Måneskin is still everything we remembered from their explosive debut in Brazil last year (and much more), as shown by the sold-out show in São Paulo last Friday, the 4th. And even though the performance made it clear that the band needs to put viral hits aside, the irreverence and command of the Italians over their passionate audience are still the memories that remain from yet another high-level performance.
It's impossible not to compare the 2023 shows to the band's first encounter with a Brazilian audience, frequently cited by Måneskin as one of the most memorable experiences on the road so far. The band returned to Brazil this week for two sold-out shows that repeated the itinerary of the previous year: first, they landed in Rio de Janeiro, this time on a much smaller scale at Qualistage, and then they went to Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, the same venue that hosted their debut. With two performances so close together, the group's maturity is evident in several aspects.
Now more confident in their own stage presence, the quartet has shed the depraved savagery of those on their first world tour, but still shines with the certainty of delivering a good show with just the right doses of ironic sensuality. Once dazzled by the deafening screams of the fans, today's Måneskin knows what to expect and demands a level of participation from the audience. You know when a relationship transitions from infatuation to a serious relationship, where the parties know each other better? That's precisely the case here.
And the fans' enthusiasm kicked off the night with deafening choruses of the new songs "Don't Wanna Sleep" and "Gossip," from the album Rush , which was very well received throughout the show. The performance made it clear from the start that the highlight would be the new album, but with room for fan favorites, with "Zitti e Buoni" and "Coraline" interspersed with "Honey (Are You Coming?)" and "Supermodel."
Damiano David himself confessed to a certain weariness with the version that made them famous worldwide. Although it's still an inevitable part of Måneskin's live shows, it's immediately apparent that the band can now leave that song behind, since the audience has embraced the Italians' original discography so well.
This feeling would return with the success of "I Wanna Be Your Slave": inexplicably, the song is performed twice in the show, in the second act and to close the night. When you have three albums and fans clamoring for songs left out of the setlist, as in the case of "Baby Said," performed impromptu and without passion, there is no justification for repeating a track. As good as that song is, repeating it twice was too much and took away space from much-loved tracks in the show.
But none of these details managed to diminish the power of the performance, making it yet another unforgettable night for Måneskin in São Paulo. The chaotic sequence of "For Your Love" and "Gasoline" showcased the band's rock 'n' roll dedication, which spared no time in the guitar, bass, and drum solos, as it should be.
In one of the show's most intimate moments, Damiano and guitarist Thomas Raggi performed an acoustic set on a smaller stage set up in the general admission area of Espaço Unimed. After fulfilling requests from the Brazilian audience with "Vent'Anni," they presented a cover of Cazuza's "Exagerado," despite the singer admitting he has a minimal repertoire of Portuguese. At this point, the predominantly young age of the audience became apparent in the number of people who didn't sing along to the chorus of the national classic, as if they simply didn't know the lyrics.
Physical touch remains one of Måneskin's languages of love with their passionate fans. Bassist Victoria de Angelis went down to the audience at one point, Raggi threw herself into the crowd at another, and more than a dozen fans went on stage for "Kool Kids" in the final stretch of the performance, singing close to their idols with the intimacy of friends.
And at the close of the show, “The Loniest” proved to be one of the great hits from Måneskin's latest album. If not for originality, being a more conventional hard rock ballad, the song was a moment of tears and couples dancing embraced on the dance floor, something the band's repertoire hadn't had until then.
A display of charisma and talent, Måneskin's return to São Paulo showed maturity without losing their attitude, and left us curious to see under what circumstances the band will return to the country in the future. Bigger, stronger, or completely different? Whatever the case, Brazil is a lover eager for discovery.
Our contributor Leca Suzuki attended the event and photographed the show. Check out the photo gallery below.
