BANDA BASSOTTI, there’s really nothing more to say about this band.
Everyone politically interested in the scene, and especially every activist, knows this band.
BANDA BASSOTTI is the most famous Italian political ska-punk band. Not only there but also in the Basque Country and last but not least in Berlin, this band has cult status.
Their political statements are not always undisputed, especially their pro-Palestine remarks can be bitter for some. Nevertheless, the band is above all anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, and in favor of a strong and active labor movement.
On December 5, 2009, the band performed at a concert in the Berlin cult club S.O. 36.
It was a magnificent evening, and it fit perfectly that the entire concert was recorded. The 39 (!!) songs that the band performed, partly with guests, are all included on this double CD.
Just the intro gives me goosebumps. I still remember standing in the crowd, dancing and celebrating that evening.
The songs on the band’s albums from Rome, which sometimes come across as slow and a bit sluggish, are faster, more powerful, and immediately get into your legs when played live. Live, BANDA BASSOTTI has an energy that is unmatched. Even people who have been going to concerts for years will say that there are not many bands that have such energy live and are so captivating. Musically, they are just as good live as they are on record, which is always fascinating.
At S.O. 36, there were many Italians alongside Germans, making it not just a great concert but also a kind of homecoming evening. The atmosphere was fantastic from the intro and comes across especially well in the small pauses between the songs.
There’s no question that the band played the songs that are classics of their live program during their set. However, some songs were also played that rarely make their way through the speakers.
In addition to the magnificent recording, which blows me away even after multiple listens, the packaging of the two live CDs is very well done. The two silver discs are packaged in a stylish digipack that graphically leans towards the workers' struggle movement. The small booklet contains some very nice photos of the band, so both the ear and the eye are satisfied here.
BANDA BASSOTTI, whose status is indisputable anyway, has cemented their status with this magnificent live album. For me, the best album of the current year!!
BANDA BASSOTTI are, were, and will always be a spearhead of the political movement. With this soundtrack, the revolution can come!
