8 December, 2001, Milan, Italy

review by Marco

Transilvania Live is a ridicolous disco for young metal kids with false graves on the walls and spider's web and skulls everywhere: surely it's not the best place to set a concert with so different moods.

Mike Johnson, alone with his guitar, open his exhibition very early in the night (8.30 PM!, and later it will be clear why), while people was again to queue up at the box and in addition for the first two songs his voice was not audible. Finally someone take time to colleague the plug and we can hear that other 4 new tracks are very up to his old "hits". The short gig terms with All There Is, sumptuous song taken from Ifeelalright.

Few minutes later, it's the turn of Mark Lanegan's band and from the very beginning I can see that the sound is considerably different from the last european tour (1998, Scraps At Midnight era). The rhythm section is a solid core and Gene Trautmann hit the drum with incredible violence (though two years ago I've seen him with QOTSA and he wasn't so perfect, probably it was one of the first concerts), Dave Catching precise and statuary remains behind Mark as it's usually done for bass-players. Mike and Brett are in excellent agreement, exchanging lead & rhyhtm lines each other. In a so burning atmosphere Mark's voice get excited, less bluesy but stronger and dirty, and it belongs to the science of the obviousness that the best renditions are relating to more agitated songs: absolutely amazing Borracho, very applauded No Easy Action, a rope stretched 'till the agony, Gospel Plow received with enthusiasm by all nostalgic Trees lovers.

After about 40 minutes the band returns backstage suddenly (Mark pick up a bunch of roses) and the encore provides only three more tracks: the owners of the club are in a hurry to put out the crowd because outdoor there are many teenagers waiting for dance (it's saturday night). Mike and Gene are trying to calm the people that are very hungry, though it's not his fault. So over 1000 persons are coming out screaming "fucking thiefs" against the personnel. I take comfort buying posters and t-shirts but I hope that Transilvania will go to the bankrupt.