All I can say is fuck you, Mike Patton. Fuck you for being so damn good. This is a guy who never does anything half-arsed, and thanks to what must be a love for Australia, we are privileged to see him here every 2 or 3 years doing something different (Tomahawk, Fantomas, Peeping Tom, Faith No More, Mr Bungle). This time he was in the guise of an Italian pop crooner singing Italian ditties from the 50s and 60s, which is one of the last things any Patton fan would expect, and yet it’s not at all surprising. Of course, it was all done with the typical bizarre/brilliant flavour that Mike Patton is so well known, and so well respected for.
Kudos must be awarded to the fine folk at the Sydney Festival for nabbing Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane; it’s a perfect fit for the interesting and always offbeat nature of the festival. Patton is one of the most enigmatic and energetic frontmen in the business, and the most capable at pulling off something this ludicrous and audacious. Despite the poppy origins of the songs, there was ample evidence of Patton’s art-metal roots – the almost metal blast of Urlo Negro screamed it all; “non farti più vedere!! da me!!”. Exactly! And as expected, the megaphone made an appearance, this time in Ti Offro Da Bere as Patton comically screeched the chorus – without a shred of silliness of course. Styling up in a razor sharp white suit and slick hair, Patton also crooned his way through the likes of Il cielo in una stanza and Scalinatella, leaving not a dry set of panties in the house. Hell, even some of the gents may have been considering switching teams.
All this with a stellar 25-piece orchestra, a very slick and professional performance – really something quite special. What we had here was Mike Patton showing off, and doing it so very well. We all knew it, he knew it, and we all loved it. Everyone was in on the joke, and what an outstanding one it was. Absurd, dazzling, intense, and fun – what more can you ask for?
Setlist:
Il cielo in una stanza
Che notte!
Ore d’amore
20 km al giorno
Quello che conta
Urlo negro
Legata ad un granello di sabbia
Deep Down
Pinne, Fucile ed Occhiali
Scalinatella
L’uomo che non sapeva amare
Ma l’Amore no
Canzone
Ti offro da bere
Dio come ti amo
Storia d’Amore
Lontano, lontano
O Venezia
Yeeeeeeh!
Senza fine
Encore:
Una Sigaretta
Sole malato
