A great return for La Crus, with an album Protect me from what I want released on March 22nd and whose tour will also touch Como where they will play on July 10th in the splendid setting of the Arena del Teatro Sociale on the occasion of the Como Città della Musica Festival (here where to find tickets). The band led by Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi and Cesare Malfatti certainly needs no introduction, thanks to their immense 30-year long career and this freshly printed album which is among the finalists of the Targhe Tenco 2024. We contacted Giovanardi to have him explain something more about the new work.
“Before the lockdown, 5 days before to be precise, Marco Tagliola, one of our sound engineers – Giovanardi recalls – forced me and Cesare to dinner, telling us that if we didn’t try to do something together we would be really crazy. A few days later the covid era arrived and we were all forced to stay locked up. We had this shared drive where each of us put ideas, melodies, photos, suggestions and I thought something beautiful could come out. It was also very interesting, after 16 years where each of us had tattooed personal experiences on ourselves, to see what could be born”.
But there is a new element that will give a look from outside, that essential look with a contemporary and human flavor. We are talking about Matteo Cantaluppi, a producer wanted by both Giovanadi and Valerio Soave, founder of the legendary record company Mescal with which the new album was released.
The basic idea is that it was him, Matteo, who chose the songs with his eyes. We don’t even have Instagram, we don’t look at followers and streamers and we are happy that Mescal invested in this project. For the occasion my Instagram profile was transformed into La Crus. I feel that music has always been the mirror of the historical moment you are living. A few years ago we crossed the line between pre and post internet and the way of enjoying music has changed irremediably since then. Now we have crossed a further border line between pre and post Facebook. I believe that this social thing has sparked anger, malice, envy. Before the advent of social media, bullshit stayed in bars. Now everyone feels authorized to pass judgment even on very serious things and for which they have no expertise. Sometimes I wish they would darken social media.
But let’s get back to the music. In the album there are two iconic pieces of the group and with special collaborations. Carmen Consoli in the reinterpretation of I confesssong presented at Sanremo in 2011, and Colapesce Dimartino with Like every time.
Valerio Soave’s idea was to take the iconic songs of La Crus and have Matteo redo them in a contemporary guise to savor what La Crus had done. I confess in the 2010 version I already wanted to do it with Carmen, but she was coming out with a single and her production company at the time didn’t want it and so it remained in a drawer for a long time. So, when I finally decided to redo it, the first thing that came to mind was to call her, and she immediately said yes. The same thing happened with Colapesce, who I’ve known since he wasn’t making music yet. I’ve always followed his path with great interest and so this collaboration was also very beautiful and natural.
How was it to take up this story again, that of La Crus who built a little piece of Italian music?
It’s a little more tiring to get the machine going again. However, we are truly amazed, happy and proud, everyone spoke highly of the album and the reception at the first concerts was magical. The very first one in Pesaro sold out in a short time and people came from all over Italy. Date after date we found all our audience again.
Now it’s Como’s turn, where you are expected live at the Arena on July 10th
Finally after many years I can play at the Teatro Sociale, where I have seen many concerts, it is a splendid place. I can’t wait to meet the audience that, even in the previous dates, has accustomed us with love and affection. A truly emotional relationship between us and the audience. I hope also in Como.
In Como we will see them on stage with this lineup; Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi (vocals and harmonica) – who on July 4th will also be a guest at the presentation of the book La fattoria del pop by Maurizio Pratelli at Villa del Grumello in Como -, Cesare Malfatti (guitars and samples), Chiara Castello (keyboards and backing vocals), Marco Carusino (bass and guitars) and Leziero Rescigno (drums). A completely new lineup for an engaging and fascinating live show, with a refined and powerful sound.
