Concert Reviews – Page 4 – Mondo Bizarre Magazine

April 18, 2024April 18, 2024 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Hohen Ford | Patrick Watson, Hard Club, Porto, 15.04.2024.

Hohnen Ford © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal

words: Marcos Leal (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos Marcos Leal

On a Monday evening the line of people to Hard Club was visible before opening time. It took some time for British singer-songwriter Hohnen Ford, the opening act to be on stage. Quickly, with a smiley face, starting to play the piano and singing beautifully. Of note a cover of Radiohead’s No Surprises and the live debut of a new song, Honest Mistake. Going by the delight many were listening to her on the front rows, she gathered new fans.

Patrick Watson turn, playing Lost With You under mild, intimate light, that progressed towards the other musicians, surprisingly encorporating the lyrics of Radiohead’s CreepIt was a concert of great complicity and intimacy that captivated the audience. As much on a scenic as well as musical level it was a concert of great beauty and sensibility with songs that tools to intimate, but also mundane places. Between sings there were stories about those songs in themselves, and some joyous moments. Such as in Lisboa Mermaid in Lisbon was sung by Gisela João (on record the voice belongs to Teresa Salgueiro), displaying good stage chemistry. In a kind of encore Hohnen Ford returned, and once more enchanted the audience singing an acoustic song along Patrick Watson.

Patrick Watson & Gisela João © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal

The concert ending was surprising. Patrick Watson came down to the middle of the audience with a megaphone accompanied by his bassist/guitarist carrying on his shoulders some sort of lights structure, both slowly playing and singing towards the room exit.

Patrick Watson © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal

April 16, 2024April 25, 2024 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Sereias | Sleaford Mods, Casa da Música, 13.04.2024.

Sereias © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Daniela Tedim

words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Daniela Tendim

Sereias opened the evening with their frantic, vocally agressive rock. Abundantly shouted in despair, among foul language, demands and political and social criticism. They’re very solid and original instrumentalists in the way they mix styles and impose tempos. But always very together. An interesting band, no doubt.

Sleaford Mods © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Daniela Tedim

I could say punk bastards are back or that the good old fashioned rebels would have returned in na electro punk rap and spoken word version, but I will not do it, even because I just did it. I’ll center myself in what is worthy about British duo Sleaford Mods. Obviously punk’s stigma is present on the fast intense vocalizations of the sarcastic speech, at times comical, and electronic samples minimalism everyone. But, in reality, do Jason Williamson and Andrew Fearn Bing us or intend to put across?

To me, it seems they have a lot to say and to uncover not only Great Britain concerning, but regarding the world at large in its hypocrisy and aggressive capitalist economy. Sleaford Mods music is to be danced to, felt, grooved. It is also to be reflected upon and internalised. Although the communication channel is minimalist electronic music, their message is anything but minimalistic. In line with social and political criticism “in your face” bands like The Clash, Public Enemy, Rage Against, this duo shots towards their chosen targets with genuine haughtiness.

The concert at Casa da Música justified all that. Jason’s voice on his East Midlands Accent among psychedelic strobe lights, vociferações that resembled seagulls overing above any coastal town, his balancing water bottles on his head artist posture like a cocky rooster trying to moonwalk and footloose, tracks like TCR, BHS, and the cover of Pet Shop Boys’ West End Girls keep coming out entertaining the hordes attendees and Sleaford Mods fans.Oh Captain! My Captain! They follow us everywhere and I go west.

March 19, 2024September 3, 2024 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

F.M. Einheit – Associação de Moradores da Bouça, Porto, 15.03.2024.

The Club Meets the Drill

words: Raquel Pinheiro; photos: Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em Expansão We are at one of those places most would not associate with industrial music, Associação de Moradores da Bouça, a local residents society, founded in 1975. Through Porto’s City Hall programme Cultura em Expansão, Associação de Moradores da Bouça has been helding events, like diferent sorts of concerts, including more fringe ones.

There are too many of us gathered in the patio outside the concert room. Which goes to show that fringes can be relative. F.M. Einheit became known to if not all, most of us in attendance, when he was part of Einstürzende Neubauten, that he left in 1995.

The planned seated concert is turned into a stand up one in order for everyone to be able to attend. That changes things a little or the audience. In chairs, we would easily be able to see the images of the projections that accompanied F.M. Einheit’s demolitions, cracking, pouring of materials, playing a gigantic spring with a drill.

The video projections come with background sounds and beats. A mix of clubbing grooves, voices, mechanical, machinery noises. From where I stand for most of the concert, by the door and the mixing desk, it is not easy to see the images or, other than the playing of spring & drill, what is F.M.’s up to. I can hear sounds and see a glimpse of what looks like a workbench with a few things upon it. Wood plaques? Bricks? And what is FM pouring from a big bucket? Gravel? Whatever it is, it makes for an harrowing sound.

The evening will keep being filled with contrasts, dissonances, resonances, peculiar noises. And thee drill!

November 24, 2023December 6, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Nadine Khouri | John Grant, Casa da Música, Porto, 22.11.2023. – Misty Fest.

Nadine Khouri © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Cláudia Lopes

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.

John Grant © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Cláudia Lopes

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.

November 23, 2023November 28, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Alan Sparhawk (Low) | Lambchop – Misty Fest, Casa da Música, Porto, 21.11.2023.

Alan Sparhawk © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal

words: Marcos Leal (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Marcos Leal

Alan Sparhawk returns a year after the death of Mimi Parker, his life and musical companion. He is accompanied by three young musicians, one of them his son, on bass, the others bring a drummer and a banjo player., instruments that are characteristic of Alan Sparhawk’s music. The concery start quietly, but quickly the harshness of distortion and feedbacks of the lyrically heavier lyrics, in which Alan seemed to transmit and exorcize darker feelings arriveded. It was a concert with gruge roughness and indie-folk sweetness that received a good clapping at the end.

Lambchop © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal

As for Lambchop presented a redux version. Kurt Wagner (vocals) and a pianist. A change that seemed to caught a few people by surprise. As the piano first notes were played, Kurt gestured along the music, like a conductor. Placing himself on the mic stand, his first vocals seemed to had caused a shift on the room. Owning a strong, deep voice, he sang song from the latest album, word by word with captivating mastery and presence, contracting with the simplicity of the production design. The lights didn’t even changed colour.

The minimalist approach may had not been for everyone. Those that stayed enjoyed Kurt’s and his pianist astistic quality until the end. They were irreproachandle and deserved the generous clappung before bed, as Kurt said they would go to sleep right after the encore.

November 21, 2023November 22, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

The Saxophones, Auditório Francisco de Assis, Porto, 19.11.2023.

words: Paulo Carmona (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Paulo Carmona .

Recently, a lot has been talked about music as therapy. Sometimes more rightly, others less so. As everything else these days. In a deciduous Sunday, the moon already a companion., a few hundred people, among them myself, witnessed the confirmation of the preamble I’ve just mentioned by watching The Saxophones.

They started with Lamplighter, and right there the atmosphere changed in the blink of an eye.The music melodic smoothness soaked Francisco de Assis with a perfumed swing retro pop, capable to craddle de most attention sentinel of a fortification in danger. It is a very contagious and appeasing sound.

Alexis Erenkov is a very compente and compassionate baritone. He allows the music to and speaks for itself, that he only adorns with his frail, almost naive, verses, at times, here and there, accompanied by Alison Alderlice’s sweet voice.Alternating between saxophone and guitar, and a transverse flute in Boy Crazy, the songs, very aesthetically similar between themselves, appeared in a slow, rhythm, intimate sequence.

Alexis confesses this is the first tour he plays saxophone. The original idea was ever to do so, but times and wills change and it happened. I confess that, to my delight, they played If You’re On The Water on the encore. And right afterwards, as closing, In My Defence. I left satiefied and peaceful among a sea of happy glowing people. As is wished on an early Autumn Sunday evening. Turns out it seemed to had been therapeutic to everyone. All the better.

November 16, 2023November 17, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Francisco Sassetti | Wim Mertens – Misty Fest, Casa da Música, Porto, 13.11.2023.

Francisco Sassetti © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

Warmness and Strife for Piano

words: Raquel Pinheiro; photos: Telma Mota

It was an evening of Wimtrasts and counterpoints. Warmness, homeness, romanticism, afable communication – Francisco Sassetti – sparcity, dislocation, strangeness, non verbal speak – Win Mertens.

Portugue pianist and composer premiered his debut album, Home, Monday night. Home is a beautiful record filled with intimate, personal, homely, sacred even, pieces. It is also imbued in melancholy, joy, longing, wonder.

Talkative, Francisco told small stories and contextulized every theme throughout his performance. Opening in a nightly mood, with Home’s two nocturnes, Nocturne I and Nocturne II, moving to the journeying title track that leads us home after absense.

The next three pieces Francisca’s Dream, Francisco’s Jr Theme, Sara is Happy are dedicated, respectively to his daughter, his son and his wife. A little girl with a Ballon, in a carrousel, a young boy slaying a dragon, and a wife, mother, woman litting a room with her happiness. The piano translates the stories magnificently. Or the vignettes are magnificently played, in a reverie, with intensity, upbeatness sorrow, glow.

Francisco Sassetti’s performance ends with the wonderful, slightly somber, but rich is tone and soul, Music For Her.

Wim Mertens © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

Wim Mertens, , accompanied by trumpeter Ward Hoornaert, presented Voice Of The Living his album homage to all war victims. Voice Of The Living was commissioned by the Chancellary of the Belgium prime minister as part of the commemoration og the Great War (Work War I, 1914-1918).

It is an harrowing musical piece. Playing in November, with all that is going on, two days after Armistice Day (November 11,1918), the day of the end of war it was created to signal, it is sobering, chilling, beautiful, uncomfortable.

Wim Mertens & Ward Hoornaer © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

Mertens way of playing, more minimal leaning, heighlights the theme of the composition. The Piano runs free, is sound pointllism, while the trumpet holds it filling the atmosphere with a certain joy, at times, verging on exuberant happyness, but never fully crossing into glaring bright light.

In Mertens Voice Of The Living we feel the sense of loss, of desorientation, the discomfort, the wasteland. There are also glimpses of hope, of a better time among uncertainty.

Libreto:

Francisco Sassetti:01 – Nocturne I; 02 – Nocturne II; 03 – Home; 04 – Goodbye; 05 – Filipa’s Dream; 06 – Francisco Jr.’s Theme; 07 – Sara Is Happy; 08 – Inocência II; 09 – Music for Her

Wim Mertens: 01 – Too good, too loose; 02 – Glossary raisonné; 03 – Escape and recapture; 04 – Pondichéry; 05 – On the Zephyrous Peak; 06 – Continuous pushforwards; 07 – Nota notae; 08 – Watch!; 09 – Phaedra; 10 – Constance; 11 – Prudence; 12 – Far; 13 – Struggle for Pleasure; 14 – Close Cover

November 14, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Johnny Jewel, Mouco, Porto, 11.11.2023.

words: Marcos Leal (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos:Marcos Leal

Musician, composer, producer, visual artist are several of the sides multi-instrumentalist John David Padgett, aka Johnny Jewel, Other than his career as a musician in Glass Candy and Chromatics, and owner of record label Italians Do It Better, Jewel gained recognition through producing film soundtracks.

Jewel steps on stage and starts uncovering the black clothing that cover the keyboards and synthsisers with which he will play. Drive and Bronson are two of his best known cinema pieces. It is precisely cinema that fuels his solo debut European tour. As Jewel himself would say towards the end of the concert, an experimental trial tour to see how the audience perceives it.

Jewel shows his aesthetic attention by presenting himself in a classic red suit, face painted as shades of characters of films like A Clockwork Orange, that, commanding the synthsisers creates with total harmony and synchrony along the screened film images. Retro aesthetics, violence, sex, mystery, are marked characteristics of the cinema with which Jewel so well creates the atmosphere that leaves viewers immerse in the sound and image experience. The performance developed in a crescendo of intensity, interrupted by a false ending. When returning, Jewel took the opportunity to address the audience and play two more tracks, the last one the remarkable theme of project Desire – Under your Spell from the film Drive soundtrack. That is how the performance ends. With Johnny Jewel wrapping back the instruments in black clothing.

November 10, 2023November 10, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Devendra Banhart, Theatro Circo, Braga, 08.11.2023.

words: Marcos Leal (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Marcos Leal

Devendra Banhart presented Flying Wig, his new album, at Theatro Circo in Braga. He was preceed by H. Hawkline, his guitarist. Hawkline warmed the ears and a few arms with his bass tender voice, seated on the middle of the stage gently accompanied by his guitar.

An unexpected, but very pleasant and well received performance, bringing humour to the audience with his relaxed communication.

Good disposition and at easiness were also present at Devendra Banhart’s performance. Known by his stage eccentricity, here he presented himself in a simple, relaxed manner, a little bit a reflex of Flying Wig’s music, calmer and meditative.

Live, his, on this album, more ethereal freak-folk,, seemed to hug and cradle. Dispute singing about life’s issue, he does it in a way that breathes calm and levitates the soul.

Between songs, Devendra walked around the stage, murmuring away from the microphone, toying with the audience that tried to understand when someone told him to speak louder. Maybe that was the purpose. Devendra toyed a number of times in his quiet manner, always in a sweet tone, at times with an “obrigado” that he found long, often shortened to “obri”or” gado. Or when he presented his backing band. Especially with Welshman H Hawkline, músico galês, going on a comic translation of what the guitarist was saying in Welsh.

Devendra is, probably, one of the coolest musicians I’ve had the pleasure of seen live. Given one of his best known songs was missing, the concert could not finish without the traditional encore. Carmensita was farewell from Devendra & Co. with thank and waves you to the audience while heading backstage.

November 6, 2023November 14, 2023 Mondo Bizarre Magazine Concert Reviews, Concerts

Corinne Bailey Rae – Misty Fest, Casa da Música, Porto, 05.11.2023.

British singer Corinne Bailey Rae didn’t lie when, right before playing A Spell, A Prayer, invited the audience to ,“… to a spell of pleasure”. Corinne entered the stage like a wizard, wrapped in cloak resembling Merlin’s one, rocked by her band’s music ready to bewitch.

words: Marcos Leal (edited and freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Marcos Leal

At each rest, Corinne spoke of the inspiration behind each song of her latest record, composed after a visit to the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicado, a 1923 bank building turned arts and archive center for the people of South Side.

An exhibition with strong afro-american and racial segregation in the United States, curated by Theaster Gates, lead Corinne to a number of objects that would be the driving force behind Black Rainbows. Given the diversity of influences and Corinne’ need to properly live express the feelings brought by the inspirational objects the record proved to be very dynamic in concert.

Some may had been surprised by such versatility from the singer when New York Transic Queen (an old beauty pageant) was performed in a more rock way, steaming from a photo of former model Audrey Smaltz, that took Corinne to compose a more rebellious and feminist song.

The evening highlight was Put it Down, introduzido by the story of a party at Stony Island Arts Bank in celebration of dj Frankie Knuckles. Corinne tells that at the entrance there was a big jar where people would drop a piece of paper with whatever worried or tormented them.

At a point, fire was thrown inside the jar and everyone danced as a community like what had been written in those pieces of paperhsd stop having so much weight upon people. And that was how,, in Put it Down, the audience was contaminated by the music dancing and smiling along Corinne in the middle of room, a few hugs and emotional words shinning in their faces.

Music really has an incredible power and Corinne and her fantastic musicians turned the night into a celebration and freedom of the worries that torment our days making us forget the outer world for a little bit.

	Mondo Bizarre Magazi… on In Conversation with Simon Gil…
	Gomes Nuno on In Conversation with Simon Gil…
	Kilmo on …
	Edgeworth on …
	Mondo Bizarre Magazi… on …