Six songs by Antònia Font in memory of Joan Roca

MobofestSaturday evening. The end of 10 years of Mobofest is approaching. Around 11:30 PM, practically everyone was heading towards the main stage to accompany the "group of our lives," they said, the group "that changed everything for music in Mallorca and in Catalan," it was commented. Yesterday more than ever, the public could not miss it.

The members of Antònia Font took the stage at the Pla festival as four for the first time: Pau Debon, Joan Miquel Oliver, Pere Debon, and Jaume Manresa. Missing, and always will be, was bassist Joan Roca, who died a few days ago. Making a huge effort to push out the words, Pau Debon, hugged by his bandmates at all times, explained that Roca had been very keen to make it to last night's concert. It wasn't to be: "We believe the best way to honor him, and surely he would be happy with it, is to play a couple of songs. You'll have to help us a lot, as you always do," Pau Debon asked of the loyal, diverse, dedicated, and empathetic audience; a total audience. 

Without the bass line, Antònia Font's Alegria began to play, shaking off a sadness that clung like lead to everyone's skin. Pau Debon's voice was breaking, and the audience gave him air once more to help him sing. And from "orbits in sync" to "things are not easy for anyone, inside this igloo, so defrosted, so long, so full of endings, so deprived of you." A lyric that, if it already was, last night sounded more devastating than ever. 

Four notes were enough to make the audience cry out loudly: it was time for Alpinistes-samurais, the song that has probably been used the most these past few days as a farewell to Joan Roca, an "angel who spreads his wings and leaves the sky full of light," while the "flowers fade from the trees." And the people, the voice of the people singing the words that escaped Pau Debon due to emotion. 

To lighten the mood a little (contradictory, loving, sad, contained, and overflowing at the same time), the group played Tots els motors, a song that "Joan really liked, who was above all a heavy metal rocker!". 

To close the farewell (there was an encore, but we didn't know it at that moment), Pau Debon introduced the Palma choir Sa Corrala, who accompanied them to sing one of perhaps Antònia Font's most beloved and epic songs (this might be untrue, because we love everything about this group): Batiscafo Katiuscas. What does this song have? Brilliant black and blue, a sound of oceanic depth, a tribute to the Margalides, a shining night, magical beings like mermaids, impossible like whales. With the singers from Sa Corrala on stage accompanying the musicians, it was the photograph of the evening.

Pau, Joan Miquel, Pere and Jaume said goodbye, touched, grateful, accompanied, eternally embraced by all the fans, lovers and friends. With words of remembrance for Joan Roca's family, with words of gratitude for the organizers of Mobo (for making it so easy these past few days, for having endured 10 years of festival with strength). And with a very long applause from the audience, they left the stage to return after a few minutes and play Wayeah!, with strength. The crowd was so engaged that Pau Debon didn't sing a single word until after the tune. "Thank you for these 30 years, it's been amazing". And the stage went dark; and even though it hurts a lot now, and it seems impossible, you will find joy again, Antònia Font.

We, for the moment, will keep all your songs. Thank you for this life that you have filled with music.