Brescia – Bombay Tandoori – PFM – Premiata Forneria Marconi – Predictably Fantastic Meal

Today is a special day, a very special day. Having a tea break in a portacabin at Dalmarnock Gas Board (Glasgow) back in 1977 the Friday Night Rock Show was on Radio Clyde. Radio?  I knew of Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) but had never heard their music. They were on the – Manticore – label established by Emerson Lake & Palmer (ELP). All these triple barrelled names and initials. This was the same year I saw the Italian Jazz-Rock Band – Nova – twice at the Glasgow Apollo.

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Four Holes in the Ground was played from the album – Cook – or – Live in the USA – (1974) as it now generally recognised. I bought the record next day,  and their entire back catalogue thereafter. CDs were six years in the future.  Jet Lag was that year’s release featuring Bernardo Lanzetti on vocals who featured on only three albums – Chocolate Kings – (1975) and latterly – Passpartu – (1978). Thereafter PFM effectively disappeared from UK suppliers though some live albums and two more studio albums – Suonare Suonare – (1980) and – Ulisse – (1997) were purchased on subsequent trips to Italia. Ulisse was their first new album release in ten years. In the mid-1980s, Curryspondent Neil returned from Italia with a batch of CDs including – Storia Di Un Minuto – and – Per un Amico – both from 1972, the first PFM albums, plus – L’Isola Di Niente – which was on general release as – The World Became The World (1974). In 2013, – PFM In Classic – was released. This double CD has the three main surviving protagonists Franz di Cioccio (Drums and Percussion), Franco Mussida (Guitar) who retired in 2015, and Patrick Djivas (Bass) accompanied by a full orchestra. The first disc has PFM playing – Classics – by Mozart, Saint-Saens, Dvorak, Mahler, Prokofiev, Rimskij Korsakov, and Verdi. The second disc has the Orchestra accompanying PFM playing their – Classics. In 2017 a new release – Emotional Tattoos – two CDs, the first album without Franco Mussida. One disk has English lyrics, the other Italian. In preparation for this evening I have listened to the English version sparingly.

Last year Marg and Hector spent a few days at Lago del Garda. On the journey home I spotted the PFM 2017-2018 Tour Dates suspended from the roof of Milano Centrale. Having enjoyed an afternoon and evening in Brescia and Curry at the Bombay Tandoory (Via Solferino, 1, 25122 Brescia BS Lombardia, Italia) I was determined to return to Brescia. Curry and PFM, Steve was up for this also, though he did not purchase his ticket until two days ago after we had visited the Bombay Tandoory.

Precatory Foreordained Mutton

Quando Mutton? – I asked two days ago.

In two days – was the answer.

Last night, late on, we passed Bombay Tandoory; I approached Mein Host who was out in the street having a break. He confirmed – Lamb Curry – would be available at 13.00 today. Steve and Hector entered at 13.10. Our faces are now well known at Bombay Tandoory Ristorante Indiano. The Agnello Curry would not be ready for another twenty minutes. Fresh – was quoted for the first of many times. This gave us the Opperchancity to buy our Bus tickets for today around Brescia and tomorrow back to Bergamo Airport – Orio al Serio – Il Caravaggio International Airport. One must have three names.

A mature Chap was sat with his elderly Mother having serious Kebaps in Pitta. Had it been Curry I would have understood. I squeezed in beside the Chap, the larger table we had previously sat at needed clearing. Two Large Portions of Agnello Curry (€7.50) were confirmed with Naan (€1.00). Bottles of Aqua Frizzante (€1.00) accompanied.

Mein Host brought a plate with four pieces of Vegetable Pakora, there was a Soupçon of Raita and a Red Spicy Sauce too.

Just (to) taste – he said. This would give Chef a few more minutes and us the chance of tasting more of the Fayre at Bombay Tandoory. The Pakora was – Fresh – and single cooked, not the double cooking that prevails. The gesture was much appreciated, Tasty, Complimentary.

Agnello / Lamb Curry

Two platefuls, Large Portions understood. The Naans were once more a decent size, Soft, Fluffy, and as I wrote two days ago, resembling the Quality of the Pitta served at the eastern end of the Mediterranean.

Twelve of the most Tender pieces of Lamb featuring a sufficient bone count to know there was enough to eat, and still have the benefit of Lamb cooked on-the-bone. Ribs were the dominant bone. The Thick Masala had the tell tale signs of being Tomato-based. The Spice was Sufficient, no need to go overboard, it’s the Flavour we seek. The Seasoning was very well judged, Perfect, and so the Flavours would reveal themselves.

For reasons unknown, I am able to recall Flavours. It is over ten years since I last ate a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer, no need, just close the eyes…the memory is there, zero calories. Today’s Curry was not the same as last October, not as intense. Different Chef, different Lamb Curry? The end of the negative.  The October Curry was off the scale.

The Tomato in the Masala came across strongly, the blend of Spices impressed, one assumes all are available in Italia. There was a distinct presence of Herbs, one would like to think – Methi – but Steve said he was not getting any. Cumin Seeds were present, as I would establish three hours later, tooth-pick required.

It’s going to end – I said to Steve who was well ahead of me. Hector eating slowly?

I watched Steve use the last pieces of Naan to wipe his plate clean. There was no need to wash it.

Very tasty, that I didn’t want it to end is quite good, I could eat the same again.

Why do all Restaurants not offer Curry by the Kilo?

Steve’s final comment:

Too many small bones for my preference.

Indeed, one had to be careful else emergency dentistry may have been called for.

Mein Host had of course paid us visits whilst we ate to confirm our enjoyment. This was Excellent Curry, in a different league from that served in the typical Euro-Curry House, and easily the best venue I have visited in Italia. Having established the presence of decent Bier Houses here in Brescia also, Hector is available for return trips. Will PFM tour again?

The Bill

€19.00 (£16.96) … and we both could have eaten, and paid for, more.

The Aftermath

PFM – Gran Teatro Morati – Brescia

The venue we had already visited, a somewhat makeshift construction, a Big Tent in effect. The concert was scheduled to start at 21.30 giving people time to get there but no chance of public transport home. Steve and Hector had arranged with Mein Host at the nearby – Devil’s Kiss – that we would return after midnight for Birra and a Taxi.

The Merchandise stall had no t-shirts that would fit a Hector. What size do they think people are? Mama mia.

We went our separate ways, Hector’s seat was at the front of the second block on the left side of the hall, plenty of legroom except when Doris pushed her drinks trolley through the gap. The ends of the rows were not occupied, I texted Steve to inform him about the space. He had been relocated to the main part of the auditorium, the upper part where he was ticketed would not be used. Somebody had the task of putting stickers, handwritten, on every seat before the concert.

The Musik played by DJs before a Gig is traditionally obscure, tonight I recognised all of it. Michael Rother I recognise anywhere and last saw him in Düsseldorf in 2016. Tonight we were treated to the – Harmonia – era.

The lights went down at 21.30, a few minutes later the music changed to an – Intro – the curtain was pulled back, there was Premiata Forneria Marconi – assembled onstage, excellent. Another one on the – Bucket List – ticked.

A usually reliable Website gives Set-lists for Gigs across the planet, whoever posted tonight’s has it wrong, as I write. As anticipated, the opening song from the latest album – Emotional Tattooos – started things off. Il Regno – has all the hallmarks of Classic PFM, gentle beginning leading to imposing themes which build on each other, Symphonic Rock. By the end, anyone who did not know the Music of PFM would certainly recognise this next time.

La Luna Nuova (aka – Four Holes in The Ground) (L’Isola Solente / The World Became The World) took us back to 1974. Probably PFM’s most famous riff and song, I was surprised how the – Jazz – element came through in this and following tracks. I have been listening to – PFM Live – albums for years, and more recently watched various performances on YouTube, and this had never come across. Lucio Fabbri – Violin, Keyboards and Guitar – has been in and out of PFM since Mauro Pagani departed. He was certainly at home playing the Violin parts in particular.

La lezione (Emotional Tattoos) followed on, inevitably, much of the new album would feature this evening. The line up for the tour is the same as the current album. Long term extra Drummer – Roberto Gualdi – filled in a la Chester Thompson for Phil Collins (Genesis) whilst Franz di Cioccio was stage front doing the Lead Vocals. Franz has been wearing the same t-shirt onstage for how many years? Two Chaps who were not born when PFM began took care of the Keyboards. Alessandro Scaglione took on the – Flavio Premoli – role, he had the Moog. Alberto Bravin took care of the rest. He sang Lead Vocals on the next song – Photos of Ghosts (Photos of Ghosts), played Acoustic Guitar on – Il Banchetto ( Per Un Amico / Photos of Ghosts) and as part of his Keyboards duties, took care of the Flute sounds.

The following sequence of songs continued selections from the first four albums, the PFM Classics, though no – Appena un Po (aka – River of Life) (Per Un Amico / Photos of Ghosts).

Dove… quando… (parte I) (Storia Di Un Minuto) featured on the 1974 Live albums. A very quiet and gentle song leading to Dove… quando… (parte II) (Storia Di Un Minuto) which is an extended Jazz break. I have come to know the structure of this well in later Live albums. Tonight’s line up kept to the core with flexibility permitted.

La carrozza di Hans (Storia Di Un Minuto) as ever, formed the conclusion to this extended instrumental period. Impressioni di Settembre (aka – The World Became The World) (Storia Di Un Minuto / The World Became The World) was a worthy climax to the first hour, the keyboard sequence being amongst the very best of PFM.

At this point I was expecting an interval. The band played on, well almost. Franco took a while between songs to talk about his philosophy of Music, – Music is Music – Prog, Jazz. The audience gave him nothing back, no banter. There was too much respect, or was everyone feeling a sense of awe?

We are watching – PFM!

The second hour featured three more consecutive songs from Emotional Tattoos – La danza degli specchi, Quartiere generale and the instrumental – Freedom Square, a homage to the lyrics of Harlequin (Chocolate Kings).  No – Mayday – which is particular favourite of mine.

Marco Sfogli, another youngster has stepped into Franco Mussida’s shoes on Lead Guitar. With much of the music dominated by Violin and Keyboards, he blended in as required then took the lead to great effect. It’s all about capturing the – PFM – sound which I know can be done with the press of a button these days.

Patrick Djivas was given his Opperchancity to speak at length to the audience. Absent on the very first albums, he soon made his mark on Bass. Maestro della voce (Suonare Suonare) was the only song played which was written after 1974. Nothing from Chocolate Kings or Jetlag. With Bernardo Lanzetti singing in a band called Chocolate Kings, perhaps they have passed on the mantle. Maestro della voce has one of the best Bass riffs ever, PFM play – Swing, a show-stopper.

The relatively recent – PFM Classics – album was given a very long spoken introduction before the band tore into Dance Macabre by Saint-Saens, something else was buried in there too. As every PFM performance has concluded since their conception, the rest of the setlist took care of itself: Mr. 9 Till 5 (Photos of Ghosts) leading into Alta Loma 5 Till 9 which incorporates Guillaume Tell Ouverture (William Tell Overture) – Rossini.

Encore

Il pescatore, always listed as a cover, a composition by one time band member Fabrizio De André, turned out to be a sing-along. The Italians will know why.

E’ festa (aka – Celebration) (Storia Di Un Minuto / Photos of Ghosts) and the follow-up Se Le Brescion brought the evening to a close around midnight.

I could have done without this Encore, but that is how PFM finish all their performances. Note to all musicians: Sing-alongs, covers? Let’s play more proper songs.

It took a while to exit, more DJ music, Zukunft by Julie’s Haircut, a new Italian band to me. This I shall investigate further.

I have taken some decent photos at gigs over the years, recently not the case.  Here is a 90 second clip of – The World Became The World – I was there, I took it.