This review is being brought to you by Davide, our giant Italian correspondent. Again, I apologize for the tardiness.
When you go to a gig and realize that most of the crowd is manly dudes, all fired and pumped up for the main band, you always hope the supporter won’t have too much of hard life once on stage (Italian fans don’t hesitate, nor do they need pretenses to hammer/destroy an opening band if they feel like it).
That is what I was thinking just before Zazawas going on stage. But fortunately, this didn’t happen. They delivered a 30 minute set that was more rock ’n roll and less “dreamy/shoegazey” than I would have expected based on what their Cameo EP sounds like. It’s definitely always a plus to see that a band doesn’t sound exactly the same live on stage as they do on their album (what’s the point of going to see a live performance otherwise? ). Adding a stable drummer has given them more presence and depth (who the fuck needs a drum machine? You heard me, all XX aficionados). The set started slow but it rapidly got more intense. Couple of songs from the EP, (of course Always On..how fuckin awesome is it to drive/be on the metro back home listening to this song late at night? ) and from the upcoming full length. Then all of the sudden, but right on schedule, the set ended. And that’s the problem. For a band like Zaza, a short performance doesn’t quite fit. Once you dive in, you should be able to get carried by the flow of music longer than for just four to five songs. I can therefore say that I’m looking forward to seeing them as a headliner.
Now let’s talk about the main event, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Their first album came out in the same year as This is It by The Strokes. And both bands were sold here in Europe at the time as members of the new scene of indie rock ’n roll first emerged (this “scene” also included the White Stripes, if anyone still remembers Hotel Yorba). But now, almost 10 years later, after all the side projects and solo albums made by Casablancass & Co. and Mr. White, Black Rebel Motorcycle have shown us why it could be perceived as insulting to compare them to those other scenesters. By continuing to make good albums and touring all the time, they built integrity and a reputation that very few bands enjoy, while still going without the credit that they deserve from the general public.
When I say that I haven’t seen such a pure and genuine rock ‘n roll show in ages, I fuckin mean it. The concert was two hours of loud and sweaty rock, just like it was supposed to be. There were also moments of authentic gospel and blues, like for example in “Ain’t No Easy Way”. The movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” even popped in my mind at some point; and I mean that in the best possible way. BRMC produced a truly impressive set that counted on songs like, “Whatever Happened to My Rock ’n Roll”, “Stop”, and “Love burns”, from the previous albums. Most of their set was mainly focused on their recent album “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo”. I personally had kind of lost track of them through the years, but in 2010 they caught my attention again.
Before I sign off I will quote what one of the italian promoters said to me while we were chattign a little bit after the gig: “..If they were born 30 years ago, we would be talking about them as if they were one of the most important rock ’n roll bands of all time” . The enthusiasm of the crowd was evident, and it’s not too late to spread your love for The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.