Lacuna Coil
5 February 2010
Shepherds Bush Empire, London
It’s December 1997 and a timid Lacuna Coil make their London debut supporting Moonspell at the Camden Underworld. Despite the obvious nerves, it’s an impressive performance, particularly given the band had lost two members three dates into this tour and tonight have a stand in drummer and guitarist. Not the best circumstances for a tour to introduce the band prior to their first EP release, however it’s been an upward trajectory ever since for the Italians.
Wind forward to tonight and there was another member absent, this time through injury. When Cristina Scabbia asked the crowd if we’d noticed Marco Coti Zelati was absent, the majority seemed oblivious. That was probably as we could hear bass through the show, along with additional vocals and other effects. It’s hardly unusual for bands to use backing tracks, but it does start to lay questions in your mind of what is actually being played live.
In contrast to that first UK show, there was no sign of nerves tonight and it was Scabbia that commanded from the stage. Unfortunately, for even the loftier amongst the crowd in the stalls, Lacuna Coil aren’t the tallest of bands and we spend much of the set craning our necks to see them, other than when member take to the ramps behind Cristiano Mozzati’s drums. Quite why the Shepherds Bush Empire has such a low stage is a mystery.
Having seen the band numerous times since 1997, it has been a theme that they do prefer to concentrate on their newest material. The same is true tonight with eight songs from last year’s Shallow Life and six from the preceding Karmacode. Whilst there may be moans about the lack of older material, the catchy nature of the newer stuff packed more of a punch live than I recall it on the cds. Strangely however the strongest reaction is to a song they didn’t write. Depeche Mode’s Enjoy The Silence had the crowd singing in full voice.
Whilst Scabbia, complete with a mid set costume change, remains the focal point, fellow singer Andrea Ferro is an important part of the band’s sound. His coarse, yet tuneful voice, provides contrast to Scabbia and whilst he seems content that he may be playing second fiddle, his presence was good. Guitarists Cristiano Migliore and Marco Biazzi fill out the stage with movement, but thankfully seem to have ditched the strange nu-metal bent over double headbanging they indulged in last time I’d seen them.
In truth I had a bit of a split opinion over this gig. Fans, particularly of the newer material lapped it up, though, yes, I am one that yearns for a few more old songs. It was tight with a great sound, but it felt a bit constrained by the backing tracks.
Lacuna Coil set list:
Survive / Underdog / Closer / I’m Not Afraid / Fragments Of Faith / Tight Rope / Senzafine / I Won’t Tell You / Heaven’s A Lie / Fragile / Wide Awake / To The Edge / The Maze / Swamped / Enjoy The Silence / Not Enough / Spellbound / Our Truth
LINKS:
Lacuna Coil
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