Måneskin – The Kool Kids Bring Their Epic Show To The 02!

The Loud Kids Gets Louder Tour 2023

So here we are, It’s the Jubilee Bank Holiday Monday and we’re here in the 02 gazing intently at the stage with the biggest red curtain you’ve ever seen, waiting for the show to start! The atmosphere in the auditorium is at fever pitch because Måneskin are in town! The audience is an eclectic mix of the edgy cool kids in their fishnets, eyeliner and leather, the uber cool hipsters, the fashion mavericks and the mums and dads too, all bustling for position to see one of the hottest bands on Earth right now!

In 2 short years, Måneskin have gone from 2021 Eurovision winners to Italy’s media darlings and the voice of a new edgier generation. They are androgynous, sexy as hell, fearless rebels who push every boundary and dance to their own tune and they are so very now! Adored by the likes of Green Day, Iggy Pop and Queen among others, Måneskin are a force majeure.

The stage was lit up by enormous lighting rigs, like something from outta space and as the red curtain was illuminated, it first revealed the whipish silhouette of guitarist Thomas Raggi. The grinding sounds of his guitar rung out across the 02! As the rest of the band were revealed and the curtain fell, the crowd went wild as they erupted into ‘Don’t Wanna Sleep’ a banging dance track! As the topless shaven headed snake-hipped tattooed super cool Damiano David swaggered across the stage, the atmosphere hit fever-pitch and the fans went crazy. The 02 a heaving mass of dancing, jumping screaming bodies. The chemistry between the band was just incredible as leather and feather boa clad Guitarist Victoria De Angelis and Raggi gyrated together and Drummer Ethan Torchio delivered a relentless dance beat. They literally owned the stage!

Next up was ‘Gossip’, a track about living life under the glare of the media, with it’s catchy hooks, dance beat and rock guitars, the audience absolutely loved it. As the madness continued with fearless crowd surfing from Raggi and De Angelis, the hits came thick and fast! A non-stop adrenaline filled rollercoaster ride through a sea of punchy glam rock, dance and punk-pop tunes and crunching guitars.

Looking around the auditorium, it’s clear to see that with public and music industry support for rock music waning in recent years, Måneskin are just what the music industry needs right now! A breath of fresh air in a slightly stale music industry perhaps? A rock dance high-bred with epic radio friendly tunes that you can dance to and that appeal to the masses. Something that brings people together, no matter who they are or what genre of music that they’re into! Something for the kids, something for rockers and the ravers and the mums and dads too!

A particular highlight of the show was their phenomenally successful track, ‘Bla Bla Bla’. Delivered with all the raunchy attitude and naughtiness that you would expect from these feather boa clad Vogue cover boys and girls.

‘Beggin’, their number one hit with David’s distinctive vocal intro and its radio friendly catchy hooks and chorus brought the house down and had everyone on their feet!

But Måneskin were full of surprises as after playing ‘Gasoline’ and indulging in a bit more ‘rock n roll’ stage diving, the band left the stage and only moments later, a second hidden stage appeared at the opposite end of the auditorium, where David and Raggi serenaded the crowd with beautiful and emotional renditions of their tracks ‘Vent’Anni’ and ‘If Not For You’, reminding the audience that even without all the lights and the melodrama, that Måneskin are still first and foremost incredibly talented musicians.

Then it was back to the main stage for their first rendition of the ridiculously catchy, ‘I Wanna Be Your Slave’. Before launching into their hit ‘Kool Kids’, where David told the crowd, “We’ve been criticised a lot for this track and accused of copying you fucking British”, he then went on to admit that it was a little bit true, to much raucous applause from the kool kids themselves! And then in true Måneskin tradition he invited a bevy of adoring fans onto the stage whilst they performed ‘Kool Kids’, ending with the fans on their knees all bowing down to their rockin’ demi-god!

The band then left the stage returning moments later to near hysteria for a two-song encore starting with their heartfelt rendition of ‘The Loneliest’. With Davids distinctive rasping vocal, this is an epic power ballad full of emotion with its wailing guitar and soul bearing lyrics.

Then finally the show draws to a close after two and half hours of seamless high-octane showmanship with a reprise of their phenomenally successful hit ’I Wanna Be Your Slave’, a high energy sweaty mascara-streaked anthem with a pounding dance sound that oozes attitude and opens to grinding rock guitars.

So perhaps the question has to be, could World domination be within Måneskin’s reach? Hell yes!!

Set List:

Don’t Wanna Sleep
Gossip
Zitti E Buoni
Own My Mind
Supermodel
Coraline
Baby Said
Bla Bla Bla
In Nome Del Padre
Beggin’
Time Zone
For Your Love
Gasoline

Acoustic Stage

Vent’Anni
If Not For You
Main Stage
I Wanna Be Your Slave
La Fine
Feel
Mark Chapman
Mammamia
Kool Kids

Encore:
The Loneliest
I Wanna Be Your Slave (Reprise)

Review by Louise Phillips