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Rating: When more than two months ago I heard news of the Verdena coming down to the deep south of my island, I couldn’t believe it. Two months later and the fruits are ripe.
I seemed to have convinced one of my friends to come, well, it seemed, since I know him all too well by now. Another friend replied to my invitation with (verbatim) "and when I told you about Max's (Pezzali, ed) concert, did you come?" Yes, it’s exactly the same thing driving more than two and a half hours compared to just ten minutes, leaving aside any other trivial discussions. Oh well, I decide to go on my own, who cares, also because opportunities like these may not come again.
Verdena in Modica, their only date in Sicily, in my town (although lately because of my studies I am often in Catania) is quite a nice hit scored.
The evening is cold, but the crowd is not lacking. The anticipation and curiosity are notable, despite having to admit that I fall into the category of a band admirer, but not that of a fanatic-fanboy, perhaps because I have only recently re-evaluated and appreciated the band.
I arrive around 9:30 PM at Black Out, a not very large venue, but which has been expanding its activities, and I position myself almost in the front rows and two hours will pass before the three from Bergamo take the stage.
But time passes quite quickly, between a sober Ciccio Graziani lookalike checking the equipment, a thrilled fool secretly snatching the setlist, and especially thanks to a completely dazed genius with a beard, who, not content with bringing the boxes, also convinces the previous guy to spoil half the setlist, stuff to call on Odin. Enough of the banter, and here come the Ferrari siblings with bassist in tow opening the concert with "Fluido," a staple of the most recent dates on this tour.
The audience responds well, but mostly to the better-known tracks ("Miglioramento"), although to be honest on more than one occasion it disappoints, proving to be too lukewarm and not very dynamic.
The acoustics are quite good, although there are instances where the instruments occasionally overpower Alberto’s voice.
The setlist is dedicated as a constant of this tour almost entirely to honoring the latest acclaimed album "Wow" (of which they play almost the entire first disc if I'm not mistaken, apart from three tracks) and Requiem, a very different album from the first with its psychedelic references mixed with hard-rock and progressive undertones.
Electric rides alternate in the background featuring a consistently precise and explosive Luca Ferrari ("Elefante," "Mi Coltivo," "Lui gareggia," "Caos strisciante") which often provoke intense mosh pits, especially in the center, which I happily join, along with songs for everyone to sing along passionately with lighters in hand (the timeless "Razzi, arpia, inferno e fiamme" and "Angie").
There’s nothing to say about Verdena scenically and musically speaking, it's just a shame, but predictable, on the human level they prove quite enigmatic and uncommunicative, limiting themselves to the classic good evening to all - thank you all and goodbye, the only words spoken during the entire concert, except for dedicating a piece "to some unspecified Giuseppe, who brought chocolate to Alberto." And the fame of Modica chocolate is well known even beyond Italian borders.
Good setlist, although I would have appreciated more space for the pre-Requiem albums, particularly "Il Suicidio Del Samurai," from which only two tracks were played (the aforementioned Elefante and "40 secondi di niente") from which they could have included Phantastica, Balanite, or even Mina. One track each representing the first two albums (the moving "Dentro Sharon" much more apt than the hits "Viba"/"Valvonuata" and "Miami safari").
Nevertheless, I particularly appreciated the choice to perform "Mi coltivo," probably my favorite track from the latest album and which made me unleash quite a bit from the start of its performance along with the other amazing Elefante, which live assumes even more devastating power compared to the studio version.
Positive evening, despite the thumbs down for the venue's sneaky policy, charging a convenient ticket price of 11.50, which I believe is a standard for their concerts, inflating it by adding a mandatory 5 euros for a drink already announced and the surprise rip-off of the parking fee, which they should be ashamed of. Here, it's not so much about the euro but the principle of taking advantage of unsuspecting people, since I never had to pay to park at this venue, where calling it a parking lot is an understatement.
After closing with "Sotto prescrizione del dottor Huxley," I leave still happy under a relentless heavy rain, swiftly returning home, knowing well that the alarm clock will be merciless with me, expecting a very intense day at university tomorrow.
But it was worth it.
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