The Italian band Maneskin made their Brazilian debut in grand style, as the second biggest attraction on the World Stage at Rock In Rio this Thursday, the 8th, and proved to be a great success for the festival on the highlight night of rock.
Arriving after CPM22 and The Offspring , and as the last act before the headliners Guns N' Roses , all bands more than well-established in rock, the artists showed enviable skill. At no point did the enormous stage seem small for Maneskin, who effortlessly captivated the audience with sensual and disruptive charisma, explosive stage presence, and an even more rock 'n' roll sound live, which benefits even more recent singles like "Mamma Mia" and "Supermodel".
For skeptics, the image of Rock City packed with people singing along – to all the songs, not just “Beggin’” – at the top of their lungs should be more than enough. If seeing is believing in Maneskin as an absolute rock phenomenon, the long, frenetic solos of guitarist Thomas Raggi and bassist Victoria de Ângelis prove that the Italians possess, in addition to attitude and viral hits, musicality that justifies their established place.
“For us, it’s a great honor to play at Rock In Rio,” said vocalist Damiano David , recalling Queen at the festival. In a perfect moment of unity between past, present, and future, the band performed a brief acoustic cover of “Love of My Life,” with a memorable chorus from the audience. Later, the band also played a version of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges .
Unlike the giants of the genre, who usually deliver precise but more rehearsed shows, Maneskin offers a breath of fresh air through the unpredictability and imminent danger of the band on stage: the television broadcast seems preoccupied with showing something too provocative, the film crews struggle to locate the musicians running close to the audience, eager for physical interaction with the crowd.
Maneskin's show is a double success: the band showcases its full firepower as one of the greatest representatives of the new generation of rock, and Rock In Rio, often criticized by rock fans for repeating acts of the genre, demonstrates its capacity for renewal by featuring Maneskin's frenetic show in this edition.
READ ALSO: Damiano David, of Måneskin: “Nobody is keeping rock alive. It’s impossible to kill it”