PHARMAKOS

Marsha Picone
Corinna Venturini
Lorenzo Battistel
Costantino Vecchi
Paolo Zennaro
Tommaso Sartori
Bonyman

The Band

In the ancient Greek's cities and in the bunches of Bonobo monkeys, "Pharmakos" are diadvantaged members by physical and mental ability that both embody the roles of outcasts and saviors from the community. Pharmakos band is composed by members disadvantaged too, and comes out from the wet lagoon of Venice between 2009 and 2010.

Born with the aim of playing Ska music, the members realize that they can't keep playing the same musical genre for more than one minute, and start digress among the most different influences, mostly coming from disadvantaged countries like Jamaica, Argentine, Chile, Brasil and Porto Marghera. The result is a "mestizo" kind of music, dirty and full of influences from Reggae, Dub, Samba, Ska, Dancehall, Salsa, Rumba, Punk, Funk and any other kind of music that reaches their insatiable ears.

With admirable dexterity they master Italian, Venetian, Spanish, English and Patois, each one so badly that it results hard to distinguish one from another. They offer an ironic and energetic show that will test your legs and your pelvis very hardly.

Recently, in the summer of 2016, they made a tour through Spain, that made them play on the Showcase stage of the "Rototom Sunsplash" in Benicasim, thanks to the contest "Arezzo wave goes to Rototom". In this period they're working on the realization of their second album, "Isola Mistica", whose release date is scheduled for the spring of 2017. In "Isola Mistica" there will be important collaborations with Cisco Bellotti (former singer and guitarist of Modena City Ramblers), Mistilla (EBM) and Francisca (Mama Marjas). The band played about 150 concerts in Italy, Switzerland and Spain. The band is now working with the project #Yutzaredafuture, born from the collaboration between Rastasnob Italian Reggae Magazine and BigUp Events.

In 2014 they released, with Maninalto Records, their first album "Pan Paniscus", recorded, mixed and mastered at "Mud Sound" in Malcontenta (VE). The album collects songs composed in the three previous years of activity, in wich, starting from the Ska, they experimented the commingling of different kinds of music, all mixed with a large dose of irony. This way, next to the rhythmic upbeat, drums of any kind infiltrated ethnic chordophone, delay and reverbs, distorted guitars and animal sounds coming from the most impervious jungle. Talking about the lyrics, most of Pan-Paniscus' songs are linked by the metaphorical way of expression. In the same year it was released the video of the "Jet Flight", that won the second prize in the first edition of "Short Film Connection" in Venezia.

In 2011 they realized their first demo "All Original Style Massive International of Skamba", containing five tracks subsequently reproposed "Pan Paniscus".

Among their most interesting exploits, in addition to their participation to the"Rototom Sunsplash" in 2016, we want to remember their participation in soma important italian reggae festivals like: the 2016 edition of the "One Love Festival" with "Morgan Heritage", the 2012 and 2013 editions of the "Venice Sunsplash" with Mellow Mood, Mr. Vegas, Busy Signal, Lion D & Jah Sun, the 2012 and 2013 editions of the "Wintersplash". In april 2013 they were the opening gruop in the concert of La Pegatina at "Forte Marghera" in the "Scarpe Rotte Festival" In april 2012 they were the opening gruop in the concert of Africa Unite at "Parco di Catene", Marghera. In 2012 they won the Mestre Growing e MusicBox contests. The playes in many important clubs like: Rivolta PVC (VE), Circolo Arci Ohibò (MI), Vibra Club (MO).

Pharmakos' members are:

Marsha Picone (Voice)
Tommaso Sartori (Bass)
Corinna Venturini (Guitar)
Lorenzo Battistel (Drum)
Costantino Vecchi (Banjo & Guitar)
Paolo Zennaro (Sax)
Giacomo Aldegheri (Voice)
Filippo Gazzola (Trumpet)