is played (and sung, given that they were accompanied by a Baustello) so poorly that it was hard to recognize, and for the doubtful, Alberto confirms at the end of the song: "We played it like crap.."

The new compositions (already disadvantaged by obvious approximation) are heavily drawn from "Solo un grande sasso", meaning pseudo-psychedelia good for teens drunk on sparkling water with endless plots and zero jolts: a regression, you might say... well, YOU'RE RIGHT!!!
Meanwhile among the audience, for 33 minutes immobility reigns (excluding the 5 of "Logorrea" and the first 2 trying to catch words from before..) and the disappointment is palpable and, given the success achieved by "Logorrea", it really seems like.... the people.... want.... TO SING!!!!

Let me explain.. The day before for the 'Gogol Bordello' EVERYTHING happened (including loud blasphemies) and now Arezzo must be asking itself: IS THERE NO MOSHING? NO JUMPING? The question is very difficult.. What do you go to a concert for? Do you go to have fun singing songs that you know by heart or do you go to listen to new music??
Personally, at the Wave I discovered amazing bands from the most varied genres, from acid house to post-noise-jazz (by the way, watch out for the Thrangh from Rome) and I probably also don't have much desire to hear Verdena doing new stuff..

Or maybe (more simply) we were wrong to OVERRATE THEM: too many 5 stars, too many compliments (a problem that is at the base of a band I adore, the MARLENE KUNTZ, since now no one takes away from Cristiano's head the notion of being not A but THE poet..) IN SHORT, MAKE YOUR OWN CONSIDERATIONS, maybe taking a look at a juicy excerpt of the live in question at
http://www.arezzowave.com/diretta2006/notizie.php?ID=3042

I GIVE 2 STARS.

P.S.
But did you see the photo????
Captures Berta+vamp of hemp!!!
Exceptional!!!
Stuff to win the Pulitzer prize hands down!!!!