Reviving Rovereto’s Electric Years: Music and Memories Share the Night
A dive into the past, a leap back of nearly forty years that brought the emotions of that wonderful era back to Rovereto, the legendary “electric years.” And on this wave of revival, genuine and heartfelt far from the cheesy glitter and sequins TV shows, last evening at Romy’s pub on corso Bettini, half the city gathered.
The evening and the protagonists
On stage, of course, were them—the bands, the singers, the youths of that time who frequented various venues, delighting patrons with jukebox songs. These were celebrations—those evening gatherings at Salone Novello, Hotel Venezia, L’Ancora, Circolo Italia, Vittoria, Maffei, or Cral, Eden Barozzi, Osteria Vaccari. And a celebration, a big one, was also held Wednesday at Romy’s, a different place, aimed at the youth but, for one night, filled with that magical aura that delighted generations of Roveretani.
Of course, they picked up their instruments again, blowing away the dust of time and proving that music, the desire to be together, to have fun, knows no age. For five hours, they played and sang, reminiscing about old loves, old conflicts, but above all, renewing a city life curtain that had only been temporarily set aside, not discarded like old things stored in the attic until spring cleaning day.
The end of the evening
As was the case then, the night went on too late, and in the end, long after midnight, it was hard for those who had been on stage to unplug, put away the bass, guitar, or keyboard, and head home to family, or prepare for work, professional studies, or shop. Yes, those were truly electric years, but the energy didn’t leave with the hair; it hasn’t grayed with those left behind—in fact, quite the opposite.
Wrapping up this extraordinary event was Dario Turco, who, after devouring Giorgio Candioli’s book, took inspiration from his experiences with «Street Music» and captivated the audience. And those Benedettis? Of course not, so he introduced a jazz segment supported by trumpeter Lele Lauter and Tino Vecli on double bass.
Everyone played their part, helping guide the audience—and themselves—through interpretations of classics, the soundtrack of a youth that, based on the energy of that evening, seems never to fade. So when Gianfranco Brusco, supported by Anim del Suono, sang «Il primo giorno di primavera», it was an immediate explosion of ecstasy.
The performances and the artists
It almost seemed the pub couldn’t contain the cheers, the feline leap onto the stage by Paola Battistata. Her powerful voice, untouched by age; in fact, it brought her closer to the Italian music diva Mina, to whom she dedicated «Parole». No less emotional were her renditions of «C’era un ragazzo…», a historic song that Mario Lusini «gifted» to Gianni Morandi.
The Giullari then laid down the foundation for Gianni Paolini. Another round of evergreen hits: «Tre settimane da raccontare», «Vorrei la pelle nera», «Amore scusami», and so on, with a duet with Paola for «Parole» and «A chi». In the audience, some remembered the various musicians just as they were.
Young Vittorio Micheli, with his saxophone, still elegant, while Tino Vecli cannot stay still at all. He switches from bass to double bass, and when he sings «24 mila baci» and «Sono stanco», the audience is entirely attentive. Earlier, the crowd had risen to applaud Paola Battistata, who revisited her record, «Hai bruciato il mio cuore», and ignited hearts alongside Gianfranco Brusco with «Anima mia».
In five hours, there was even space for Antonio «Buscaglione» Carosini and the Koala, with lawyer Mario Dapor—«as tense as if in a court of assize,» joked some colleagues—on vocals and bass. The curtain was left to Gianni Caracristi, but after the celebration, it was time for jam sessions, improvisation that, to mark the moment, did not forget «Yesterday».
Yes, last evening felt just like yesterday, but today, for everyone, is already the day after tomorrow.