From the Other Side of the Pond: Music Abroad

Upon coming to Florence, Italy for the semester, it seemed obvious that in such a culturally rich city and region of the world, art would be bursting from a multitude of galleries and music would be filling the air. While it is true that art wreaks from the crowded streets of little Florence, it seems music is not so widely emphasized. This is what made finding BeBop and Voxpower so exciting.
The BeBop Music Club offers music-lovers hope and a stimulating artistic environment in a city surprisingly void of live bands and a substantial musical community. However, Tuesday nights with the Beatles cover band, Voxpower, offer a refreshing alternative to the typical pubs and monotonous discoteccas littered throughout the city.
The BeBop Music Club is a unique dig in Florence as it boasts an impressive history and an invigorating live music schedule, hosting bands every night of the week. The club was originally a wine bar dating back to the early 1980’s and became BeBop in 1987 when it transformed into a more music-friendly environment, accentuated by the relaxed atmosphere, vintage decorations and ample space for dancing, socializing, music making and enjoyment.
Voxpower, one of BeBop’s most popular bands, has been a regular at the club for 10 years, since the group began, and continues to bring in ever-growing crowds each week.
“The shows are always really crazy and always different,” said Fashian, the John Lennon of Voxpower. “At other bars there is no contact with the audience, but BeBop has a great stage where we can really connect.”
Though Fashian began his musical career with his discovery of the Rolling Stones, Fashian and other members of Voxpower, Dason as Paul, Fazzenbauer as George and Muffin as Ringo, all progressed musically thanks to the Beatles. This strong connection and influence is also apparent through their convincing stage presence and performance, including authentic costumes, similar mannerisms, English stage names and original instrumentation.
“We play all the original vintage instruments used by the Beatles, brands and years, and wear authentic suits straight from A Hard Days Night,” explained Fashian. “Though it’s funny,” he laughed, “the boots are straight from the UK, but made in Italy.”
However, Voxpower sets themselves apart from other Beatles covers bands in ways beyond suits and guitars, all the way down to one of the most unique characteristics of the legendary group, McCartney’s left-handed guitar. Because of McCartney’s guitar style, he and Lennon were able to stand back to back at the microphone without colliding, creating a mirror image of symmetric guitars.
“This is a key way to tell if a band is really an accurate cover of the Beatles,” explained Fashian. “Sometimes they even flip the image in pictures to look more like Lennon and McCartney, but when they’re on stage, they can’t do it. We’re all left-handed, so we were able to create an accurate interpretation.”
However, even for those not keen to checking that the group is picture perfect, it is inevitable to notice that their sound is right on.
“Covering the Beatles never gets boring,” said Fashian. “We play many of the same songs every week, but it is always an interpretation and not as if we are playing someone else’s music, it’s always our own. It’s still a creative experience.”
Voxpower works to perform a comprehensive mix of the gigantic Beatles repertoire, though it is inevitably impossible to please everyone in the crowd. Fashian plans the sets for each week and carefully rotates songs in and out of the set-lists for the night around a standard rotation of classics and occasionally the band even throws in a curve-ball, like their finale rendition of “Hey Jude” into the Stone’s song, “Sympathy for the Devil”.
Yet, crowds at BeBop, especially on Tuesdays, remain largely composed of English-speaking students, reiterating the lack of musical emphasis in Italy.
“Florence is very separated into sections,” explained Fashian. “There isn’t enough mixing of people from one part of the city to the other and this is a big reason why more people haven’t discovered BeBop.”
However, those who do attest to wishing they had found it sooner.
“It was a great night,” said James Madison University study abroad students Georgia Aslin and Annie Barnes. “It was a comfortable atmosphere and we all had so much fun. It was different from our typical nights in Florence.”
BeBop offers a varied selection of live-music, including Monday night “Jam-Sessions” where local bands have the opportunity to reach out to the community through music, and other cover bands including tributes to Oasis, Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones often frequent the club.
“Above everything else, performing is the best prize,” said Fashian. “We’ve met so many people and are happy to be performing at BeBop, bringing live music to Florence.”
Though Fashian expressed doubt of the Florentine live music scene growing anytime soon, it is a hopeful sign that bands such as Voxpower are still performing, persisting and bringing in bigger crowds every week, every year. Through their captivating stage presence and the electric, feel-good atmosphere of their shows every Tuesday, who knows what can happen with a little help from their friends.

For more information on BeBop and Voxpower, check for more information on their websites.

It's the Final Countdown

MACRoCk 2008, the Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference, is happening this Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5 in the 'Burg and tickets are available now for this monumental independent music event. If you're a fan of Maps and Atlases, Antlers, Len Bias, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Chango Leon, Donny Hue and the Colors, Eat Forever, Cinnamon Band, SunKing, Meadows, American Tourist, Auld Lang Syne, The Catalyst, Valkyrie, Cosmonaut’s Ruin, Owen, Aloha, Mock Orange, Unwed Sailor, Shapiro, Brooke Waggoner, Ryan Lindsey, Deep Sleep, Police & Thieves, Savage Land, Naysayer, Accordion Death Squad, The Great White Jenkins, Wild Animal Party or any of the many other artists signed up to perform at this year's event, get your weekend badge now for a discounted price!

Come out to shows and panels all over the area at great venues including Blue Nile, Court Square, VFW Hall, Garibaldi’s, Memorial Hall, Clementine and Little Grill.

Beyond the music, get excited about panels including appearances from DIY Recording at Clementine Cafe, Record Labels at Massanutten Regional Library and DIY Publishing at Massanutten Regional Library.

For more details, check back here or the MACRoCK website.