Distruggi La Bassa Festival 3rd Edition

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning of July 10th, 2017 when I’m writing this report. I’m so tired, but the passion keeps my eyelids open and so I’m here to talk about the two days of the Third Edition of Distruggi la Bassa Festival, held at Gambulaga (Ferrara) in this very hot July weekend. Among mosquitoes as big as crocodiles, beers, piadinas and high-grade hardcore punk I’m going home really satisfied.
I won’t describe the festival (you can find all the infos in the interview with the crew we published a few weeks ago), I’ll just talk about the music. But first of all big up to the whole organization and to the venue, the “Agriturismo ai due laghi del Verginese”, a really nice place. The punks were ok and the weather (humidity excluded) was the right one to have fun, while the very good beers and the distros and stalls were the icing on the cake.

As for the music (though, as we always say, hardcore is first of all attitude and life) I will do as last year and so for convenience I will describe the bands one by one.
Ready, steady, go:

Gufonero: a band from Rovereto (Trento), with Andrea voice / drums (former drummer of Attrito and current member of several bands including Thee Loyal Wankers and Igioia) and Marcella, bass guitar / voice (member of End Of A Season and Igioia). I saw them last year for the first time, and on this occasion I liked them even more, there is a track in particular from their record that I was very impressed with. Andrea talked about doing things by oneself (DIY) without compromising with agencies and various bullshit by money-eater producers. I recommend you to listen to them, they are not immediate impact, but when you metabolize them, trust me, you will enjoy them!

Confine: a band from Venice province I didn’t dislike in the recordings. I was expecting them with enthusiasm and despite having wide improvement margins both on stage and songwriting, they can definitely go far. A hardcore that in some parts is “infected” with metal and a good feeling among the four guys. Good!

Beelzebeat: Grindabilly. Is it enough as a description?! Of course not! The best band of the day in my opinion, love at first listening on record, but it was the first time I saw them live. Superlative scenic presence: the drummer with a bathing cap, the singer with a trash bag on his head, the  guitarist with leopard panties and the double bassist with Hawaiian skirt and necklace. Musically fantastic, with these riffs where rockabilly and hardcore meet with grindcore and metal parts. Funny and crazy. Great respect, a group to follow!

Tumulto: a group from Forlì calling itself prolet hardcore punk. I had heard about them and now I know why. Fast and violent the old way, pure anger, I recommend them to straight-to-the-point hardcore lovers.

Donald Thompson: These four Emilian boys go on stage and give us fast and powerful punk rock. No claim of innovation but a lot of passion. The broken string of the bass guitar proves it. I liked them, they know how to be on stage, in some ways they reminded me of Wah ’77, that played last year, which is definitely positive!

NoWhiteRag: For a variety of reasons I never managed to be at their concerts, this time I could not lose them and I was impressed. They are war machines, anger and discomfort as it should be. Punk. Hope to see them again soon!

Svetlanas: Olga with her sharp and angry voice and her charisma is simply perfect for the rhythmic and melodic section of the band. A stratospheric feeling among them, really enthralling. Needless to write more about them, in my opinion they are incredible on stage.

MDC: I do not hide that it was the group I was most expecting in the two days. I love them. Politically, one of the best bands in the US, a seminal band, and Dave Dictor is great. I’ve always heard good things about them, I have friends who played with them in the ’90s so I grew up with their myth. Honestly, I hoped they would play a few more tracks, however, they played for about one hour and they didn’t leave out their best songs. Slowly, the audience got warm too and the show went on at a fast pace according to the old hardcore school. I was very happy to see them (except for the last two tracks because I was out of beer and I did not think they were already in the end), I hope to hear them again very soon!
The day ends with the invasion of mosquitoes and Venetians / Friulians who take over the bar counter. Seriously, a great night and I go to my tent and try to sleep.

The second day begins as the first one ended, as the Friulians and Venetians are still there and seeing that crossing the road you can reach the lake, I go and relax on the shore.
At 5 p.m. the show begins:

The Vega Brothers: Castelfidardo Hardcore Crew is pleased to present this hardcore group of a devastating sound power. They make the very big mistake of having a thing for Tarantino and for a fan like me it was love at first sight. On stage extraordinary musicians and devastating riffs to say the least. In my top 5 of the festival, though they were the first group of the day, they were a blast. Congratulations to them and their beautiful reality of Castelfidardo Hardcore.

Shoot The White Flag: The band has vaguely hardcore influences with a solid hard rock base and those metal riffs that reminded me of Pantera. I’m honest, it’s not in my list, so I did not like it. Which does not mean they are not good, but only that I find it unhelpful to make criticism since it’s not my kind of music. If you love it, then listen to them to have an idea.

Do not Forget: At its last show, the band from Comacchio is at its best with its hardcore, inspired by bands like Madball, Agnostic Front and Sick Of It All, from which you’ve figured out what they are like. A good band, though I loved some tracks while other ones left me untouched. However I’m sorry it was their last show, but in life you never know!

X State Ride: The band from Bologna is on its penultimate show (the last one will be held in September in their hometown). I’m very sad about it because I love them and for me it was their first show, but I’m not discouraged and I go under the stage. Awesome melodic hardcore, the band for me is no less than more famous ones. I really hope they get back, if there are parallel projects in the air, considering the attitude and the inspiration, write me and I come and listen! Very good, they compete for the first place of the festival with … We’ll tell you later!

Actionmen: more or less what I said about Shoot The White Flag: although definitely more punk, they play a kind of music that I can’t appreciate and so I do not express myself. Honestly they are not in my playlist, but it’s not their fault. However, I can say with no doubt that on the technical side they are remarkable.

Straight Opposition: of the three times I saw them this was the best. A group with a great power, anti-fascist attitude and panic hardcore. Below the stage everything happened, just as it should be. On stage they are great and their songs are amazing. The boys from Pescara are the other group together with the X State Ride that I most liked in the two days. Honestly. The new album “The Fury From The Coast” is out, I have not listened to it yet, but I will do it soon. Huge.

H2O: The New York Hardcore band goes on stage and shows us all its value. I’m not a fanatic but I’m mad about “Nothing To Prove” and the fact that a lot of songs were taken from this record made me very happy. The guys were super gritty and on stage they moved very well and I really enjoyed Toby’s charisma and sounds. In my opinion the central part of the setlist was not as good as the beginning and the end which were more lively. The blast, as I expected, came out on “What Happened?” and “Nothing To Prove” that saw the peak of attendance, with people on the stage, stage diving and moshpit. Congratulations to the band that managed to enthral me so much and it was great to see them on stage!

Tired but happy, I can honestly say that the choice of the groups was great and that this third edition makes me willing to go to the fourth. “Monta” and the rest of the crew of Distruggi la Bassa were fantastic, as well as the audience and the bands. I’m very tired, but it was a blast. You are great, see you in the moshpit!

Live report by T.S.
Translation by E.C.