Neon Neon will play their first headline Dublin gig in 5 years in The Button Factory on September 12th.
Born into one of Italy’s wealthiest families, Feltrinelli was a controversial left-wing political activist with connections to Che Guevara and Fidel Castro. He published some of the greatest literary works of the 20th century including The Leopard, which became the biggest-selling novel in Italian history, and Doctor Zhivago, a banned masterpiece brought to the world’s attention by Feltrinelli who risked his life smuggling the manuscript out of the USSR. Feltrinelli died in suspicious circumstances in1972 but lives on through his literary legacy and also, perhaps paradoxically considering his political stance, a chain of ‘la Feltrinelli’ shops still trading throughout Italy.
Praxis Makes Perfect is a musical biopic of Feltrinelli’s colourful life viewed through the lens of Gruff Rhys’ highly-original songwriting and Boom Bip’s shimmering, synth-heavy production. The album spans Feltrinelli’s fast-paced lifestyle (The Jaguar), political beliefs (Dr Zhivago, Hammer & Sickle), infamous photographs of him playing basketball with Castro (Hoops with Fidel) and the breadth of viewpoints and ideas he helped to give voice to (Listen To The Rainbow).
Recorded in Wales, California and Italy, Praxis Makes Perfect follows Neon Neon’s 2008, Mercury-shortlisted debut, Stainless Style; a concept album based on the life of roguish motoring mogul John DeLorean. Guests on this sequel include two previous Neon Neon co-conspirators in Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Cardiff’s Cate Le Bon, plus Italian pop sensation Sabrina Salerno and actress Asia Argento. Salerno–best known for her multi-million selling 80s anthem Boys (Summertime Love)–duets with Rhys on Shopping (I Like To), a celebration of Feltrinelli’s commercial savvy and retail empire. Argento’s various vocal contributions include a reading from Carlo Feltrinelli’s Senior Service biography of his father–the book that provided the initial inspiration for Praxis Makes Perfect–on poignant curtain closer Ciao Feltrinelli.
POD Presents
Neon Neon
7:30pm, Thursday September 12th
The Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar
Tickets are €16.30 (including booking fee) from Ticketmaster.
