Like many aging rock stars worldwide,
Vasco Rossi has actively been releasing CD/DVD live sets for the past few years. So, when in May 2010, he performed in London at the legendary Apollo Hammersmith for the first time in his career, the inevitability of this
Instant Live London became a foregone conclusion. There is nothing not to like about this two-CD collection of
Vasco's favorites, as played by his regular crack live band. At the same time, being that this is his sixth live album (seventh, if one counts the mostly live rarities collection
Tracks 2 and some unbeatable classics such as 1984's
Va Bene Va Bene Così), it is quite obviously inessential, except for those hardcore fans who want to relive a special night. Which is not to say the performances are uninspired or unprofessional.
Vasco still has a rock & roll heart, a larger-than-life personality tailor-made for the stage, and a killer set list. But Vasco's fans have heard this all before, over and over, and it's no surprise that the best moments here are the lesser-known songs, such as the unexpected cover of "La Nostra Relazione," the first track from his terrific first album that went unnoticed upon its release in 1978. ~ Mariano Prunes