Not long ago, the Palau Sant Jordi seemed like a stage only reserved for the greatest of the music scene. Since its inauguration in 1990, the Olympic pavilion has been an almost obligatory stop for the biggest national and international names, while those less in the media seemed to have to content themselves with trying to fill the old Palau d'Esports on Lleida street or the Sant Jordi Club , with considerably lower capacities.
But something has changed. There are more and more local artists and bands - to define it in some way - whose good work allows them to dare with a whole Sant Jordi and fill it to the brim. Sopa de Cabra did it in 2011 and more recently in November 2022. Shortly after, in December, it was the turn of the Valencians Zoo. And last year, Oques Grasses even broke the venue's attendance record and Companyia Elèctrica Dharma celebrated its 50-year career with a massive concert. And this 2024 was not going to be an exception.
Last night, Joan Dausà from San Feliu was in charge of proving it. More than a decade ago, he released his first album, Jo mai mai, whose eponymous song became a hit with an unforgettable love story between the artist himself and Judit, and with which many still identify. Then came more albums and tours, but Jo mai mai had become essential, thanks also to the film Barcelona, nit d'estiu. And what better than a tour to commemorate 10 years of such a special work and close it with a concert at Sant Jordi, called La gran bogeria, with 16,000 throats.
As if time were money, the concert started with little delay. Contributing his most intimate side, although accompanied by four musicians, Dausà appeared and sat at his inseparable piano on a stage covered by a large curtain to start the recital with Ara que som gegants, which already caused the artist's first tears. And now with the protagonists visible, the show continued with Omple la vida els lungs, another song from his latest works and which showed that it was not going to be a nostalgic night. On the contrary.
However, Jo mai mai had to be present, also off to a good start. Therefore, after thanking and joking that those present were going to enjoy “a mix between Oques Grasses and Sergio Dalma”, “the first of the first” arrived: Truca’m. And Sant Jordi, conquered.
Dausà decided to turn the venue into a time machine in which he rescued themes from both that pre-pandemic era in which worries seemed less like Nàufrags, which turned the room into a sea of lights, and from that 2021 in which, while we They said that culture was not safe and massive concerts seemed far away, published Ho tenim tot, which includes Buenos Aires and Pina, dedicated to their daughters.
Dausà himself was aware that the concert was being very melancholic, so he decided to change “the register” with Take Me Home, Country Roads, a song more than covered by John Denver, and Tot anirà bé. And then the magic was done: with the singer-songwriter and his guitarist, Florenci Ferrer, at the top of the stage, Jo mai mai arrived, with a Sant Jordi that sang of those impossible loves that leave a deeper mark than the true ones.
In fact, the phrase "jo mai mai" was the one heard the most throughout the evening. Controlling the tempos and the scene like no one else - one could see his role as an actor - the Catalan involved the audience throughout the show and explained that his objective was for two spectators who did not know and like each other to at least have a beer And he did it: who knows if Toni and Núria, who ended up kissing at the end of the concert, would end up being the protagonists of another Dausà ballad.
The recital continued and began to raise the pulse with Ho tenim tot and, as is usual in these shows, with the presence of special guests. The first to appear was Julieta, "who is 20 years younger", to perform a duet of Una altra moda de viure, Estrella Damm's soundtrack in 2019 and with which Dausà joked: "They told me they wanted Catalunya to cry."
A new reference to Jo mai mai came with Judit, a song that is the continuation of the story ten years later and with which it seemed to close the concert, and with her in the audience to end up on stage. However, Dausà had some more surprises.
The turn of encores began with Falling no faia mal, with the company of Santi Balmes, followed by the recently premiered Per nosos y els de dalt, to close more than two hours of recital with the celebrated Stay this way and La gran eufória and, again, Jo mai mai, with the artist's will to return to a great show, but outside of Catalonia.
Those present left the room more than satisfied. And if his massive concert meant one thing, it is that, if Dausà ever sits at a table next to the greatest and they ask themselves “jo mai mai he triomfat al Palau Sant Jordi” (I have never never triumphed at the Palau Sant Jordi ), he will be able to smile, raise the glass with satisfaction and drink like one of them. And Judit, proud.
