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Photo Credit: Barbara Oizmud

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The Enmore Theatre in Sydney was packed to the brim and buzzing for the solo debut of Damiano David on Wednesday, October 22nd. The magnetic frontman of Italian rock band Måneskin, presented a compelling new chapter in his career with his “funny little fears” world tour, where he delivered a 90 minute masterclass of charisma and vulnerability; bare soul, authentic heart and electric stage presence.

Following his solo debut single late last year with “Silverlines”, “Born With A Broken Heart” and his debut album earlier this year, FUNNY little FEARS, the show offered a more comprehensive, personal, and reflective side of the artist.

The stage production, while minimal, set a superstar tone: a massive, lit-up red sign screaming all-capitalised ‘DAMIANO DAVID’. Yet, this grand statement was a contrast to the show he would soon deliver – Damiano laid himself bare, offering a blend of Måneskin’s confidence, sensuality and bite, paired with an undeniable vocal ability and vulnerability. 

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Photo Credit: Barbara Oizmud

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Without an opening act, Damiano emerged at 8:30pm in a black and gold shirt and denim pants, looking effortlessly cool and chic, and without a word, launched into “Born With A Broken Heart”. The seamless 1.5 hr set was primarily composed of romantic ballads and pop-rock tracks that explored themes of heartbreak, love, and self growth. He acknowledged the many Italian fans in the audience, which was a nice moment of shared connection. He explained that he had carefully designed the show into three distinct parts or “experiences” starting with a focus on feeling stuck and broken, performing songs like “The First Time”, “Mysterious Girl” and “Voices”.

His magnetic stage presence was evident in his cheeky interactions, such as asking the crowd about Cinnamon only to declare he “f#king hates that shit so let’s sing about it”. After formally introducing himself, giving a shout-out to his Måneskin roots and his love for performing covers, he shot into a fantastic, fiery cover of King’s of Leon’s “Sex on Fire” which he performed shirtless, causing double the uproar. Following his catchy original “Talk to Me” he dove into Mark Ronson’s “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart.”

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Damiano slowed the space as he moved into the second, more fragile act of his narrative. He changed into soft, silk attire and traded his hand-held mic for a mic stand as he plunged into a series of heartbreaking tracks like “Perfect Life”, “Next Summer”, “The Bruise” and “Sick of Myself”. These ballads showcased his immense vocal range and breadth as an artist, highlighted by the gorgeous, unified echo of the crowd singing back lines like, “Call me when he breaks your heart next summer” and “You’re the cure, you’re the love, You’re the medicine”.

He took the audience on a captivating emotional journey through his lyricism and simple stage setup – the prominent sign, flashing lights, spotlights, hues of red – which actually heightened the emotional intensity of his story telling. He was supported by a seven-piece live band of drums, guitars, piano, and two vocalists. All musicians were elevated onto platforms that gave the stage dimension, with a large centre-stage platform reserved for Damiano. Every few songs, he would change his look, maintaining a rock-chic aesthetic.

In his short, sincere speeches, Damiano shared that his solo work has been a journey of self-discovery, allowing him to write songs he “wouldn’t have been able to several years ago”. He called “Tangerine” his personal favourite, a track about healthy, lifelong love, summarised beautifully in the line, “You were a good time, she’s the rest of my life”.

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His theatrical flair was highlighted in “Tango” a track he playfully noted people used to hate but now love.. and if you don’t love it [explicit language], where he referenced and replicated ballerina movements. 

His versatility and fragile vocals shone brightest on “Angel” while “Over” was a personal standout.

The audience was also encouraged to get on their feet and clap for “Zombie Lady” prompting a beautiful, unified chant of “We’ll live on and on and on and on” before introducing and thanking his band.

The encore brought the show full circle as Damiano performed “The First Time” again, a track that felt brighter and more celebratory than its first performance at the start of the night.

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Before concluding with the vulnerable tracks “Naked” and “Solitude (No One Understands Me)”, Damiano sat down, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to perform solo, and his openness to all opportunities; solo, with Måneskin, collaborating with both new and old peers. He drew our attention to the self-reflective line in “Naked”: “you don’t know who you are, till you don’t know who you are”.

The consistent volume and energy from the audience meant I couldn’t single out crowd favourites. The lack of any Måneskin songs was disappointing, but understandable, given the narrative. I also would’ve preferred an earlier address to the crowd and more interaction but his performance couldn’t be faulted. 

Damiano David is an exceptional artist and storyteller: charismatic, romantic and honest. He possesses an electric, magnetic quality that makes it unsurprising to hear that Måneskin had won Eurovision in 2021 and secured a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist Grammy in 2023. The Sydney show was a personal showcase of Damiano David’s abilities as a vocalist and a songwriter, and has solidified him as a star in his own right – I truly look forward to his personal and musical growth.

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Upcoming Global Tour Dates

Mon Oct 27 – Japan, Tokyo – Tokyo Garden Theater
Wed Oct 29 – Japan, Osaka – Zepp Osaka Bayside
Fri Nov 07 – Brazil, Sao Paulo – Tokio Marine Hall
Sun Nov 09 – Chile, Santiago – Teatro Caupolican 
Tue Nov 11 – Argentina, Buenos Aires – Complejo C Art Media
Thu Nov 13 – Colombia, Bogotà – Teatro Royal Center
Mon Nov 17 – Mexico, Mexico City – Auditorio BlackBerry
Fri Nov 21 – USA, Seattle – Paramount Theatre
Sun Nov 23 – USA, San Francisco – The Masonic
Tue Nov 25 – USA, Los Angeles – The Wiltern
Sat Nov 29 – USA, Chicago – The Riviera Theatre
Sun Nov 30 – USA, Detroit – The Fillmore Detroit
Tue Dec 02 – Canada, Toronto – HISTORY
Thu Dec 04 – Canada, Montreal – MTELUS
Sat Dec 06 – USA, Philadelphia – The Fillmore Philadelphia
Mon Dec 08 – USA, New York – Brooklyn Paramount
Tue Dec 16 – USA, Washington DC – The Fillmore Silver Spring

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Photo Credit: Barbara Oizmud

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Follow DAMIANO DAVID
Website – Instagram – Facebook – Tik Tok

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Press Release 10th December 2024 (below) HERE

DAMIANO DAVID
announces 2025
global tour dates

Across Europe, Australia, North America, South America and Asia

SET TO RETURN TO AUSTRALIA FOR TWO SHOWS,
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF
MÅNESKIN’S SOLD OUT SHOWS IN 2023

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AMNPLIFY – DB