MARK KNOPFLER : NICHELINO 2019

 

Disc One (54:50)

  1. Why Aye Man
  2. Corned Beef City
  3. Sailing To Philadelphia
  4. Once Upon A Time In The West
  5. Romeo And Juliet
  6. My Bacon Roll
  7. Matchstick Man

Disc Two (56:37)

  1. Done With Bonaparte
  2. She's Gone/Your Latest Trick
  3. Postcards From Paraguay
  4. On Every Street
  5. Speedway At Nazareth
  6. Money For Nothing
  7. Going Home

Label : MarkKnopfler.com

Venue : Parco della Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi, Nichelino, Italy

Recording Date : July 17, 2019

Quality : Soundboard recording (A+)

Concert Review (Metallized) : Do you remember when, as kids, you approached a musical genre for the first time? For me, one of my very first “deeper” encounters with rock was definitely listening to Brothers in Arms—not a bad way to start, right? Unfortunately, seeing Dire Straits live was impossible for me, but their leader Mark Knopfler carried on with his solo career. So the time has finally come to partially fill that gap, which is why I’m heading toward Turin, specifically to the park of the splendid Stupinigi Hunting Lodge, where a festival is underway—the northern “twin” of the Bologna Sonic Park—featuring some interesting names on its lineup. After easily finding parking at the elegant Savoy venue, I get through the usual security checks and take my place under the stage, passing the time with a beer and a chat. The audience is quite diverse; sure, the lawn isn’t teeming with kids (though there are a few), and it’s not at all hard to spot someone wearing an Helloween, AC/DC, or Maiden shirt—proof of the fine musical taste of those who enjoy heavy music. At exactly 8:00 p.m., a gentleman dressed in a questionably tasteful jacket introduces a couple of musicians who entertain us with Irish and Scottish folk music: John McCusker & Mike McGoldrick, two members of Knopfler’s band. In the half hour they have, they delight us with violin, uilleann pipes, acoustic guitar, and flute—sometimes with melancholy tunes, sometimes with cheerful ballads that transport us straight into a smoky Irish pub. At the end of their performance—marked by great humility and immense talent—the audience’s enthusiastic applause is a well-deserved reward for the warm pair, who retreat backstage to prepare for the main show of the evening.With a few minutes' delay compared to the scheduled time, the musicians take the stage, and finally Mark Knopfler appears—guitar hero yet the ultimate anti-celebrity. Casually dressed, he greets the audience, gives a nod to his bandmates, and launches into Why Aye Man, from his third solo album The Ragpicker’s Dream. The crowd immediately shows its enthusiasm, even more so when the beautiful Sailing to Philadelphia arrives. But this is nothing compared to the excitement brought on by the first Dire Straits piece in the setlist, Once Upon a Time in the West, whose familiar chords trigger a roar of approval. Time passes for everyone; Mark is a bit heavier and wears glasses now—no longer the slim young man with the headband—but his touch… remains exactly the same. As soon as he plucks—strictly without a pick—a string on one of his many guitars, the magic of the notes sends us back in time. A magic that enchants the entire location (already fairy-tale-like on its own) with the delicate arpeggio of Romeo and Juliet, played of course on the legendary dobro; once again, the crowd’s reaction is pure enthusiasm. On stage, aside from Mark, there are no fewer than ten musicians, each extraordinarily skilled. From longtime collaborator Guy Fletcher, with his impressive résumé, to American Jim Cox, to Glenn Worf alternating between bass and the more cumbersome double bass—talent is everywhere. Standing out above all, of course, is Knopfler, who after Done with Bonaparte introduces the band and even shows a sense of humor while explaining how the earlier Matchstick Man (from the new album Down the Road Wherever) was inspired by a youthful hitchhiking trip that left him stranded in a snowy, isolated place during the Christmas season—complete with the guitarist’s corresponding curses. Then comes the moment for young Tom Walsh’s trumpet (She’s Gone) and, afterward, Graeme Blevins’ sax, which delivers the famous intro to the masterpiece Your Latest Trick, enchanting the entire audience, all completely absorbed by Mark’s soothing voice. With the Latin-flavored Postcards from Paraguay, we are treated to many short solos that once again showcase the band’s technical skills in a symphony of colorful notes (including a fun percussion–drum duel between Cummings and Thomas). A very welcome surprise—at least for me, since I hadn’t spoiled the tour’s setlist—On Every Street, with its simple yet captivating building guitar riff, precedes Speedway at Nazareth. At the end of it, the musicians leave the stage, waving goodbye—but this is the usual prelude to the encore. Shortly after, Fletcher sits at the keyboards and begins a tune far too well-known: it’s time for Money for Nothing and its mythical riff, a true icon of rock. Once again, Mark Knopfler & Co. leave the stage, but they return to a loud ovation to perform the instrumental Going Home: Theme from Local Hero. The audience, following the musicians’ invitation, claps along in rhythm. This truly is the end of the show: Mark Knopfler bids farewell, thanking everyone present, receiving in return all the warmth a living legend deserves. A stunning setting, a sold-out concert, incredible crowd participation, and top-tier musicians: a perfect evening for true connoisseurs.