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

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.

Sleaford Mods © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Daniela Tedim

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.

Sleaford Mods © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Daniela Tedim

Amazing Songs & Other Delights #63 – The Say Hello, Wave Goodbye edition by Raquel Pinheiro @ Yé Yé Radio @ mixcloud.

My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #63 The Say Hello, Wave Goodbye is now at available at mixcloud.

This edition centers on beginnings and ends, ends and beginnings, outer and inner journeys, being lost and found, how the same guitar line, depending of context, can feel differebt. You can read my essay about this show here: https://mondobizarremagazine.com/2024/04/07/amazing-songs-other-delights-63-the-say-hello-wave-goodbye-edition-by-raquel-pinheiro-ye-ye-radio-monday-8th/

Monday, 8th April 2024, 3-4pm (gmt+1)Running Tracklist:
01 – Raquel Pinheiro – Big Bang (radio edit)
02 – Old Jerusalem – Red sun over the interstate
03 – Franz Schubert – Erlkönig, (Op. 1, D. 328 – Wer reitet so spät sung by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau)
04 – The Modern Lovers – Dodge Veg o-matic
05 – Bernard Butler – Camber Sands
06 – The Fugs – Bartleby The Scrivener
07 – Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
08 – David Gray – Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (Soft Cell cover)
09 – The Beatles – Drive My Car
10 – The Clash – Lost In The Supermarket
11 – Kings of Leon – Going Nowhere (live in Nashville)
12 – Siouxie & The Banshees – The Passenger (Iggy Pop cover)
13 – The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) (2011 remaster)
14 – Aaron Copland – Going to Heaven! (Emily Dickinson poem, sung by Sanford Sylvan)
15 – Little Eve – The Loco-Motion (remaster)
16 – The June Carriers – Pastoral Epigraph

All previous shows on mixcloud: www.mixcloud.com/infoyeye/ | www.mixcloud.com/MondoBizarreMagazine

BDRMM, Mouco, Porto, 06.04.2024.

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

Hull band Bdrmm awaited first concert in Porto finally happened. Bdrmm came to download their electric showgaze mantle upon an audience split between a sound delight and happy talk.It was remarkable the way the band was applauded and cherished by the audience, leaving the quarter rather pleased, and, in a way, apparently surprised with such reaction, multiplying thanks you at each song. For about one and a half hour Bdrmm downloaded a stream of songs that satisfied the wishes of their fans, starting with Alps, carrying on with Be Careful.

Then, melodically loud with songs like Gush, Push/Pull, Happy, one of their greatest hits, here almost unrecognisable among a deluge of distortion, until, at, last, arriving at a good Port, um thrilling cheering by from the audience and thanks by Bdrmm.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Marcos Leal