words: Marcos Leal (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Cláudia Lopes
Anglo-Libsnese Nadine Khouri is presenting her latest album, Another Life (produced by John Parish). She comes on stage with a drummer and a keyboardist and picks up her red guitar, before strumming the first chords. Attention is immediately called to her warm, silly voice, inspiring Lebanon deserted landscapes.
The sound draws towards David Lynch and Wim Wenders imagetic scenaries. It is worthy to mention Keep On Pushing These Walls, a song dedicated to Lhasa De Sela, Keep On Pushing These Walls, and another to those that had to live in exile. Her is music, alternative exotic cinematografic, makes us go on a roadtrip without leaving our seat.
It is John Grant’s time now., also in a redux emsemble: John, in the piano, and a keyboardist-back vocalist. When he starts to play what stands out is his strong voice and it’s tone. What sets him apart is the quality of his lyrics in which, satirically, he approaches human relationships, homosexuality, social issues. For the joy of the his fans, several songs from the debut album, Queen of Denmark, were played. John says he feels comfortable playing those because certain issues remain as corrent. Of notice was also the excellent piano solo by his pianist-keyboardist. One song was left to be played on the encore. The only weirdness in a beautiful performance was a member of the audience that insisted on speaking to John Grant and clap before the end of each song.
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 