Maneskin performed in São Paulo last Friday, the 9th, in their only solo show in Brazil. The band, fresh from their performance on the World Stage at Rock In Rio , where they proved to be a great success for the festival , delivered another memorable show in their debut in the country, although they seemed less fierce in this safer environment.
With the Unimed venue packed with a predominantly young, yet diverse audience, from children to adults wearing Slayer , Iron Maiden , and KISS , and already chanting "Vamos, c*ralho, p**ra" (Let's go, motherfucker, fuck), a reference to the swear words learned by vocalist Damiano David for their Rock In Rio that became a catchphrase during the band's time in the country, Maneskin took the stage almost 20 minutes late, but this was compensated for by the band's energetic arrival to the sound of the excellent "Zitti e Buoni".
To the undisguised surprise of the Maneskin members, the fans in São Paulo were more than ready for that moment and sang the songs, whether in Italian or English, with fervor and dedication, with Damiano leaving several vocal parts to the audience. "You know the lyrics better than I do," the vocalist commented at one point.
In a much safer setting than the stage of a festival where the main attraction of the night would be Guns N' Roses , the Italians had more freedom, such as in their much more provocative visuals, and in the political statement that was much celebrated by the fans, when the vocalist understood the criticism of the current president of Brazil when the audience started chanting "Hey, Bolsonaro , go f*** yourself...", so common at shows during this election period. Damiano confirmed with the audience if they were really talking about the politician and agreed with the public in Portuguese: "Out with Bolsonaro".
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This is one of the highlights of Maneskin's interaction with fans: there's an acceptance and understanding of youth issues that bands from other generations of rock are unable to grasp with such naturalness. With all members under 23 years old, their defiant stance against gender stereotypes, their support for the LGBTQ+ community and other social causes are not a clever marketing ploy, but a genuine attitude from the band – and this truth greatly enhances an explosive rock 'n' roll show like theirs.
On the other hand, some logistical limitations of a closed concert venue seemed to tame somewhat the wild and unpredictable beast that Maneskin has proven to be, always eager for physical interaction with the audience. Despite maintaining an impressive stage performance, with the unstoppable and intense Victoria de Angelis on bass, the intense solos of Thomas Raggi , and the consistency of Ethan Torchio on drums—he being the member with the least interaction with the audience—in a show that was both sexual and relaxed in equal measure, it was possible to perceive that the Italians wanted more than simply climbing near the barrier or throwing themselves into the front rows of the audience.
The moment with the fans on stage during “Lividi Sui Gomiti,” at the end of the show, perfectly illustrates how the group feels most comfortable when making music as a contact sport—visceral and present—and the encore benefited from the electrifying exchange of energies.
Far beyond a performative band with undeniable sex appeal, Maneskin's show in São Paulo showcased the musicians' technical skills, with room for a drum solo and a moment of pure psychedelia during Thomas's entrance in "Le parole lontane," one of the show's musical highlights during the encore. Throughout the performance, Damiano's raspy and bittersweet vocals were present and precise, particularly in "La Paura Del Buio" and "Coraline," a fan favorite.
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In many ways, Maneskin's show was less energetic than their formidable performance at Rock In Rio, but that didn't make it any less unforgettable. While the band didn't physically explode as much during parts of the set, they made up for it with camaraderie and connection with the audience, with Damiano stopping the show to give water to fans at the barrier, and a relaxed demeanor when the singer messed up the intro to "I Wanna Be Your Slave" and had to start over. The song returned to close the show with even more intensity than the first time.
And those who argue that Maneskin can't bring a new audience to rock n' roll and complain about the band's covers have certainly never been thrilled by the audience's reaction to screaming "Beggin'" by The Four Seasons , "My Generation" by The Who , and "I Wanna Be Your Dog" by The Stooges at the top of their lungs, as happened in São Paulo.
Without a doubt, this night will be etched in the memory of everyone present for a long time, both because it was the band's first time in the country, and because of the Italians' potential to continue their upward trajectory of recognition and success, making the São Paulo show one of the last chances in the coming years to experience a phenomenon like Maneskin in such an intimate setting. "Thank you so much, everyone, truly. You made this night very special and unforgettable. We will never forget this day," Damiano concluded before saying goodbye. The certainty is that the feeling was mutual for everyone present.
See our exclusive photo gallery from our contributor Leca Suzuki below. Also check out the coverage from our partner site Mad Sound with photos by Marcela Lorenzetti here .
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