The Phil Anselmo and The Illegals show took place on Saturday, January 26th
Philip Anselmo and The Illegals ' performance in São Paulo, the band's flight was canceled. The production company informed fans and the press via email, stating that the show had been rescheduled for 10:45 PM.
With Tropical Butantã already packed, a message came that the band hadn't even arrived in the country yet. Rumors were circulating about a cancellation, but the audience didn't seem willing to leave without waiting as long as possible. "Phil arrived at the airport," the journalists on site updated. "The band is already here.".
Without time for a proper soundcheck, Phil Anselmo and The Illegals took the stage around 1:00 AM. Right at the beginning, the band thanked the audience for waiting and joked, "you can't fight the airport." A gesture of respect that surprised many in attendance, especially since the consensus was that the show would be canceled.
The first five songs on the setlist were from the solo album Choosing Metal Illness As A Virtue . But even the band knew that wasn't what the audience wanted. With applause and shouts at the end of songs like "Little Fucking Heroes" and "Ignorant Point," it was just a warm-up.
Then came the first Pantera cover, "Mouth for War." A beautiful dedication to Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell started the party the fans wanted, which lasted until the end of the show.
The lack of rehearsal and soundcheck interrupted the tribute. Phil Anselmo told the band to stop and tried a few more times, while roadies and musicians tried to fix everything quickly. "I'm not going to let us play any old crap here. Everything has to be perfect for everyone who's waited this long," Phil shouted into the microphone, drawing applause.
Without perfect technical aspects, the show unfolded like this. The band tried their best, and the fans tried to overlook all the problems and enjoy the music. The night, which began troubled and hopeless, ended with mutual respect.
Even though the performance wasn't the best, "Walk," "This Love," and "A New Level," combined with Phil and the band's stage presence, pleased anyone who wanted to enjoy some music without worrying about the setbacks along the way.
Photos by Mila Maluhy:
