The Murder Capital - Bologna -
November 3 2023

- Bologna (Locomotiv Club) November 3 2023 -

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The train to Bologna should have left at 10.40 so that I could arrive home by 12.30 at the latest and have plenty of time to rest a bit and then go to Locomotiv.
Unfortunately the timetables all got messed up as the train was an hour late.
At 2pm I'm home, I eat something quick, I empty my backpack from Milan and close my suitcase for Rome for the next day.
A shower, I lie down on the bed for half an hour, not even time to close my eyes and off I go, I put on the t-shirt bought the day before and at 5.30pm my friend Giuseppe is already at home.
Poor guy, I forced him to come early, again due to my damned pre-concert anxiety.
In reality, for me, in life, everything slides over me, only concerts make me nervous.
We arrive in front of the venue around 6pm, I immediately notice the tour bus and, luckily, there is still no one in front of the Locomotiv.
We have plenty of time to grab something next door.
Around 7.30pm we return to the front of the restaurant and immediately get in line because a few people were starting to arrive.
Doors open at 8.00pm.
I finally relax when I only see the stage in front of me!!!
At the Locomotiv there are no barriers and I wonder what James will do.
I brought the vinyls with me hoping to get them autographed.
During the concert I put them under the stage so they don't get ruined, even the one I purchased shortly before at the merchandising desk (I only needed the 45 of the live from London to finish my collection).

From 8.45pm Soak entertains us with his angelic voice.
Luckily the place is much warmer than yesterday so I expect the kids to be dressed lighter.
As per the communication, received via email, they go on stage at 9.45pm.
Who knows what impression seeing such a small place must have made on him.
In Italy, unfortunately, they are considered niche groups, which is absurd given that they have attended very prestigious international stages such as Coachella, Glastonbury and Primavera Sound but, now, I no longer have to ask myself these questions given that here we either listen to biiiippp music or old.
The first to enter is Gabiel, today he is wearing a gray suit that seems three sizes too big with a white tank top underneath and yesterday's boots.
Immediately behind him comes Pump wearing a black long-sleeved t-shirt with a gray cardigan vest over it, dark trousers and beige sneakers.
Damian is wearing a long-sleeved yellow blouse, a pair of jeans and yesterday's black biker jackets.
As usual, for Diarmuid, I can only see that today he has a white short-sleeved shirt.
The last to go on stage is always James, with a white long-sleeved blouse with two embroideries, with houses on the chest, black trousers and the inevitable Texan boots.
The boys attack immediately with “Heart in the hole”, continuing like yesterday with “More is less”.
Maybe it's the intimacy of the place, but they seem much busier than yesterday.
The setlist continues with “Return my head”, like the previous evening.
To the tune of “Green & Blue” I close my eyes and let myself be lulled.
“Gigi's Recovery”, which I'm almost starting to like now.
Let's stay on the wonderful dark sounds with “The Lie Becomes The Self”.
“Slowdance I” and “Slowdance II” see a compact group almost supporting Diarmuid's excellent work on drums.
At “The Stars Will Leave Their Stage,” Gabriel performs a ballet of sorts.
In fact, in his Instagram presentation it says “balletic, menacing & statuesque”.
To the tune of “Crying” he takes off his jacket, remaining in his white undershirt.
I told you it would be warmer today.
“Ethel” starts and a girl to my right, English I think, hands James a bouquet of roses which he then throws into the audience.
It's a succession of intermittent emotions.
We move from “A Thousand Lives” from the last album to “On Twisted Ground” from the first.
I go crazy with joy hearing the notes of “Only Good Things”, it will be my new mantra!!!
“Don't Cling To Life”, of a unique poem “Let's stay close for all our days. Failing this, let's dance and cry."

Like every concert of theirs that I have seen so far, it ends with “Feeling Fades”.
Gabriel takes up his bass as if it were a rifle and starts shooting at the amused audience.
Pump moves to Damien's side and duets with him, almost hinting at a mosh pit with James when he returns to his place.
Unmissable stage diving by James who at Locomotiv will have reached the bar.
He is determined to let me autograph the vinyls but, in the merchandising desk, there are only James and Diarmuid.
I wait a bit with the hope that the other guys will appear too but I fear that they won't show up today given the really small space.
The crowd thins out a bit and I get in line to at least get their autographs.
A chat with James and I ask him if the others will show up and he tells me “I don't talk with them” uahahahahah. I told him that we would see each other in Rome, the most beautiful city in the world, the next day.
A beer drunk in front of the tour bus trying to see the others too but no one looks out.
Thank you Giuseppe for having all this patience.
I'll have to bring the vinyls to Rome too.
Road to Rome...

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