Written by:	gorockit
Published:	September 20, 2004
Event:	Independence Day festival

Two more intense days in the Arena Parco Nord in Bologna, Italy.
Unfortunately being there two stages but only one reporter (!), we just caught some of the highlights of these days. Amongst the ones missing we can cite Mondo Generator, Mark Lanegan and The Darkness.
By the way here is what we saw...

Day I 04/09/2004


The libertines
And here comes the moment for the pupils of British NME. The band just pop out from the most alternative, underground scene of London, but it's ready now to conquer a massive crowd of teen-agers with a fast-crowing, strong reputation thanks to their -somehow!- punkish attitude strengthen by a passionate live performance. Unfortunately their show tonight wasn't exactly? exiting!!! Proving that they are just some nice guys who were in the right place at the right moment. Probably caused also from the recent departure from the group of leader Pete Doherty, lost somewhere in the World trying to rehab from his "dirty" habits that drove him faraway from the original spirit of the band.
The other survivors, including Barat, performed late during the afternoon proposing hits from their first album as "What A Waster" and "I Get Along". This date has been their only Italian date for promoting their latest successful disk from which they played, amongst the others, the famous "Can't stand me now" and the popular "Time For Heroes".






Franz Ferdinand
Pleasantly satisfying was the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand tonight. The Scottish quartet really demonstrated a different positive style from the previous British Libertines. Their show had a lot in common with classic adrenalinic, kickin-ass performance everyone is expecting from a R'n'R band.
Although this is their debut album, these guys proved to have charisma but, most important, to own already their proper, unique style which enabled them to be noticed amongst the crowded pop/rock scene.
Helped by catchy songs like the well-known "Take Me Out", they offered a bubbly show playing tunes such as "Michael", "Matinee" and the title track of their first single "Darts Of Pleasure".
Sure that is one of the bands just to watch out for, as their debut is something singular and brilliant, we will wait for some smart surprises in the near future from this Scottish combo.






Sonic Youth
No presentations are needed for the headliners of tonight. From New York, here for a great coming back and the presentation of their new album "Nurse", are Sonic Youth. Once again they show what's the real meaning of being passionate; live and believe in something called "Music"!
They are just great; ready to teach some good, healthy lessons of pure R'n'R life-style to all the aspirant little stars who today did try to gain a bit of fame on this same stage.
Kim Gordon is fabulous and she didn't miss any opportunity to show it, from the beginning to the end of the show; being still so fresh and energetic in the final part of the concert, quite a surprise to say the true!
It's been also amazing to see how much acclaimed they still are, both from the younger kids and from 'their generation' fans. The charismatic singer was even obliged to plea the crowd to step back like, a couple of time, because she noticed the suffering faces of squeezed and struggling people in the first rows!!!
With the famous and super dynamic guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, they went through the hits of their entire career. From the unmissable "Sugar Kane", back to the 'Nirvana' period of the album "Dirty", going on with "100%", "Confusion Is Next", passing to the tribute to the evil EVOL album and, naturally, playing songs from the latest "Nurse".
If I should find out something not so positive, it would be the choice of their last song: an incredibly long version of "Rain On Tin" (lasting almost 15minutes!!). Not the best thing to propose after 14 hours standing in a hot Arena of a Summer Festival. Maybe they just wanted to compare their strength to the one of hundreds of poor, exhausted fans? and they won the challenge, for sure!
By the way, what is really important is that most of the audience will remember them as great musicians and recognise them to be the pioneers of the -nowadays beloved- alternative rock culture of the 90s.


Day II 05/09/2004

Lars Frederiksen and the bastard
It's been him, Rancid guitarist, to put on fire the punk kids in Bologna today.
Strictly black clothes, highly (!) visible tattoos on the forehead, on the face -even on his neck!- and an astonishing presence on the stage of this Festival. He's here today to promote his second album, produced in collaboration with his music partner and friend Tim Armostrong of Rancid, titled "Viking".
Fighting with the young rioters of the crowd, and spreading his love to them in a real punk style -shouting to 'f*** off' in a perfect Italian? about a hundred times in 30 minutes of gig (!!)- the Viking himself started with the strong, powerful song "Dead Americans" followed by "Marie Marie", "Little Rude Girl", "Switchable", "gfoot5".
In the middle of the show 'The Bastards' did play also songs from the second band of Frederiksen (as he introduced it to the audience), 'The Rancid'. The gig ended up with the hymn of the band, "Skux", and "Vietnam".







Mc5
Being recognised to be one of the most outstanding shows of the Indipendent Festival, the 'tribute' band MC5 did duets, collaborations and jam sessions with first class musicians and artists during the late afternoon of this shining day. First of all the vigorous guitar player and front man of Finnish band 'The Hellacopters': Mr. Nick Royale. He did stupefy all the presents with his solos and ability while accompanying the former MC5 guitarist and genius Wayne Kramer; heaps of musicians showed up on the stage not to miss the performance of these amazing artists too. Jam session. This should probabily be the perfect word to describe the gig they proposed today, as several artists appeared with the band, included the fabulous Lisa Kekaula (ex Bellrays) whose dreamlike voice amazed all the Arena; being so deep, strong, almost psychedelic, those kind of voices which just embrace you but that won't never let you go. Unforgettable! Another superb guitarist to play along side Kramer has been Mark Arm (from Mudhoney) and a final guest was one of the ex Soledad Brothers with his harmonica.
For sure one of the most intensive gig I've ever seen in a live show. Such a great pleasure was to listen to tracks like the ultra successful "Kick Out The Jams". Apocalyptic moments with the proposed version of "I Believe To My Soul" by Ray Charles. Not to mention classics like "The Human Being Lawnmower", "Ramblin' Rose", "Sister Anne", "High School", "Call Me Animal" and "The American Ruse"!

Velvet Revolver
Since the earliest hours of that morning was evident that most of the people showing up today, had one common aim: appreciate live the members of ex Guns N'Roses! Teen-ageing SOSIA of Slash were walking towards the Arena with their hair shadowing their own faces -classical touch of the famous guitar man of the LA band.
Young ladies showing their crazy love for Axl, who wasn't there neither, or Duff where everywhere around the Arena. Trendy SPILLE on their jeans jackets, on their trashy bags, on the t-shirts, on their police hats. And more? skulls, crosses, swords and caricatures of the famous 5piece band were hanging from every fringe of their clothes (or maybe is better to say from what remained of their 2nd, 3rd or 19th hand clothes).
And there we were to welcome back our idols. With a Slash visibly over weighted, while Duff surely in a better fit but apparently confused and full of anger. Sorum was for sure the most brilliant and he looks gorgeous! He didn't put down fans, but he showed the great ability for whom is well-know also today.
The exact contrary of smart and shining was the singer Scott Weiland (ex Stone Temple Pilots), who showed the darkest and most doggy, and probably suffered, side of the whole band. Amazingly, his performance has been fantastic in confront of the one of the other members. Maybe fault of the high exceptions that everyone has when speaking about a band formed by his 4/5 from former Gunners. Some point less because of Weiland voice: obviously too low and forced with no good results (result of his well-known habits and excesses?!!!).
Pure Delirium! On the tunes of "It's so Easy" when also the beloved guitar player Izzy Stradlin went on stage to join his mates. Loud screams and hysterical pleas spread around the entire Arena. But the fire was soon putted out by Duff himself, who angrily grabbed the microphone of Weiland reminding: "We are Velvet Revolver, not the fuckin' Guns N'Roses" (man of few words, apparently!).
Nevermind! The show of the band went on a bit too fast and they really deserved some more time being such a great attraction. Songs like "Big Machine", "Slither", "Dirty Little Thing" just were played one after another, with no words or efforts to entertain the public. Passing through a tribute song of the grunge band STP, the band left then the stage running towards the backstage and never showing up again, while the fans went on and on for long minutes acclaiming their idols for a couple of songs more?