Vinicio Capossela
So as something of a lark I entered a contest to win some concert tickets, I didn't even know who the artist was and didn't even bother researching them. All I knew was that it was recommended by a source that has been pretty spot on in the past. So I entered and forgot about it.
Well, on Friday night I got an email telling me that I won and two tickets will be waiting for me at will call. Pretty cool. So I do a little bit of research on the artist to figure out who would be best to invite. I want to get just enough info to know who would appreciate it and no more. Here's what I find:
The artist's name is Vinicio Capossela
He is an Italian man born in Germany
His music is influenced by Tom Waits and Italian Folk
So instantly three people pop into my mind. I decided to call Tia first, because I hadn't seen her in quite some time, (in fact, that last time I saw Tia I was left with a kind of sleazy feeling, due entirely to myself, that bummed me out) and that every time I've gone to a concert with Tia something amazing happened. No answer. Lame, but not the end of the world (she actually called me back later in the evening after I had accidentally fallen asleep at my desk proof reading something, I may have sounded drunk.) I figure I'd be better off making my calls in the morning and imagine what this show might have in store for me.
The next day, I hear my older brother, Artie, laughing downstairs and feel quite lucky as he was one of the other two people I thought might enjoy this free ticket. I offer him the ticket and he graciously accepts and everything is set for good times.
So when we get to the venue and get settled in I notice three things about the audience:
There are many middle aged people, perhaps not a strong majority, but at least half of the audience.
Those who are not middle aged are young beautiful women.
Everyone is Italian and speaking the language.
My interest is piqued.
The opener is Sara Lov and she sings a Morrisey and an Arcade Fire cover, confirming that I was right in thinking that Alexi would enjoy this show. The stage is set up in a very Euro-rustic fantastic charm that confirms that I was right in thinking Tia would like it, but I'm now worried I may have brought Artie to a show he would be bored through.
Bored was one concept that was nowhere to be seen that night. Especially when Vinicio's set fell on us.
It started with a magician wielding a golden megaphone. Shouting near intelligibly, madly and passionately exciting the audience. Slight of hand, drinking tricks, explosions, chickens, and more confetti that I thought one person could fit into a coat pocket. The magician didn't even play any instruments, he was just a crowd rouser.
When the music started it was a full band. A wolfman with a vibraphone, theremin, keyboard and a Screaming Jay Hawkins howl, a drummer from the cover of Sgt. Pepper's, a guitarist who looks like he rides the rails, a one man horn section that flipped through more brass shapes that I could count, a woman who played a saw with a violin bow, a bongo player, a second guitarist, a bass player who looked like he ran a graveyard and then there was a Vinicio Capossela who looked, sounded, and acted like he was the bastard lovechild of Dr. Goldteeth and Tom Waits. His command of the english language was tenuous, his growl was at times unintelligible, but his charm pierced through this and made him instantly lovable. He spoke of siamese twins being the romantic antithesis to socks, he spoke about freedom's relationship with fear, and he spoke about the wonderful things that are small, dark, and everywhere.
The performance itself is to maddeningly enthusiastic and gorgeous for me to describe accurately, but it involved costume changes, battles, magic, straight jackets, confetti, fire, and dancing. So much dancing. Entire sections of the audience leapt from their chairs to go dance. By the end of the show, it hurt to clap, but I could not stop.
This very well may be the best show of the year for me and I won the tickets from a contest I entered as an afterthought. Fucking brilliant.
Well, on Friday night I got an email telling me that I won and two tickets will be waiting for me at will call. Pretty cool. So I do a little bit of research on the artist to figure out who would be best to invite. I want to get just enough info to know who would appreciate it and no more. Here's what I find:
The artist's name is Vinicio Capossela
He is an Italian man born in Germany
His music is influenced by Tom Waits and Italian Folk
So instantly three people pop into my mind. I decided to call Tia first, because I hadn't seen her in quite some time, (in fact, that last time I saw Tia I was left with a kind of sleazy feeling, due entirely to myself, that bummed me out) and that every time I've gone to a concert with Tia something amazing happened. No answer. Lame, but not the end of the world (she actually called me back later in the evening after I had accidentally fallen asleep at my desk proof reading something, I may have sounded drunk.) I figure I'd be better off making my calls in the morning and imagine what this show might have in store for me.
The next day, I hear my older brother, Artie, laughing downstairs and feel quite lucky as he was one of the other two people I thought might enjoy this free ticket. I offer him the ticket and he graciously accepts and everything is set for good times.
So when we get to the venue and get settled in I notice three things about the audience:
There are many middle aged people, perhaps not a strong majority, but at least half of the audience.
Those who are not middle aged are young beautiful women.
Everyone is Italian and speaking the language.
My interest is piqued.
The opener is Sara Lov and she sings a Morrisey and an Arcade Fire cover, confirming that I was right in thinking that Alexi would enjoy this show. The stage is set up in a very Euro-rustic fantastic charm that confirms that I was right in thinking Tia would like it, but I'm now worried I may have brought Artie to a show he would be bored through.
Bored was one concept that was nowhere to be seen that night. Especially when Vinicio's set fell on us.
It started with a magician wielding a golden megaphone. Shouting near intelligibly, madly and passionately exciting the audience. Slight of hand, drinking tricks, explosions, chickens, and more confetti that I thought one person could fit into a coat pocket. The magician didn't even play any instruments, he was just a crowd rouser.
When the music started it was a full band. A wolfman with a vibraphone, theremin, keyboard and a Screaming Jay Hawkins howl, a drummer from the cover of Sgt. Pepper's, a guitarist who looks like he rides the rails, a one man horn section that flipped through more brass shapes that I could count, a woman who played a saw with a violin bow, a bongo player, a second guitarist, a bass player who looked like he ran a graveyard and then there was a Vinicio Capossela who looked, sounded, and acted like he was the bastard lovechild of Dr. Goldteeth and Tom Waits. His command of the english language was tenuous, his growl was at times unintelligible, but his charm pierced through this and made him instantly lovable. He spoke of siamese twins being the romantic antithesis to socks, he spoke about freedom's relationship with fear, and he spoke about the wonderful things that are small, dark, and everywhere.
The performance itself is to maddeningly enthusiastic and gorgeous for me to describe accurately, but it involved costume changes, battles, magic, straight jackets, confetti, fire, and dancing. So much dancing. Entire sections of the audience leapt from their chairs to go dance. By the end of the show, it hurt to clap, but I could not stop.
This very well may be the best show of the year for me and I won the tickets from a contest I entered as an afterthought. Fucking brilliant.