It’s only been three years since Måneskin stormed their way to victory at Eurovision – an accolade they’ve swiftly outgrown at this early stage of their career – yet their headline set at Mad Cool 2024 sees them perform like a veteran band that’s spent decades on the road together. The sea of attendees who have gathered to watch the Italian glam rockers’ show in the early hours of the morning is a truly remarkable sight – only second to the sheer ease with which they do it.
There’s not a single note out of place on the main stage tonight (July 12), as the group shreds through every last chord, key change and wild guitar solo like it’s child’s play. Frontman Damiano David is the ultimate showman, as his voice rips through a setlist that weaves in and out of raucous pop and glam rock without missing a beat. Commanding a festival crowd with this much energy at nearly 2am is no easy feat, so it’s no wonder a proud smirk is permanently fixed on David’s face – though it helps when you can MC in Spanish, English and Italian.
Kicking off with the crunching ‘Don’t Wanna Sleep’ and thumping ‘Gossip’, first-timers quickly learn that watching each member of Måneskin fall into the flow of their arrangements is as much a show as the music itself. Drummer Ethan Torchio’s manic ponytail swings in the wind as he plays the drums with one hand and a tambourine with the other; Victoria De Angelis flashes a devilish smile as she rocks out on the bass; Thomas Raggi plays a wicked guitar solo behind his head. The flashing, multi-coloured visuals capturing all of this look more like a perfectly polished concert film, not a live gig unfolding right before our eyes.
“Madrid, make some fucking noise!” David screams during ‘For Your Love’. By the time we arrive at ‘I Wanna Be Your Slave’, the energy has reached fever pitch, which is unleashed at just the right moment after the crowd descends to the ground and jumps back up on the band’s cue. Fan favourites like ‘I Wanna Be Your Slave’, ‘Beggin’’ and ‘MAMMAMIA’ unsurprisingly go down a storm, as David struts back and forth while basking in the glory of it all.
A proper rock star moment happens when he invites fans on stage for ‘Kool Kids’, who swarm him within a matter of seconds. The extended instrumental section that follows – which goes on for several minutes – is a remarkable standalone rock show, hammering home just how musically tight the group really are. Charging through the setlist like a well oiled machine – and doing so with their distinct brand of authenticity – Måneskin are at the very top of their game; it’s no wonder they make headline slots seem like a walk in the park.
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