NEW YORK (AP) — Huddled collectively on a snakeskin sofa in a New York resort, their euphoria was infectious.
Måneskin simply performed a pop-up lunchtime present in Instances Sq., and now they discovered their Madison Sq. Backyard present scheduled for later within the week was a sellout.
Pleasantly stunned, frontman Damiano David known as the information “very particular.”
“It’s probably the most essential locations the place you possibly can ever dream to play,” David mentioned.
That present Thursday evening will kick off the North American leg of their Rush! World Tour that started earlier this yr.
In an period the place rock bands appear endangered and many of the high acts within the style got here from the final millennium, Måneskin has turn into one thing of an anomaly.
Coming to prominence in 2021 after an sudden win on the Eurovision Tune Contest with their high-energy rocker, “Zitti E Buoni,” the Italian quartet appears to be reviving rock music, or at the very least, offering a breath of hope.
Damiano David, left, Thomas Raggi and Victoria De Angelis from the Italian rock band Måneskin carry out in Instances Sq. on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, in New York. (Picture by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Bass participant Victoria De Angelis says it was by no means intentional.
As an alternative, she says the band was born out of “pure ardour” between 4 pals who met in highschool.
“I feel for us this factor of constructing rock music simply got here as a result of we had been so younger,” she mentioned.
They merely needed to make music, by no means having the notion of “breaking via” within the music enterprise as a rock act.
“We grew up listening to the music our mother and father did. After which after we began taking part in our devices to our lecturers and simply discovering rock music and all of the bands of the previous. It’s one thing that basically formed us in who we’re immediately,” De Angelis mentioned.
That osmosis ripples via the band as they listened to basic rock filtered from their mother and father and grandparents. Guitarist Thomas Raggi knew he needed to play rock music after listening to what Jimi Hendrix may with a Stratocaster.
“I wish to revive a little bit of the determine of the enduring guitarist,” Raggi mentioned.
Drummer Ethan Torchio shares that sentiment, saying that his type is totally different whereas knowledgeable by the rock of the ‘70s and ’80s. “I simply attempt to be fashionable and classic on the similar time,” he mentioned.
Now with three studio albums underneath their belt, the younger rockers (David is the oldest at 24) have gotten a worldwide phenom. Because the band’s recognition continues to extend, De Angelis says she’s not affected by the celebrity, quite she sees it as “a giant journey that we get to share with one another.”
“I feel we’re fortunate as a result of we met after we had been actually younger, so our personalities mainly developed collectively and we lived this loopy expertise collectively that made the bond between us even tighter,” De Angelis mentioned.
Whereas they will simply be mistaken for glam rockers of one other period with their trend type and enviornment anthems like “I Wanna Be Your Slave,” or “Supermodel,” there’s a powerful sensuality to the music that harkens again to that forbidden attraction from the early days of rock ‘n’ roll with the intimacy “upped to 11” throughout stay exhibits. Subsequently, the band has amassed a devoted world following, led by their charismatic frontman.
David attributes that vibe from the band’s days of busking on the streets of Rome as youngsters.
“We needed to get the eye of the individuals. So, we noticed that interacting and getting shut is one thing that basically works,” David mentioned.
That carried over to their stay present, as they break free from the principle stage for a couple of songs to get nearer to the viewers. In addition they have introduced followers onstage.
“We attempt to give you methods to get nearer to the individuals as a result of you possibly can really really feel the power. Additionally, you possibly can contact and see their faces and make them sing… it’s simply sharing a enjoyable second for us,” David mentioned.
The connection between artist and viewers was intensified throughout their South America dates the place the band was uncovered to among the most energetic audiences.
“Folks go loopy, they sing the lyrics on a regular basis. They actually scream on the high of their lungs. They mosh. They crowd surf. It’s like most power,” De Angelis mentioned.
However as their fan base continues to develop, together with the scale of the venues, David admits success presents some challenges.
“It brings extra followers, in fact, and stuff like that, however it brings extra haters, extra criticism and extra expectations.”
However he says the band stays resilient.
“Fairly often, the viewers desires artists to be all the time the identical. However I feel it’s very, very unhealthy. So it’s essential having the heart to constantly experiment and alter it doesn’t matter what persons are going to assume,” David mentioned.
