#i just watched a video of interviews with american high school kids and they're all wearing an eclectic mix of different outfits

[beaft]

yknow i've been out of high school for years now and i still think about how fucking stupid the uniform code was. i was constantly being pulled out of class for wearing makeup or having mismatched socks or badges on my blazer, and when i asked why it wasn't allowed they'd give me some bullshit reason like "well uhhh if you work in an office you'll have to stick to the dress code so it's good practise for that" like hello???

[therosewoods]

Måneskin One Night Only Live at the Roxy - November 1, 2021

In which I ramble on about seeing my favorite band live *** absolutely not a professional review just me being a stan ***

Like most American Måneskin fans, I found the band through Eurovision. In fact, I found them through their interview with NikkieTutorials in the Eurovision Look Lab. In the six months since watching that video, I've fallen head over heels for them. They are one of the most enthralling, passionate bands I've ever witnessed.

Måneskin consists of four best friends from Rome, Italy, who formed the band in high school. Bassist Victoria de Angelis, guitarist Thomas Raggi, singe Damiano David, and drummer Ethan Torchio. Their love of music, dedication to their craft, and respect for each other have catapulted them onto the world stage after half a decade of hard work.

It's the kind of story you hear in movies about legendary rockstars who pour their souls into their work and come out on top of the world as a result. When I learned that they were my age (early 20s), I couldn't believe it. They seem so much older and more mature than your average 20-year-olds. It's like they were born to do what they do, and they probably were. Yet, if you follow their social media pages or watch interviews with them, it is easy to see that they're still kids excited about life, just like other people our age. They're well-spoken and serious about their craft, yet they never let their success take away who they are.

I've been going to shows for over half my life, and I can confidently say that I've never experienced one as intense and captivating as this one. When an exclusive one-night-only show was announced for LA, I knew I was going no matter what. I got up super early the day tickets went on sale and waited in the online queue for hours, only to be shown a pop-up that tickets sold out a mere two minutes after they were released. I had no idea how big the Roxy was, and when I learned that it was a 500 capacity venue, I knew that the fight for tickets was going to be ruthless. Refusing to give up hope, I went on any and all ticket resale websites, eventually lucking out on StubHub.

The day of the show was a complete whirlwind as I begged time to move faster. It was my first time in Los Angeles, and I had no idea what to expect. Luckily, I made my flight and got to my hotel with absolutely no issues. I was a fifteen-minute walk away from the Roxy, so I put on my best outfit and was on my way. When I made it to the venue, it was five p.m., four hours before doors, five and a half hours before the show began, and I was maybe the 60th person in line. I took my seat and waited anxiously; It had been a long time since I'd been in the pit at a show and I knew that Må would not disappoint.

During the wait, groups of fans began to trickle in, and slowly we all became friends. I met a man from Italy studying in San Francisco who had driven down for the show; a mom and her daughter from France; two sisters from Armenia; and a family who would give me a ride back to my hotel that night. We were all from diverse backgrounds, coming from far and wide to see this show. Occasionally, some of us would get up to get food or something to drink while the rest would hold their spot. A group of girls brought a pride flag that they passed around for everyone in line to sign for the band. Another thing to love about Må is that they foster a very healthy and positive fan environment. I never felt unsafe or judged around the people I was with, which stuck very true to the band's "stay true to yourself" message.

When we finally got inside, the group I was with stuck together and made it to the third row. Behind us, more people slowly began to trickle in. Anticipation filled the room, the seconds until it hit 9:30 ticking by excruciatingly slow. The crowd chanted the band's name, and soon the lights went out.

The rest was chaos but in the best way. The band came on stage and immediately launched into my favorite song, In Nome Del Padre off of their album Teatro d'Ira. The crowd surged forward, our bodies pressed together as we all tried to get as close as possible to the stage. Everyone in the group had the most gorgeous makeup and outfits, all featuring pieces from the Gucci Aria collection, which they're currently brand ambassadors for. The energy in the room was palpable and with the stage so close, I couldn't take my eyes away from it. Thomas and Damiano stood five feet in front of me and I could have almost touched them any time they reached out over the crowd. On the other side, Victoria looked amazing, exuding every ounce of the badass energy I wish I had.

The room was electric throughout the entire show; everyone in the room knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience we were sharing. Må played all the hits, from Zitti e Buoni, which was surreal to hear live knowing that it was the song that launched them to stardom, to I Wanna Be Your Slave, and their latest single, Mammamia. Additionally, they played some of their most popular covers, including Chosen, their chart-topping rendition of Beggin', and I Wanna Be Your Dog.

None of them missed a single note, and if they did, their stage presence was too mesmerizing for anyone to notice. It was absolutely fascinating to see the way they interact with each other while doing what they love on stage, pouring their hearts and bodies into every moment of it as the glitter on their faces caught the lights in just the right way.

The audience pushed and pulled in waves, everyone desperate to catch a glimpse of the stars on stage, and when both Damiano and Thomas stage dived at various points during the performance, we were there to catch them. When Damiano poured his water directly onto our heads and then threw the bottle into the crowd, we all fought to be the one to catch it. Everyone was just swapping sweat, pressed right on top of each other. At some point, I got pushed so hard forward that I ended up in the front row.

During the last song, Lividi Sui Gomiti, Damiano called fans up on the stage. Quickly, I ran towards the stage and pulled myself up. Someone stepped on my hand, another person pushed me forward, and to my left, I heard Damiano and a security guard tell people to stop coming up, the stage was at capacity. Afraid of getting kicked off, I went to the back in front of Ethan's drum set, where one of the girls I was talking to in line was standing. Ethan gave us a polite smile and a hello while Damiano spoke to those of us on stage.

Things felt like a blur after that. I can't remember the words he said, but I remember looking out at the people watching from the floor and being in disbelief that any of this was happening. The drumbeat was the loudest thing around me and the only thing I was aware of. In the few moments when I wasn't fully losing my mind, I turned around to watch Ethan play and it was such an awe-inspiring thing to witness. Like the rest of the band, he poured his blood, sweat, and tears into his instrument and never faltered for a second. Being able to watch him from six feet away was an incredible honor and something I'll never forget.

Once the song was over, the band walked off and we were all escorted off stage by security. Somehow, I found the family I was with earlier in line and we made our way to the back to wait for the encore. After a few minutes, the band returned to the stage for another go of I Wanna Be Your Slave. Someone from the audience threw a pair of devil horns on stage, and ever the frontman, Damiano put them on and played up the act. He walked to the side of the stage and down the steps we'd just walked down to get off a few minutes prior. A security guard helped him stand on the ledge of a wall in front of side seating where celebrities, producers, managers, and other industry professionals sat. When the crowd turned to face him, he had everyone press close together before jumping into the audience one last time. When they caught him, the crowd moved him towards the stage again, where he joined the rest of the band for their final bow.

Walking out of the venue into the cool LA air felt like a dream I never wanted to wake up from. Everything about this band is electrifying, addictive, breathtaking, and being able to see them at their second-ever US gig is one of the most surreal things I've ever experienced. As they continue to take over the world, they will probably never play in a venue that small again. It was fate that I was one of the lucky 500 people able to see them that night.

I have plans to see them at Rock Am Ring next summer, possibly Lollapalooza Paris, and of course the next time they come to the states. However, this gig will forever live on in my heart and mind as one of the best I've ever been to.