ANDARE VIA...

Side C performs live!

Side C is a band from Verona whose story began around 2006. After their debut EP was released in 2009 some line-up changes saw new drummer Andrea Sbrogiò and new bassist Alessandro Danzi join the existing trio of vocalist Laura Bressan, guitarist Michele Zanotti, and keyboardist Thomas Pessina. They return in 2011 with a new live EP entitled "Andare Via..." which finds an invigorated band with new material (not the songs from their debut EP.)

"Semplice Gioco" is the most lighthearted, slightly crossover number with Bressan cooing to Zanotti's almost Clapton-like rhythm chug. Zanotti and Pessina have some nice solos here and the interplay of the leads with Danzi and Sbrogio is also very natural and rocking. Laura Bressan is one of the few female vocalists I'm aware of on the current RPI scene and she is not one to play it timid. Right out of the gate she is bold and aggressive in the tradition of many RPI singers past. But it is the second track "Tempo di Convenzione" where things get more serious and you can hear the growth in Side C. A nicely unfolding prog rock track features powerful Bressan vocals (love those little gravely snarls she drops here and there, reminds me of Benatar!) over Pessina on the piano here. I like the infusion of piano providing that pastoral loveliness. In the middle section the new guys really raise the jamming level up, some cool sparring that really rocks. Then it turns softer with mellotron (or similar) atmospherics and nice clean electric chord progressions. This track is dreamy and uplifting, very nice. The third track proves the band has the potential to make a great full length at some point as we get another flavor completely. After the more pop-rock first track and the rocking prog second track, "Ultimo Viaggio" provides a bit of avant inspired mischief I love to hear. Beginning with weird sound effects like some carnival madhouse, Pessina sings with a fragile vocal and piano segment before things get nuts. Two all out cacophonies of loud abandon bookend a somewhat haunting section of gentle piano and guitar notes, to very light percussion. The set ends with "Non Sai Più Piangere" combining moments of lovely piano balladry, fantastic synthesizer flourishes, and more wonderful vocals.

It is not easy for prog bands find gigs in Italy I'm told and I hope Side C is able to continue for a long time, and eventually records a full length studio album. This live EP certainly proves they deserve the shot. The new musicians were solid choices and the new material is inspiring. Very enjoyable, bravo Side C! (Look for the new live tracks on their myspace page or write the band if you'd like a CD)

A nice live EP!

In 2010 I was introduced to Side C, a young Italian band which had released a nice EP that could (can) be listened via myspace. A year later, in 2011 they released one EP more, but this time live, including four cool songs (new songs, by the way) that also show a new face of the band, because here they have a couple of new members. This EP is entitled "Andare Via?" and gives almost half an hour of good music.

The first track is "Semplice Gioco". This is a nice seven-minute track with a clear prog sound, but without a truly complex or challenging structure; the music is charming, gentle and soft, it is like light progressive rock, with the particularity of having a female vocal, and of course, the Italian language. There are nice keyboards and constant drums, an in the end we can listen to a nice guitar riff. "Tempo di convenzione" surpasses the eight-minute mark. It has a delicate start, piano and soft vocals, the intensity is increasing little by little, new elements are added while the seconds pass. At minute three there is a change, an instrumental passage is being built up and then the music explodes and perfectly flows, with cool keyboards and guitars, being always well accompanied by bass and drums, all together create a nice mixture of symphonic rock and jazz. A couple of minutes later it slows down, continues like this for a minute and a new change is implemented later. This is the best track of this live EP, a song that clearly shows the compositional talent of Side C.

"Ultimo Viaggio" has a weird start, the first minute is full of dark noises that have nothing to do with what the previous tracks had offered. Later piano and male vocals enter and begin to tell the story, the sound prevails for a minute until the band surprises us with a heavy explosion that lasts for some 10 seconds; then a new structure is being built little by little, with repetitive piano notes, then drums, then guitars and some background atmospheres. Later a new explosion appears, and after one minute more this strange, RIO-oriented song, ends. And the album finishes with "Non Sai Piu Piangere", another eight-minute track which starts with classical piano in the first minute, but later it vanishes and opens the gates to the keyboards, drums and strings that together create a true symphonic sound. The song flows, intercalating cool instrumental moments with some when the female voice enters and adds its charm. Very nice last song!

I am actually hoping to see a Side C's full-length album; after my experience with their two EPs, I can say I like what I listen, that's why I would love to listen to a complete album, maybe with a concept, maybe with an epic track, who knows, but something that shows the pinnacle of the band. For now, I can invite people to go to the band's myspace site and listen to both EPs', I bet you will have a good time. My final grade will be three stars.

Enjoy it!

The live EP "Andare via..." (Going Away) was self-released by Side C in 2011 with a renewed line up featuring Laura Bressan (vocals), Michele Zanotti (guitar), Thomas Pessina (keyboards, piano, vocals), Alessandro Danzi (bass) and Andrea Sbrogiò (drums). It was recorded on June 18, 2011 during a concert at the Blocco Music Hall in San Giovanni Lupatoto, Verona. It shows the improvements of the band on stage and gives us the chance to listen to four previously unreleased, interesting new tracks that would have deserved a better fortune and a place in the set list of an official studio work. The performance was very good and the theatrical, confident vocals by Laura Bressan stand out backed by skilled musicians...

But this line up did not last long and, unfortunately, Side C never reached the goal of releasing a properly recorded full length album before disbanding. Their legacy lies here and we can only imagine what the band would have done if things had gone differently by listening to these tracks on their Myspace or on YT...