Bologna City Rockers: XX all-upbeat Edition
Derrick Morgan and more for the 20th edition by Bologna City Rockers
Firstly, I start by saying that at the event there was me, the special reporter from Verona, and this is my very first report!
Teo and I arrived at Sottotetto (Bologna) 2 hours later, thanks to the excellent Italian railway service. Energized by several aperitifs (someone from the afternoon and others from the night before), we headed to the entrance full of good intentions and will of make a mess. We paid the tickets and went in as the second band, Ivanoska, started playing. This Florentine band presented a ska-punk sound similar to Redska, recalling also Giuliano Palma and the Bluebeaters. It’s a shame that there weren’t a lot of spectators during their performance, even if these few started warming up (also the saxophonist looked like our mate Deni Grato).
After our beer and Borghetti break, we went outside for a breath of air, biting a sandwich and passing through the stands, that always deserve a look.
Then, the third band started playing: it’s Jamaican mood! On stage we found this interesting band composed of rude boys, whose sound returns to the roots: just to get clear, their cover of “54-46” kicked ass! The venue began to fill, like our livers, and the first dancing commenced.
It’s time to take another break and drink Borghetti (after all, “Verona non perdona”, “Verona doesn’t forgive”) and greet the nice people that were arriving. You should also know that during this entire night I tried to take notes of this event on my telephone, but starting from this point they began to be a little bit hazy… but after an afternoon spent with aperitifs I started to feel the beers.
The fourth band to play was the great Le Tremende. It’s time to dash downstage to dance. The venue was crowded and the temperature in the concert hall was rising. Between a dancing and another, time passed with their performance, and with the following Boundless Ska Project’s one, too. I wasted time between talking at the bar and having smoke breaks outdoors, just to rest up and cool me down.
It’s now the turn of the most awaited moment of the whole event: His Majesty, THE KING Derrick Morgan! The concert hall is chock-full, but we positioned ourselves preemptively downstage in order not to miss a single instant of his show. Despite Derrick Morgan’s old age, his energy and courage to confront the stage and handle a wild mob (like the one he came across that night) are example and make us meditate on it. A sincere thanks to the King for still going around and making us young guys meet and dance with his music. “Tougher than tough”!
The last group that played was Arpioni, a great classic. Unfortunately, my notes at this point of the night were completely missing, but this means just one thing: that we were having too much fun to remember of taking them.
Borghetti and concerts finished, but not the dance. We got by late, as usual with the super dj set cured by the BCR crew, ended with “Sai che bevo, sai che fumo”, as tradition.
After a 5-minute collapse, we greeted the last survivors and headed to the bus stop. The train to the north was waiting. On the bus we said the last goodbye, then straight to the railway station.
I’d like to thank all the Bologna City Rockers from the bottom of my heart, who every time work hard to organize wicked events. This time you shaped history by bringing to Italy a legend like Derrick Morgan. Congratulations, see you next time!
A short greeting to all the fools I bumped into, Talini, Zeman, Mauro, Roberto, Gaia (ghesboro), Tozzini (cunt) who didn’t got crutch this time, Oliver, Niccolò, and everyone I met (sorry if I forget to mention you).
Amazing and unforgettable night, even if I understood nothing after a certain time. Thank you all again, until next time!
Live report by Fier
Translation by Chiara Piva
Credit Photo: Francesca Paola Marino – Bologna City Rockers
