Mondo Bizarre Magazine Essays, Raquel Pinheiro, Weekend Song

Bernard Butler – Preaching To The Choir (Live At The Green Note)

Good morning with Preaching To The Choir (Live At The Green Note) by Bernard Butler. Have a nice weekend.

An essay, in the form of a tragicomedy letter is accompanying today’s song choice. It’s in the vein of what I, in my Picky INTJ Fairy incantation have been posting to Bernard on his Instagram.. It’s also a shout-out to my essay on Deep Emotions and to my note on Camber Sands.

Oh mine! Where did that super deep, manly, hoarse voice came from? Me thinking live at The Green Note was safe. You live on youtube or social media tend to be . It’s live, no risk. Turns out, it’s a minefield. Urg! Urg! Urg! Picky INTJ fairies don’t know what to do when we’re nearly in tears with emotion. There’s a glance at the guitar, a “maybe the bass?”, a “poem, write a poem, pour it on the page” I’m always doing it, like right now, writing this). But it’s too much, and too many hours of non-creative discomfort, and of being silent and still.

Preaching To The Choir gives me the chills, it’s too close to home. It’s home, times ago. Preaching To The Choir is, or is supposed, to be about politicians, rulers, their deceit and lies and hypocrisy. That’t not my meaning of the lyrics. Songs are this, they mean a different thing to each of us.

“… Oh I’ll reach across the covers to caress your skin / The memories we overcome could mean anything / The words I use to hurt you disappear / Their presence only lingers in your tears…”

Those words always, always, get to me. They cut deep, they have a multilayered, multi side meaning to me, and there are almost, if not really, tears. I don’t know the exact meaning Bernard had in mind when he wrote them. For personal purposes, it doesn’t matter. They bring me memories, they bring out a “good grief”, they’re touching.

“Isn’t it a good thing that you have emotions.” asks Bernard on the Super Deluxe Edition interview. It is. But… but I keep being amazed at how, why, Good Grief, the album, and now it’s companion Live At The Green Note bring out such emotions in me. It’s unusual.

Therefore, congratulations, Mr. Butler. You did it again! Fortunately I have forever cancelled you a few months ago because you don’t like to play bass! You may recall that from Instagram. It has now become hazardous to attend your concerts. However, you will not get away that easily. For purposes of practice and reharsals duty, coupled with protection I’ll most likely turn up with my guitar. It’s becoming something of a trademarks to show up at concerts with my guitar on my back. Don’t worry, I will not take to the stage. It’s all yours. But I will have my safety blanket. Dark glasses are also useful and a side blessing in disguise of photosensitive. Any possible tears Will be hidden.

The hallmark of a great artist is not measured in record sales, size of venues played or any other similar thing. It’s in how deep and truthfully how many hearts and souls are touched by the artist’s work. You’ve deeply touched and moved a few, if not a lot, of us, Mr. Butler.

Signed Picky INTJ fairy.

Bernard Butler is currently touring the UK. Bernard Butler plays in Portugal for the first time in November.
14 (Thursday), Casa da Cultura de Setúbal, Setúbal, 9:30pm
17 (Sunday) 1, Sala 2 Casa da Música, Porto, 9pm

Mondo Bizarre Magazine Amazing Sounds & Other Delights, Radio Show, Raquel Pinheiro, YéYé Radio

Amazing Songs & Other Delights #72 – The Ecosystem edition by Raquel Pinheiro @ Yé Yé Radio, Monday 21st

Amazing Songs & Other Delights #72 The Ecosystem edition airs Monday 21st, 3-4:30pm (gmt+1) on Yé Yé Radio:  yeyeradio.com (or on the app).

Of late, I’ve been coming upon the word ecosystem from different sources. Or happen upon lyrics, or otherwise that mention the concept that we’re all one, we’re connected, that we depend on each other.

That concept is part of Body Count’s Comfortably Numb version of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb the song that opens this edition. Ice-T writes and says: “Listen… ’cause I’ve been on both sides of the gun
As you stand before me we’re all here as one
We gotta come together or our chances are none
Maybe I’m just a dreamer, too many obstacles (full lyrics can be read here.).

An ecosystem implies environment and those in it interacting, forging connections, relationships, one thing leading to another. That is how both Mondo and Yé Yé came to be.

There are a few ecosystems on the programme. Birthday Party that lead to Rowland S. Howard and Mick Harvey. Mick Harvey song October Boy is about Pop Crimes – The Songs of Rowland S. Howard. Harry Howard is Rowland’s brother with whom Mick has played with. Interviewing Mick and Harry (and J.P. Shillo and Genevieve McGuckin) along a group of old friends – an ecosystem – lead to a number of Australian musician starting reaching out and sending their music.

When two weeks ago Bernard Butler was looking for opening acts for his current UK tour the Mild Ones, a Suede fan group, shared the request and so did I, adding I would be listening to Bernard’s choices and pick what I like from those. Raveloe (a Mild One Member herself), Ned Swarbrick,
Saint Sappho and Sorry Monks (other Mild One) songs are my choices from Bernard’s selection of opening acts. Meanwhile, Ned and, Tammy Dyson, of Saint Sapho, just joined The Mild Ones. Proof that ecosystems are a real thing and work.

Mark Robin White and 12 roads other Mild Ones. I found them on the group and liked their music. Johnny Marr’s New Town Velocity is from a post by Liza Hadiz, another Mild One. I was mentioning how Johnny Marr solo albums have songs I may select to play, but don’t stay with me long time. Liza asked what I thought of Velocity Girl, her favourite solo Johnny Marr song. I replied it was nice and would one day play it on the show. Johnny Marr influenced Bernard Butler, both have played together.

Oh Bobby are Bill Rivers and Simon Hayward. Bill has been part of my ecosystem for a few year. We did a few song together for my third anniversary show. Bill and Simon created together.

The Courettes are released by Damaged Good, a record label Mondo has been close to for twenty five years. Resistência are a Portuguese supergroup. Although I know some of the musicians, or other musicians from their other bands, I don’t have such a direct connection, but Resistência are an ecosystem themselves.

Resistência means Resistance. Maré Alta (High Tide) is a 1972 song by Fausto Bordalo Dias, José Mário Branco and Sérgio Godinho, three Portugue protest singers, released when Portugal was still a dictatorship. The lyrics mention getting ready because an high tide is arriving and freedom is about to come.

Tracklist:
01: Body Count – Comfortably Numb (feat. David Gilmour)
02: Raveloe – Passing Place
03: 12 Roads – Waiting For JB
04: Rowland S. Howard – Shut Me Down
05: Ned Swarbrick – Somebody, Something, Somewhere Else (live York City FC)
06: Mick Harvey – October Boy
07: Johnny Marr – New Town Velocity
08: The Birthday Party – The Friend Catcher
09: Saint Sappho – Grass is Gold
10: Oh Bobby (Bill Rivers and Simon Hayward) – Are You Still There
11: Sorry Monks – One Rule For Them
12: Paradise Lost – The Last Time
13: Harry Howard And The NDE – Sensitive To The Cold
14: Mark Robin White & Adam Lato – Rabbit Hole (Tranquility mix)
15: The Courettes – Shake!
16: A Resistência – Maré Alta

All previous shows on mixcloud: Yé Yé mixcloud | Mondo Bizarre Magazine mixcloud

Mondo Bizarre Magazine Amazing Sounds & Other Delights, Mixcloud, Radio Show, Raquel Pinheiro, YéYé Radio

Amazing Songs & Other Delights #71 – The Desert Blues and Not Just edition by Raquel Pinheiro @ mixcloud

Amazing Songs & Other Delights #71 is the The Desert Blues and Not Just edition is now on mixcloud.

This edition opens with Imajighen by Mdou Moctar and closes with Tom Huddleston singing a live version on Hank Williams’ I Saw The Light. Once more, I’m travelling through connections, details, inspiration. I’ve wrote an essay for it that can be read here.

Imajighen means free men in Berber. Although the lyrics specifically, or more specifically, address the free men of the Desert, the song’s words can be transposed to encompass us all. The chorus goes:
“Imajighen, we can’t afford to be divided
Imajighen,
We can’t afford to be divided
Imajighen
We have no time for hate
Imajighen
Calling on you all wherever you are!
We are all Imajighen”
Full lyrics in English, Tamasheq and Tifinagh can be read here.  here.

What do Mdou Moctar and Hank Williams have in common? Everything, I venture. My essay about the programme further speaks about it.

Tracklist:
01 – Mdou Moctar – Imajighen
02 – ANOHNI & The Johnsons – Breaking
03 – Tiwiza – At u Azeka
04 – Bombino – Mahegagh (What Shall I Do)
05 – Rui Veloso – Sayago Blues
06 – R.L. Burnside – See My Jumper Hanging On the Line (live at home, 1978)
07 – Tarwa N-Tiniri – Taryet
08 – Tom Verlaine – 5 Hours From Calais
09 – Dead Combo – Lisboa Mulata
10 – Fatou Seidi Ghali (Les Filles de Illighadad) – Telilit (live from Story of Sahel Sounds)
11 – Manu Chao – Tu Te Vas Feat. Laeti
12 – Felt – The Stagnant Pool
13 – Boubacar Traoré & Ali Farka Touré – Duna Ma Yelema
14 – Buzz Ayaz – Buzzi Ayazi
15 – Soledad Brothers – This Guitar Says I’m Sorry
16 – The White Stripes – Suzy Lee
17 – Etran de L’Aïr – Imouha
18 – Ben Watt with Bernard Butler – New Year of Grace (Upstairs at the De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill 5th April 2016)
19 – The Legendary Tiger Man – Keep it Burning
20 – Majid Bekkas – Daymallah (feat. Rachid Zeroual, Khalid Kouhen, Paolo Radoni, Marc Lelangue)
21 – Tinariwen – Sastanàqqàm
22 – Tom Hiddleston – I Saw The Light (with Mark Kermode on double-bass, live in the Wittertainment studio)

All previous shows on mixcloud: Yé Yé Radio mixcloud/ | Mondo Bizarre Magazine mixcloud

Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concerts, Reviews

Rafael Toral, Understage-Rivoli, Porto, 04.10.2024.

© João Octávio Peixoto/TMP

words: Raquel Pinheiro; photos: João Octávio Peixoto/TMP

We’re literally seated, in the dark, in the Rivoli’s underbelly. My old friend Rafael Toral is presenting his new album Spectral Evolution. Spectral Evolution is a single continuous instrumental track. The concert follows the same format.

“There are already too many ruptures in the world, I’m more commited in peace, integration, healing, reconciliation, and this record assumes it.” said Rafael, on an interview, about Spectral Evolution. I wholeheartedly concur with him.

Spectral Evolution, one of my three favourite records of 2024 so far, does have an healing, a come together effect. It’s brings forward emotions, release, serenity.

Here, live, at least where I was seated, for me that was a little disturbed by the sound in itself. It’s part of the nature and the beauty of live music.

I’m not going into technical details or guitar approaches, many of which I’m not even sure or fully aware of. I’ll go with sensations, emotions, a report of how the sound and music reached me, what I made of it.

© João Octávio Peixoto/TMP

A piercing, erthquakerish, lound sound, under, or along which, church like and birdsong like music appears. Scratches, signals, noises. It moves towards gentleness, a slight return to higher intensity. There’s a coming and going, a departure, an arrival, a departure, an arrival, a departure. It goes up, higher, louder. It recesses. It floats. It pierces the heart, the muscles, the soul, the senses.

Hadn’t seen Rafael in person in a while it wasn’t no much a case of reconciliation, or even reconnection – we connect through his music, and in the usual current ways – more the joy, the affection, the hugs, the kind and godspeed farewell words in the now emptiness of a minutes before filled room. It was a good-bye matching the essence of Spectral Evolution.

© João Octávio Peixoto/TMP