CULTURE CLUB
are back in town ON THE SCENE The boys IRREPLACEABLE ON THE CAMBRIDGE MUSIC CIRCUIT, THE BAND EZIO ARE BACK ON THE JUNCTION STAGE ONCE MORE FOR THEIR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SHOW – MIRIAM BALANESCU FINDS OUT MORE
over – including Germany, where they have a loyal following – Ezio’s Christmas show has become a Cambridge staple. “The Christmas Junction show is like coming together and always feels special,” Ezio says. “I can’t really call it all hits because we’re no-hit wonders, but people will get their favourites.” Among the stranger moments in Ezio’s career, back in 1996 Tony Blair plumped for Cancel Today from their breakout album as his first Desert Island Discs track, resulting in a flurry of calls from the press. “The sad thing was it did nothing to get the music heard. It was just a news story,” states Ezio, citing Blair’s involvement in the Iraq war as another negative. “Although, it does make you grateful. Imagine if it had been Suella Braverman or Priti Patel. I’d never play again. ‘Boris Johnson really likes your music’ – I’d be a chef.” Now, a ‘best of’ album is in the works. “I had a poll of fans to see which singles they want; I’ll probably ignore that and put the ones on there which I like best,” Ezio laughs. Having recently recorded an album on an industrial estate in Cambridge surrounded by domesticated rabbits, this time Ezio is aiming for sound quality above all. “I want the band playing at the same time rather than the
10 Dec
FESTIVE TRADITION Ezio return to Cambridge for their regular holiday special
where we played rock clubs and had to fight for attention, so we developed what would be considered inappropriate musical behaviour by acoustic purists.” On tour, he says, legions of journalists would ask him the same question: “You’d never answer the same way twice out of boredom.” “The world’s changed now,” Ezio continues. “There are things I need to be
ith roots reaching deep into the Cambridge music scene, the duo behind Ezio – the
eponymous Ezio Lunedei and best friend Mark ‘Booga’ Fowell – started out in the city in 1990. They’ve since whisked around the world on tour, picking up a devoted following along the way, but Cambridge is still the place they officially call home. Located somewhere between the gentle acoustics of folk and zesty indie rock, Ezio’s influences span Van Morrison and Jeff Buckley. While the pair gathered fans, further band members were also hauled on board, including bassist Lidia Cascarino, percussionist Lee Russell and drummer Alex Reeves. Eight albums in and Ezio feels lockdown was responsible for unlocking their full potential. “We just kept working for 30 years, and you get into a pattern of satisfying what people expect and what you think you’re good at. Then all of a sudden, your work is taken away, along with any requirement to satisfy those other things,” Ezio explains. When asked to describe his genre, Ezio is reluctant: “We grew up at a time
way people do things in bedrooms, one voice or instrument at a time, all politely so they don’t upset the neighbours; and everything coming out very even, but with no energy.” Ezio isn’t optimistic about the future of the
angry about, there are things we need to say. So I was trying to find a different vocabulary.” The pandemic was devastating for artists. As well as getting his
All of a sudden, our work was taken away
calendar cleared, unable to play together, Ezio’s relationship with Booga was tested – though balance has now been restored. “I get really stressed,” Ezio says. “And he’s the most chill person in the world.” Ezio’s Junction show originally came into being after a sellout, four-night Boat Race gig, which transitioned to the bigger stage. Drawing in faithful fans from all
music industry, but he believes this city is a haven for artists. “I think Cambridge is one of the better places to make music,” he says, “it’s got brilliant audiences.” And there’s no doubt that Ezio will remain one of its cornerstones. Ezio will perform at Cambridge Junction on 10 December at 7pm
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK DECEMBER 2022 33
Powered by FlippingBook