Bandabardò - Bandabardò - Music to chase away the clouds

In May their latest CD, “Scaccianuvole”, came out, showing them more combative and biting than ever in their lyrics, yet as cheerful and joyous as ever in their music, with a truly commendable compositional maturity from Enrico Greppi. The CD's release was followed by a long summer tour, which has now resumed, after a brief break, with two splendid consecutive nights at Turin's Hiroshima Mon Amour. On this occasion, we spoke with singer and songwriter Enrico “Erriquez” Greppi.

Bandabardò has always been considered a live band, giving its best on stage. What's new about the upcoming winter tour?

As always, we got ready with some semi-serious rehearsals. This summer we toured with two new guys, on accordion and trumpet, without our Cuban, Ramon, so the sound shifted towards more French, more melancholic tones. This winter, though, we have Ramon back with us, plus a great new guy on keyboards. We've put together a very varied and very long setlist, partly to include songs we almost never play, and to present four more tracks from “Scaccianuvole” compared to this summer's tour — we're prepared for some very long nights.

Let's talk about your latest album. Who is Scaccianuvole and what does this title represent?

“Scaccianuvole” (“Cloud-Chaser”) is a wish. We've been living under a blanket of clouds since 1993, that is, since He came onto the scene. A year after which we've never again been able to look at a clear sky, especially those of us with unpaid jobs, forced to do anything to survive. It's really been too long a period of uncertainty and scant respect shown to citizens by the political class. There's this maddening lid over everything, but underneath it wonderful, funny, hopeful things still happen. That's what we tell. We can never manage to be completely sad, because even on the songs we consider the saddest, the audience laughs, dances and is happy. It's a record where we've grown in terms of emotion, with a very warm sound, similar to that of old vinyl records and far from a digital sound.

Emotions that come through especially live. As we were saying, you're a true live band, and you're about to approach your 1,300th concert. That's a lot of miles covered over the years, isn't it?

Yes, an impressive number, in Italy and abroad: Canada, France, Germany, Spain. It's been eighteen years of a dream.

Almost twenty years means more than one generation. Are you starting to see different age groups among your audience?

Yes, it's a wonderful moment. We see father and son sharing a moment together with the same sparkle in their eyes. Maybe the father has followed us since '93, and now Bandabardò is something that unites them, maybe even the only thing.

As always, your latest album is deeply rooted in the social and political reality we're living through, and it closes with an interesting track titled "Hanno ragione loro" ("They Are Right"). Who are these "they"?

They're the ones who look at life with a more open outlook. Specifically, I'm referring to the Maya, who have seven cardinal points, not just four like us. Besides North, South, East and West, they also have the Here, that is, where I am, which is essential when you have to make a decision, the Above, that is, the sky, and above all there's the seventh cardinal point, which is the direction of the dream. One should never stray too far from it; you should keep the rudder pointed straight in that direction. It's essential to know where it is and to have it as your cardinal point. It gives you a more open and peaceful outlook on life.

Follow the seventh cardinal point under the guidance of Bandabardò, on every stage in Italy.

Ride the wave of great music

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