Partying in concert with Les Negresses Vertes

Towards the end of the 1980s, a couple of groups arrived from France, practically at the same time, to shake up the music scene with a rock style with Latin features that offered within it a mixture of sounds that ranged from punk to ska, from reggae to funk, from salsa to rap to world music with a view of the Mediterranean. The two groups were called Mano Negra – a band that broke up in the mid-nineties when leader Manu Chao threw in the towel to pursue a solo career – and Les Negresses Vertes. The latter, originally from the Parisian suburbs, hit the mark on their first attempt in 1988 with the album “Mlah” and the single “Zobi la mouche”. After all these years, that song remains their best-known anthem and calling card. It is therefore no coincidence that their new series of concerts is called ‘Zobi Tour’. A stage of this tour is dedicated to Italy and was staged yesterday evening at Alcatraz in Milan.

The splash of white that adorns the hair of most of the people who showed up to attend the concert in the Milanese venue betrays their provenance. The audience proves to be warm and well-disposed right from the beginning of a journey that is musical but also – given the average age of those present – filled with emotions rooted in another time, in the past. Shortly after nine in the evening, François Tousch takes possession of the stage with his accordion, bringing with him the very French notes of “La valse”, the instrumental chanson that opened the setlist of “Mlah”, the first album by Les Negresses Vertes which will be plundered and will be the backbone of the French group’s performance. “C’est pas la mer à boire” acts as a bridge to reach “Voilà l’été” and break the delay: the party can begin… and will only end a good hour and a half later. Said of the accordionist, those who garner the most attention are the three remaining members of the original lineup: the singer and guitarist Stéfane Mellino, the trumpeter Mich Ochowiak and the backing vocalist (but also singer) Iza Mellino often armed with a tambourine. Completing the group, behind everyone are Matthieu Rabaté on drums and the choreographer Gwen Badoux with his trombone.

The set pleasantly surprises because it knows no downtime, it is extremely compact and energetic. “Zobi la mouche” is placed halfway through the performance and is expanded out of all proportion, at a certain point it is colored with dub and Alcatraz becomes a disco. It won’t be the only passage of the concert in which the group borders on techno. “Famille heureuse” and “Les rablablas les roubliblis” are perfect, with the audience responding in unison to the requests coming from the stage. The ingredients that have always distinguished Les Negresses Vertes are all there: you can go upbeat, there is no shortage of nuances attributable to the Maghreb, the accordion inevitably refers to the traditional French song but can also be rough and punk, some guitar arpeggios recall the gypsy soul of the group; but, most of all, the vigor of a song that was once more rounded and less rock is striking. The party is rekindled by the band who never fails to stimulate the audience by calling them to clap their hands and duet when requested, all seasoned with a knowing smile.

As we leave at the end of the concert, the comments heard among those present are of joy and admiration for a band that has shown truly remarkable musical mastery and charisma. If anyone was afraid of being disappointed before the concert, thinking back to the good times that were, they had a nice surprise. Les Negresses Vertes are in top form and have not changed. At the end of the set, despite the tiredness of a very generous live performance, they informed the audience that, with just a few minutes to catch their breath, they would stop by to say hello and sign autographs. Mlah in Arabic means ‘all is well’. Well, this evening everything really went well.

Setlist:

It was worth it

C’est pas la mer à boire

Voilà l’été

Orane

L’homme des marais

Hey Maria

La faim des haricots

La danse des Négresses Vertes

Zobi la mouche

Heureuse family

Les mégots