Doomed Confessionary: Riccardo Cavicchia (Da Captain Trips)
Da Captain Trips is an instrumental psychedelic band founded in 2009 in northern Italy (between Piacenza and Lecco) by three long-time friends and musicians: Riccardo Cavicchia (guitar), Federico Chiappa (bass), and Fabio Besani (drums). All active in the Italian underground scene since the late ’90s, they came together around a shared passion for endless jamming, spacey improvisations, and the timeless spirit of psychedelic rock. The band’s name pays tribute to Stephen King’s epic saga »The Dark Tower«.
»In Between« (2025) is the fifth full-length album of the band and comes after 3 years from »Maths of The Elements« with the same line up. This time the mission of the four musicians is to explore the sound and the landscape of the place “in between” where our consciousness moves when the physical form ends its time. Death is part of life and it could be the last definitive psychedelic trip. With their new label Subsound Records, Da Captain Trips continues to evolve, ever faithful to improvisation, sonic experimentation, and the transformative power of the psychedelic experience.
Da Captain Trips are Riccardo Cavicchia (guitar), Federico Chiappa (bass), Tommaso Villa (drums, percussions) and Paolo “Apollo” Negri (keyboards).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
The band was formed in 2009 as a jam band between three friends that shared the same passion for psychedelic music.
The chemistry between the three of us was very high and so we started composing songs, always leaving space for improvisation.
And here we are with some lineup changes and always a great desire to experiment by creating sonic experiences.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
To keep a non professional band for so long (16 years now) is the biggest challenge.
What can you be most proud of so far?
If I listen to all our albums, each album is different, a photo of that moment, it’s cool.
What was your biggest regret?
Our hair, we are convinced that if the four of us had hair, people would appreciate us more, don’t you think?
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Kozfest in the UK and the Psychedelic Network Festival in Wurzburg are definitely the best experiences we have had and that have helped us grow thanks to these people who have believed in us since the beginning. We will bring »In Between« to these two festivals this year.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Underground scene is so cool! Starting from the promoter to all the crowd at the shows. I love to spend time speaking with people at our shows.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
I can tell you what I was listening today because I’m a very music addicted, obviously on vinyl support: Big Black (Songs About Fucking), Brant Bjork Trio (Once Upon A Time In The Desert) wich we supported as opening band in Milano last June, Wilco (A Ghost Is Born), The Mike Gunn (A Dream About Jim) and Coltaine (Forgotten Ways).
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
One time, a long time ago, I was playing in a summer festival by the river here in my city, when we finished our show a guy came to me and said: great concert guys but you can’t play in shorts! I have Never played in shorts anymore….
What are your guilty pleasures?
We cannot speak here…
Can you say something more about the current music scene in northern Italy?
Underground music scene in my city or in Italy in general is always cool. What is missing are live music venues and the right respect and support for those who make art.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We will be in UK for two shows:
8th August Bournermouth (UK) with Bismut (NL)
9th August Kozfest UK
28th November Psychedelic Network Festival, Wurzburg (DE)
29th November Hamburg (DE) TBC
5th December Horst Klub in Kreuzlingen (CH)
6th December Vortex, Siegen (DE)
What are your plans for the future as a band?
Going on with passion and curiosity about experimenting in our music, always trying to make interesting things.
How can people best support your band?
Definitely buying our merch and coming to our concerts
Do you have any message for your listeners?
Music is not a free thing, musicians have a lot of expenses.
If you like a band don’t listen to it only on spotify but try to support them by buying their merch on Bandcamp or at shows.
Amen.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well