ARCADE FIRE - THE SUBURBS (Merge-2010) # 3 Italy by Laspro No 7
Catania: under the volcano 
There is a town in the south. A large city of more than 300 000 inhabitants, rich in art and beauty, at the foot of a volcano. A city that defies their logic some of southern Italy, and, on the contrary, and for various reasons, becomes the symbol of a heterogeneous
scene of musicians who feel a strong bond with the music overseas. We speak of course of Catania, which since the early '80s and throughout the next decade, we will characterize to offer exciting and varied music, which will lead to a proliferation of local and gathering places for young people.
In this story there are pioneers that allows this small revolution. First a very enlightened city council in the mid-80s, allowing the opening of more than 200 premises in the old cities that host live music, and entrusting the artistic program of Summer Catanese with Franco Battiato. Second, the central story is a name: that of the late Francis Virlinzi
. A true mentor to the scene, Virlinzi is a talent scout - Carmen Consoli to name the most famous - and founder of
Cyclope Records
that, since the early 90s people like the launch
Flor, Luca Venuti,
It was no accident that among the band bestowed by Cyclope, there were Michael Stipe of REM The band, in fact, will always have a special relationship with the Sicilian city , want to friendship with Virlinzi or also a common feeling among some band from Catania to the group in Athens. And to think of it, it is the Catania
Denovo
Luca Madonia, 80 years between the band's most interesting new Italian rock, to have more than one point of contact with the REM: electro-acoustic textures and arrangements not discounted, although perhaps the group's overall sound is more approachable the British XTC. What is certain is that the Denovo were light years ahead of the state of Italian pop and perhaps also why their dish is really too little time. Then, to strengthen the bond with the jingle-jangle
Stipe of the band will think the Flor Marcello Cunsolo, other relevant experience of native rock with very strong ties to American music, which in the early 90s called arrogance with specialized media attention across the country. Denovo aside, we can say that if Florence looked to Britain, Catania groups were more attracted by the music that came from the New Continent. Think of the hardcore scene in that city will have its hub in
Uzeda
. Real seminal band, whose cult is still tough, they embark on the Uzeda glorious tour overseas earning accolades and rewards. They are the most obvious bridge between the cities of Sicily and the American scene, so that Steve Albini to produce their second album, and are certainly among the most exported Italian bands abroad so that in '95 register at the BBC Peel Session of the transmission of John Peel (which, before the Uzeda in Italy was only touched the PFM). Despite this, the group, who took the name from one of the ancient gates of Catania, has always maintained a close relationship with their origins. Today, Augustine and Joan, guitar and vocals Uzeda, are husband and wife, run in Catania
Indigenous , booking agency in Italy that led to recent bands like Battles and Explosions in the Sky, which produces very few groups interesting as Theramin Mashrooms and Syracuse. And in an era when record stores are disappearing, Indigenous is also a store specializing in the center a stone's throw away from Etna.
But the predilection of young people from Catania to some sharp sounds perhaps even independent of the commitment of Uzeda and other bands of the scene, although in the mid-'90s, the city responded with more than ten thousand attendance at the concert of the fundamental Ian MacKaye of Fugazi
, while places like the General Stores and Zo housing the best independent music around. At the same time, the now legendary Waterbird Studios saw pass dozens of groups and solo artists ready to record their debut demo.
short, a unique period for the city and for those who rightly thought that her ransom was Catania find their own youth culture. What remains today? Certainly not the idea of \u200b\u200bthe local scene but united under the lava rock with which the streets are paved, the fire continues to burn in Catania which is even now an exciting laboratory of ideas and sounds.
and others and will publish at least three compelling tributes to Gram Parsons, the fellow Battiato and REM 