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ROTTEN THURSDAY
ROTTEN THURSDAY
Weekly party at Sensi bar with live rock music, jam sessions and a strong community.
Organized by a local band @copperjitters, it’s a place to start your early weekend.
ROTTEN is an event with live music, jam sessions, DJ sets and more. It happens every
Thursday at Sensi, a bar in Ticinese, and is now expanding to clubs, bringing live music to
bigger venues, attracting larger crowds and giving even more growth opportunities to local
rock bands. The beginnings of ROTTEN were simultaneous to the birth of a new scene in
Milan.
ROTTEN is an event with live music, jam sessions, DJ sets and more. It happens every Thursday at Sensi, a bar in Ticinese, and is now expanding to clubs, bringing live music to bigger venues, attracting larger crowds and giving even more growth opportunities to local rock bands. The beginnings of ROTTEN were simultaneous to the birth of a new scene in Milan.
ROTTEN is an event with live music, jam sessions, DJ sets and more. It happens every
Thursday at Sensi, a bar in Ticinese, and is now expanding to clubs, bringing live music to
bigger venues, attracting larger crowds and giving even more growth opportunities to local
rock bands. The beginnings of ROTTEN were simultaneous to the birth of a new scene in
Milan.
“ROTTEN started inspiring people to start their own bands or organising other events”
“ROTTEN started inspiring people to start their own bands or organising other events”
As the organizers, a local band @copperjitters, describe it, it became a weekly meeting for a community that was built here. Built around passion for music and devotion to the “rotten”
party lifestyle.
As the organizers, a local band @copperjitters, describe it, it became a weekly meeting for a community that was built here. Built around passion for music and devotion to the “rotten” party lifestyle.
As the organizers, a local band @copperjitters, describe it, it became a weekly meeting for a community that was built here. Built around passion for music and devotion to the “rotten”
party lifestyle.
How did ROTTEN begin?
How did ROTTEN begin?
Fabio: ROTTEN began when we were drunk and started playing in front of Sensi. It was
summer. The year before we were in Vienna and we found a jam there, we came back to
Milano and we wanted to do something like that here...
Fabio: ROTTEN began when we were drunk and started playing in front of Sensi. It was summer. The year before we were in Vienna and we found a jam there, we came back to Milano and we wanted to do something like that here...
Fabio: ROTTEN began when we were drunk and started playing in front of Sensi. It was
summer. The year before we were in Vienna and we found a jam there, we came back to
Milano and we wanted to do something like that here...
Patty: No, no, no. He was like, lamenting, complaining how in Vienna there are a lot of these
local music spaces and nothing here. And I said, let's fucking do it then. Without a place for
the jam, we started playing in front of Sensi. People that live upstairs were throwing buckets
of water at us but we just kept on playing and eventually the people from the bar invited us
inside. At the time there was another jam happening here.
Patty: No, no, no. He was like, lamenting, complaining how in Vienna there are a lot of these local music spaces and nothing here. And I said, let's fucking do it then. Without a place for the jam, we started playing in front of Sensi. People that live upstairs were throwing buckets of water at us but we just kept on playing and eventually the people from the bar invited us inside. At the time there was another jam happening here.
Patty: No, no, no. He was like, lamenting, complaining how in Vienna there are a lot of these local music spaces and nothing here. And I said, let's fucking do it then. Without a place for
the jam, we started playing in front of Sensi. People that live upstairs were throwing buckets
of water at us but we just kept on playing and eventually the people from the bar invited us
inside. At the time there was another jam happening here.
Fabio: But they preferred our concept, the other jam was mainly Italian pop type of music.
Also, the main thing that Vienna is about is improvisation jams, so that was the idea we
wanted to bring here, to make a jam allowing improvisation for everyone and not a specific
genre. So it all started with us playing on the street and the owners of Sensi saving us from
the water buckets.
Fabio: But they preferred our concept, the other jam was mainly Italian pop type of music. Also, the main thing that Vienna is about is improvisation jams, so that was the idea we wanted to bring here, to make a jam allowing improvisation for everyone and not a specific genre. So it all started with us playing on the street and the owners of Sensi saving us from the water buckets.
Fabio: But they preferred our concept, the other jam was mainly Italian pop type of music.
Also, the main thing that Vienna is about is improvisation jams, so that was the idea we
wanted to bring here, to make a jam allowing improvisation for everyone and not a specific
genre. So it all started with us playing on the street and the owners of Sensi saving us from
the water buckets.
What was missing in the local music/nightlife scene that pushed you to create this?
What was missing in the local music/nightlife scene that pushed you to create this?
Fabio: What Vienna was, a place that was open for everyone. There are other jams but they
make you play a specific genre, there was no place that was completely free.
Fabio: What Vienna was, a place that was open for everyone. There are other jams but they make you play a specific genre, there was no place that was completely free.
Fabio: What Vienna was, a place that was open for everyone. There are other jams but they
make you play a specific genre, there was no place that was completely free.
Why the name “ROTTEN”?
Why the name “ROTTEN”?
Patty: Because the fucking sound system is rotten, we are fucking rotten, and it sounds
fucking cool.
Patty: Because the fucking sound system is rotten, we are fucking rotten, and it sounds fucking cool.
Patty: Because the fucking sound system is rotten, we are fucking rotten, and it sounds
fucking cool.
Why Thursdays specifically?
Why Thursdays specifically?
Patty: I'm actually very affectionate, close to Thursdays. Since I remember I loved to party
on Thursdays to make the weekend longer.
Patty: I'm actually very affectionate, close to Thursdays. Since I remember I loved to party on Thursdays to make the weekend longer.
Patty: I'm actually very affectionate, close to Thursdays. Since I remember I loved to party
on Thursdays to make the weekend longer.
What kind of crowd does ROTTEN attract?
What kind of crowd does ROTTEN attract?
Patty: University students, foreigners, musicians and all kinds of party people
Patty: University students, foreigners, musicians and all kinds of party people
Fabio: I feel like “rotten” is the perfect name to describe our crowd, but it actually varies.
There are great musicians that come to play and then there are people that just come here
to get high and pass out.
Fabio: I feel like “rotten” is the perfect name to describe our crowd, but it actually varies. There are great musicians that come to play and then there are people that just come here to get high and pass out.
Fabio: I feel like “rotten” is the perfect name to describe our crowd, but it actually varies.
There are great musicians that come to play and then there are people that just come here
to get high and pass out.
Have you noticed people coming more for the music, the atmosphere, or the sense of
community?
Have you noticed people coming more for the music, the atmosphere, or the sense of
community?
Fabio: At the beginning it was the music and then this event became like a weekly meeting
for a community that was built here.
Fabio: At the beginning it was the music and then this event became like a weekly meeting for a community that was built here.
Fabio: At the beginning it was the music and then this event became like a weekly meeting
for a community that was built here.
Patty: It became kind of a scene, especially now that it has expanded and we also do events
in clubs, still with live music but also DJ sets. ROTTEN started inspiring people to start their
own bands or organising other events, live shows. What I saw was people coming, acting all
shy and insecure and couple of months later being fucking animals. It’s so cool to see that
change. Like the most shy person you know fucking a girl in the bathroom and breaking the
fucking sink.
Patty: It became kind of a scene, especially now that it has expanded and we also do events in clubs, still with live music but also DJ sets. ROTTEN started inspiring people to start their own bands or organising other events, live shows. What I saw was people coming, acting all shy and insecure and couple of months later being fucking animals. It’s so cool to see that change. Like the most shy person you know fucking a girl in the bathroom and breaking the fucking sink.
Patty: It became kind of a scene, especially now that it has expanded and we also do events
in clubs, still with live music but also DJ sets. ROTTEN started inspiring people to start their
own bands or organising other events, live shows. What I saw was people coming, acting all shy and insecure and couple of months later being fucking animals. It’s so cool to see that
change. Like the most shy person you know fucking a girl in the bathroom and breaking the
fucking sink.
Fabio: Talking about someone specific right now..?
Fabio: Talking about someone specific right now..?
Has ROTTEN THURSDAY helped your own band grow?
Has ROTTEN THURSDAY helped your own band grow?
Fabio: Yes, to an extent...
Fabio: Yes, to an extent...
Patty: For the events part in clubs, because we are residents and the crowd is always
different since we invite different bands. So it’s a really active scene.
Patty: For the events part in clubs, because we are residents and the crowd is always different since we invite different bands. So it’s a really active scene.
Patty: For the events part in clubs, because we are residents and the crowd is always
different since we invite different bands. So it’s a really active scene.
Fabio: As for COPPER JITTERS, we have other things that help us grow. But surely
ROTTEN is where the people that really like us always come. It's a bit more of an inside
thing, it’s people who are close to us. It didn't necessarily help us grow as a band because
we did other stuff for that. But it's a safe place and always the same people that are
affectionate towards the band that come to listen to us and sing our songs. They come from
ROTTEN.
Fabio: As for COPPER JITTERS, we have other things that help us grow. But surely ROTTEN is where the people that really like us always come. It's a bit more of an inside thing, it’s people who are close to us. It didn't necessarily help us grow as a band because we did other stuff for that. But it's a safe place and always the same people that are
affectionate towards the band that come to listen to us and sing our songs. They come from ROTTEN.
Fabio: As for COPPER JITTERS, we have other things that help us grow. But surely
ROTTEN is where the people that really like us always come. It's a bit more of an inside
thing, it’s people who are close to us. It didn't necessarily help us grow as a band because
we did other stuff for that. But it's a safe place and always the same people that are
affectionate towards the band that come to listen to us and sing our songs. They come from
ROTTEN.
Patty: They come for Rotting!
Patty: They come for Rotting!
Does running the event change the way you experience music?
Does running the event change the way you experience music?
Fabio: I feel like it gave us a different perspective. First we were musicians and now we are
also organizers, and so there are parts that we didn't see before or that we never even cared
about.
Fabio: I feel like it gave us a different perspective. First we were musicians and now we are also organizers, and so there are parts that we didn't see before or that we never even cared about.
Fabio: I feel like it gave us a different perspective. First we were musicians and now we are also organizers, and so there are parts that we didn't see before or that we never even cared about.
Daniele: Now we understand both of the words better.
Daniele: Now we understand both of the words better.
Fabio: Yes, exactly. So it's not just going somewhere and playing. I feel like now we have an
understanding of what's behind it. Now when we go to a venue and maybe there's not the
right sound system or another issue, we understand it. Before we didn't and we just
complained afterwards. Now we know.
Fabio: Yes, exactly. So it's not just going somewhere and playing. I feel like now we have an understanding of what's behind it. Now when we go to a venue and maybe there's not the right sound system or another issue, we understand it. Before we didn't and we just complained afterwards. Now we know.
Fabio: Yes, exactly. So it's not just going somewhere and playing. I feel like now we have an understanding of what's behind it. Now when we go to a venue and maybe there's not the
right sound system or another issue, we understand it. Before we didn't and we just
complained afterwards. Now we know.
What are the hardest parts of keeping a weekly independent event alive?
What are the hardest parts of keeping a weekly independent event alive?
Fabio: Well we talked about having a sense of community. I feel like the hardest part after
you create a strong community is to get new people to come.
Fabio: Well we talked about having a sense of community. I feel like the hardest part after you create a strong community is to get new people to come.
Fabio: Well we talked about having a sense of community. I feel like the hardest part after
you create a strong community is to get new people to come.
Patty: We’re not even trying... We never advertise. We don’t do shit. It's all people talking to
other people. Last year there was a day when people blocked the fucking street with a car.
They moved it in front of the street to close it off from the cops. It was like, 200 people
walking around Milan completely fucked up. Everyone dripped out. It was fucking crazy.
Patty: We’re not even trying... We never advertise. We don’t do shit. It's all people talking to other people. Last year there was a day when people blocked the fucking street with a car. They moved it in front of the street to close it off from the cops. It was like, 200 people
walking around Milan completely fucked up. Everyone dripped out. It was fucking crazy.
Patty: We’re not even trying... We never advertise. We don’t do shit. It's all people talking to other people. Last year there was a day when people blocked the fucking street with a car.
They moved it in front of the street to close it off from the cops. It was like, 200 people
walking around Milan completely fucked up. Everyone dripped out. It was fucking crazy.
Fabio: And it's hard to get above that. Because there's already that community identifying
themselves with ROTTEN. To get that even more out, that's the hard part.
Fabio: And it's hard to get above that. Because there's already that community identifying themselves with ROTTEN. To get that even more out, that's the hard part.
Fabio: And it's hard to get above that. Because there's already that community identifying
themselves with ROTTEN. To get that even more out, that's the hard part.
Do alternative music events get enough support from venues or the city?
Do alternative music events get enough support from venues or the city?
Daniele: No, all the other events that are emerging now are organized by our friends.
Daniele: No, all the other events that are emerging now are organized by our friends.
Patty: There's some other scene in the background but it’s all people who were around
before.
Patty: There's some other scene in the background but it’s all people who were around
before.
Fabio: And they are way neater. Of course we can organize things and set up spaces and
stuff but our strength is actually that freedom and that mess, in a sense. Because we don't
make anybody feel judged. You can come and do whatever the fuck you want. If you get
naked, we're gonna cheer you up. That's the thing.
Fabio: And they are way neater. Of course we can organize things and set up spaces and stuff but our strength is actually that freedom and that mess, in a sense. Because we don't make anybody feel judged. You can come and do whatever the fuck you want. If you get
naked, we're gonna cheer you up. That's the thing.
Fabio: And they are way neater. Of course we can organize things and set up spaces and
stuff but our strength is actually that freedom and that mess, in a sense. Because we don't
make anybody feel judged. You can come and do whatever the fuck you want. If you get
naked, we're gonna cheer you up. That's the thing.
Patty: Usually I'm the one naked.
Patty: Usually I'm the one naked.
Fabio: Another big thing is that venues in Milan promise you to get paid and then they don't
fucking pay you. For example, REDACTED or REDACTED. It’s a thing that’s really limiting
for artists and bands in Milan. We’re just a group of young people that go around trying to
organize stuff so we don’t get written contracts and the venues abuse that. There’s so many
places right now that owe us money, and it's been months that we haven't heard from them
because the owners of clubs in Milan are not reliable. They call artists and are like “Organize
the night at our venue and then we'll give you a thousand euros.” And so you tell the bands,
okay, we have a budget, we can pay you. You take that responsibility and then you can't pay
the bands and it turns into a mess. To the people that will read this, give us a club. We would
be way better at managing it.
Fabio: Another big thing is that venues in Milan promise you to get paid and then they don't fucking pay you. For example, REDACTED or REDACTED. It’s a thing that’s really limiting for artists and bands in Milan. We’re just a group of young people that go around trying to
organize stuff so we don’t get written contracts and the venues abuse that. There’s so many places right now that owe us money, and it's been months that we haven't heard from them because the owners of clubs in Milan are not reliable. They call artists and are like “Organize
the night at our venue and then we'll give you a thousand euros.” And so you tell the bands, okay, we have a budget, we can pay you. You take that responsibility and then you can't pay the bands and it turns into a mess. To the people that will read this, give us a club. We would
be way better at managing it.
Fabio: Another big thing is that venues in Milan promise you to get paid and then they don't
fucking pay you. For example, REDACTED or REDACTED. It’s a thing that’s really limiting
for artists and bands in Milan. We’re just a group of young people that go around trying to
organize stuff so we don’t get written contracts and the venues abuse that. There’s so many
places right now that owe us money, and it's been months that we haven't heard from them
because the owners of clubs in Milan are not reliable. They call artists and are like “Organize
the night at our venue and then we'll give you a thousand euros.” And so you tell the bands,
okay, we have a budget, we can pay you. You take that responsibility and then you can't pay
the bands and it turns into a mess. To the people that will read this, give us a club. We would
be way better at managing it.
Daniele: Also I think we are the only ones our age doing live music events in clubs in Milan.
Daniele: Also I think we are the only ones our age doing live music events in clubs in Milan.
Fabio: Yes, and we brought bands from Canada, bands from Rome. We try to sort of merge
the communities.
Fabio: Yes, and we brought bands from Canada, bands from Rome. We try to sort of merge the communities.
Fabio: Yes, and we brought bands from Canada, bands from Rome. We try to sort of merge
the communities.
Patty: We're working on connections with France. With Paris, England, Berlin. We have
bands from everywhere. And the next step is, when we are stable enough, making
exchanges with the bands from Milan and outside in a way that we can create a scene.
Patty: We're working on connections with France. With Paris, England, Berlin. We have bands from everywhere. And the next step is, when we are stable enough, making exchanges with the bands from Milan and outside in a way that we can create a scene.
Patty: We're working on connections with France. With Paris, England, Berlin. We have
bands from everywhere. And the next step is, when we are stable enough, making
exchanges with the bands from Milan and outside in a way that we can create a scene.
Fabio: We are organizing an event in Paris, for example, this summer and stuff like that.
Fabio: We are organizing an event in Paris, for example, this summer and stuff like that.
So you see it becoming something larger in the future?
So you see it becoming something larger in the future?
Patty: Yeah, the next step for ROTTEN is going to be European shit. And then worldwide.
But I don't like America. So worldwide, but without America. Europe and Asia. I'm going to
organize ROTTEN in North Korea!
Patty: Yeah, the next step for ROTTEN is going to be European shit. And then worldwide. But I don't like America. So worldwide, but without America. Europe and Asia. I'm going toorganize ROTTEN in North Korea!
Patty: Yeah, the next step for ROTTEN is going to be European shit. And then worldwide.
But I don't like America. So worldwide, but without America. Europe and Asia. I'm going to
organize ROTTEN in North Korea!
Fabio: It's not that we don't like America... It's that we don't like Americans. As David Bowie
said, we are afraid of Americans.
Fabio: It's not that we don't like America... It's that we don't like Americans. As David Bowie said, we are afraid of Americans.
Fabio: It's not that we don't like America... It's that we don't like Americans. As David Bowie
said, we are afraid of Americans.
Patty: I'm afraid of Americans!
Patty: I'm afraid of Americans!
Fabio: And yeah, we see it getting larger. Maybe not necessarily as an event as it is now,
but probably more as a hub. A hub for musicians to actually find a place and venues to play
and gather together. But not just musicians, artists in general. No, for everyone that wants to
come. If you want to be a politician and give a speech at ROTTEN, we would be fucking glad
to host you.
Fabio: And yeah, we see it getting larger. Maybe not necessarily as an event as it is now, but probably more as a hub. A hub for musicians to actually find a place and venues to play and gather together. But not just musicians, artists in general. No, for everyone that wants to
come. If you want to be a politician and give a speech at ROTTEN, we would be fucking glad to host you.
Fabio: And yeah, we see it getting larger. Maybe not necessarily as an event as it is now,
but probably more as a hub. A hub for musicians to actually find a place and venues to play
and gather together. But not just musicians, artists in general. No, for everyone that wants to
come. If you want to be a politician and give a speech at ROTTEN, we would be fucking glad
to host you.
Patty: But for now, come here and get fucked up.
Patty: But for now, come here and get fucked up.
Daniele: And play, someone has to play too.
Daniele: And play, someone has to play too.
