I'm 50 now, started using glasses to read small print. I’ve got a torn meniscus, which I regularly rub with arnica creme.
I bike a lot and listen to even more music. I’ve got no hair left, so I shave it because it’s practical and I fancy it.
There’s quite a difference between this and the 19-year-old who was at Obras ‘93, jumping and sweating like a maniac. That guy whose ticket disintegrated from all the sweat, sticking it back together with tape.
You know what hasn’t changed? Having Living Colour right in front of me, on stage, giving their best. Always In sync with a mixed crowd— consisting mainly of longtime rockers, tons of musicians, and people who know their stuff.
Because LC deserve playing in packed arenas, headlining festivals, getting tons of credit for being rock n roll legends. They’re a four-headed musical beast that bond together incredibly well, like a Voltron. Their chemistry is intact, and their songs are unique and unrepeatable. They tear them apart and rebuild them at will, toying with the solos, lenght of the songs, vocal interpretations. Oh and a little observation: THEY’RE ALL OVER 60!
Sorry, if I didn’t introduce them properly. This band, formed in NYC in the late '80s, is made up of Corey Glover, Vernon Reid, Doug Wimbish, and Will Calhoun. And they played last night at Teatro Flores, my first time there, but definitely not my last.
Let me start from the beginning. Only for them, for my history growing up with the band and how much I relate to their music, I got myself a Meet & Greet. And totally worth the ride.
I went full-on groupie mode. If they had made me an indecent proposal, I would have thought about it twice.
I arrived early; the event organizers told us that it would start at 5 PM. When I got there, they told us Corey wasn’t around yet, and we’d get to “meet and greet” them after soundcheck. Needless to say, hearing them rehearse while I was outside was amazing, they sounded like they were in the street or the gig had already started. And I couldn’t wait to get inside.
There were five of us waiting for the M&G, all awesome people who share the same love for the greatest band in music history. No complaints or suggestions accepted—this is MY band.
Finally, they let us in, the band awaited, sitting at a table like judges on X Factor, ready to sign the stuff we brought and listen to our stories. Vernon loved my tattoo and even took a picture of it. The rest of the guys were super chill, humble, and really cool. We all took an individual group photo with the band, quick stop at the merch table, grabbed a liter of Fernet when the bar opened, and were allowed to enter the venue, feeling like World Champions.
Being front row at a concert is something I’d never experienced before. I never arrive that early. My backpack worked like an airbag against the crowd constantly pushing and moshing—a lot more intense than when LC played at Groove a few years ago.
After that, we sat down, finished on our Fernets, shared anecdotes, common ground, and experiences—all with Living Colour as the main topic. Then, as we stood up and the lights dimmed, Andrea Julia Álvarez took the stage. I’d never listened to her before, and she really surprised me. She’s got a solid power trio, an impeccable voice, and hits those drums like there will be no tomorrow. I really enjoyed it—definitely approved.
The main course was served at 9:05 PM, as a photographer told me (I thought she was hitting on me, I'd have loved if she did). They emerge while John Williams' Imperial March started to play. Corey looked flawless, Vernon had these bright yellow sneakers with the radioactive symbol, his signature CBGBs shirt, Wimbish rocking a mirrored shirt and his stylish hat, and Will smiling and peaceful, just the calm before the storm he would unleash.
Once they hit the stage, it was pure ecstasy. They whipped out their massive musical talent and smacked us in the face with it from every angle.
The setlist took us on a journey through their first three albums (the best ones). I’m going to focus on what they did play, not what they didn’t because, honestly, I’d love to hear them play Stain (my favorite album) in its entirety (and they did play quite a few songs from it, so no complaints here).
Not in this exact order, this is the SetList: Sacred Ground (a gem), Funny Vibe (my personal favorite), Glamour Boys, Bi, Flying (with two guitar solos and a bass solo, an extended play of love and sorrow), Ignorance is Bliss, Desperate People, Never Satisfied, Times Up, Type, Cult of Personality, a medley by Wimbish with funky tunes like White Lines (and others I didn’t catch), Open Letter (with that mind-blowing intro they always deliver, and Corey just a foot away, doing whatever he wants with his voice). A beastly solo from Will (with all his gadgets, tribal rhythms, and samples), Ausländer, Love Rears Its Ugly Head.
And as if that wasn’t enough, they did Should I Stay or Should I Go in the encore. And everyone sang along with Corey at the end, shouting, “What’s your favorite color? LIVING COLOUR.”. The crowd was at it best, surely making the band perform at its peak, although they'd be exhausted reaching the final Southamerican tour leg.
It flew by, but it had everything. I want them to come back. Incredible, unforgettable. Thank you!
PS: It’s going to be tough going to another gig after this with such a high bar.
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