Damiano David’s return to The Masonic in San Francisco came with a fresh creative identity and a solo vision all his own. Last time he was at the venue was as the singer of Italian rock band Måneskin, but even before he said a word, it was obvious this wasn’t Måneskin-by-another-name – it was Damiano embracing a sound and identity that are entirely his own. Touring his debut solo album, FUNNY little FEARS, he delivered a performance that blended emotional storytelling with that unmistakable stage presence he’s known for. His charisma hasn’t gone anywhere, but the way he uses it is different: less swagger-forward rock star, more intimate and personal. At one point in the night, he said, “[Måneskin’s] story has been incredible. We gained international success pretty much overnight… It was sick shit.” He emphasized that the band is still together, but he followed it with a quieter truth: “At one point, I wasn’t so happy. I was living a dream, but it was someone else’s dream.”
The setlist was pulled almost entirely from the new album, opening with “Born With a Broken Heart,” which immediately set a tone that was bold, vulnerable, and dramatic. From there, the show moved through songs like “The First Time,” “Voices,” and “Cinnamon,” each one fleshing out the pop-forward, emotionally charged direction of his solo material. Explaining his roots, covering songs by other artists, he performed covers of “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars and “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Mark Ronson. Mid-show, the atmosphere shifted into something softer and more reflective with tracks like “Perfect Life” and “Sick Of Myself,” where his vocals felt especially raw and open, ramping back up in intensity with “Tangerine,” which he called out as his favorite song. By the time he launched into a run of songs like “Zombie Lady,” “Angel,” and “Over,” the concert had taken on a narrative arc, a kind of emotional descent and lift that gave the night a sense of purpose beyond simply running through the album. The encore closed out the show with a reprise of “The First Time” and the “Naked / Solitude (No One Understands Me)” medley.
What stood out most was just how different Damiano feels as a soloist, even though his talent is so instantly recognizable. The energy is less about explosive rock bravado and more about connection – watching him, you could feel that he was trying to show the audience who he is as an individual, and the crowd leaned into that sincerity. He still knows how to command a room without even trying, but what he’s doing instead is more nuanced and, in many ways, more daring: embracing vulnerability and atmosphere over volume. The music is poppier, more reflective, and it suits him more than anyone could’ve predicted. What made the show so striking was how fully Damiano leaned into this new artistic identity. This version of him feels more thoughtful and more self-aware. This was San Francisco’s first experience of a different Damiano, and it’s exciting to think where this version of him might go next.
Damiano David
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