Dream Theater rock Rome’s PalaLottomatica arena January 22, 2014

The champions of progressive metal, America’s Dream Theater, rocked Rome’s PalaLottomatica arena.

 

After Dream Theater’s outstanding success of “A Dramatic Turn Of Events”, an incredible tour of 110 shows in 34 different countries between 2011 and 2001, the iconic and international progressive metal band hit Rome’s PalaLottomatica arena (built some 54 years ago for the summer Olympics held in Rome).  The band put on a stunning three-hour performance in Rome.  

Dream Theater was formed in 1985 under the name “Majesty” by John Petrucci, John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy (it had been Portnoy’s father to have suggested the name “Dream Theater” after the name of a small theater he ran in Monterey, California).

The band is currently on the European leg of their world tour to promote their new, self-titled eleventh studio album, “Dream Theater” (the album was released on Sept. 24^th, 2013).   Dream Theater’s current line-up includes Canada’s James LaBrie on vocals, guitarist John Petrucci,  bass guitarist John Myung, Jordan Rudess on keyboards and Mike Mangini on drums.  Mangini officially became a member of the band in 2010 after Portnoy had decided for personal reasons to leave the band.  

Italian crooner Mario Biondi in concert in Rome, Italy December 30th, 2013

Popular Italian crooner Mario Biondi in concert during his “Sun Tour” in Rome’s Auditorium 

Mario Biondi (born Mario Ranno, January 28^th, 1971 in Sicily) is an Italian singer-crooner.   During his younger days he played in several choirs.  He achieved fame in 2006 with his album “Handful of Soul” and in 2013 released a new album called “Sun” plus his current project called “Mario Christmas” which contains 8 cover songs.

His warm, mellow and deep voice has been compared to that of Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes and Barry White.  During Rome’s sold-out concert, thanks also to the folks over at www.fepgroup.it,  Biondi was backed up on stage by “The Italian Jazz Players” band, a group made up of 8 fine musicians in the “Santa Cecilia” hall of Rome’s Auditorium (an approproate hall seeing that Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and singers).   Biondi’s concert consisted of a 2 hour-plus show filled with 24 songs from the likes of Stevie Wonder and Burt Bacharach.  

Franco Micalizzi and his “Big Bubbling Band” play in Rome, Italy 20/12/2013

Franco Micalizzi was born in 1939 and is an Italian composer and conductor who is best known for his musical scores of Italian action movies. His first big success came about for the musical score of the 1970 Spaghetti Western movie, “They Call Me Trinity” (with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill).  The soundtrack to the Italian film Italia A Mano Armata was eventually used in the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino’s “Death Proof”.   Tarantino’s last movie, “Django Unchained”, also contained a Micalizzi piece, which was played in Rome.   

Other Micalizzi soundtracks have appeared in movies such as “The Last Hunter”, “Beyond The Door”, The Last Snows of Spring, “The Visitor” and “The Curse”.  Micalizzi’s 19-piece ensemble, the “Big Bubbling Band” (which he founded and which also includes American musicians), plays an entertaining mixture of both funk and jazz music.