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

Lloyd Cole, Casa da Música, Porto, 28.04.2024.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

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

Lloyd Cole is one of those unique cases in which a man, a guitar and his voice manage to give an whole concert in which the audience does not fall into a dragged sleepleness apathy like. There are several factors for that: The first one is the voice to be in shape in the highs and lows and the knowledge of using breathing to achieve what is intended.

Another factor to have in consideration is the compentency is the playing of the electro-acoustic guitar. The rhythms, the freestyle, the intensity, the silences and the arpeggios. All very well played and pertinent to the flow of the songs. And the songs, of course.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

When a song is well written, well harmonized and has a poem that tailor suits it because it is felt, loved and conceived since it naturally; with guitar and voice, or orchestra it will always be a great song. That was what, once more, Lloyd Cole offered us. Always nice and afectous, supported by is British humour, including about mid concert pause, explaining it is mandatory for guys his age, he was an excellent entertainer from beginning to end.

The menu included more introspective songs such as Like Lovers Do, My Other Life, 2 CV, Today I’m Not So Sure, The Afterlife, The Idiot, Butterfly and more iconic and uplifted songs like Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken, Jennifer She Said, Brand New Friend, Perfect Skin and Undressed. On the much demanded and thanked encore Lost Weekend and Forest Fire were played.

On my way home, on the aftermath, I was thinking a cup of hot tea and sweet, sweet biscuits would be right the thing.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

Kristin Hersh, Auditório Francisco de Assis, Porto, 21.04.2024.

words: Neno Costa (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

The tracery of Sparky (Hips and Makers, 1994) filled the wideness of the stage until Kristin Hersh’s voice filled the room with Eyeshine (Clear Pound Road, 2023) casting out ghosts that seemed to threaten Throwing Muses’muse at every turn.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota


Lady of lyrics tinted by experience and personal conflicts, braided with a pop folk sound under a harsh vocal sky Kristin Hersh and her acoustic guitar run through thirty years of career, including her time with Throwing Muses, in an intimate, mature, flowing performance in choices such as Your Ghost (Hips and Makers, 1994), Kay Catherine (Throwing Muses, 2020), Your Dirty Answer (Sonny Border Blue, 2001) or Ms Haha from her latest album.


It would have been wonderful to prolong this golden moment of the musical calendary, electrically wrapped with The Cuckoo (Hips and Makers, 1994) and English folk song open to interpretations, cladled as a goodbye.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota

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

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

Pop Dell’Arte, Hard Club, Porto, 29.03.2024.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Hiliana Melo

words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos Hiliana Melo

On stage, more than showbiz, more than show off, give rock’n’roll truth. As it is in its essence. Unpretentious and genuine. That is what Pop Dell’Arte is. That is it, and it is very good.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Hiliana Melo

Sonorously speaking it is complex in construction, structure, form. Bass, drums and guitar played by Zé Pedro Moura, Ricardo Martins and Paulo Monteiro are extremely competent performing the songs as well as on their own, leaving an impression with the daring passion the music flows to our senses. João Peste’s voice is what we were used to over decades. Intense and very charismatic. At times powerful and resounding, at times sarcastic, dragged, and insolent filled of an apparent juvenile innocence. Take note, apparent! Maybe that is why he and his companions can make Pop Dell’Arte’s music seem so fresh. Each concert is a celebration. An hymn to the band’s aesthetic conscience and its survival along its life spam.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Eliana Melo

This concert didn’t deviate from it, and that is good. It started with Star Wars and Em Creta, through Avanti Marinaio, Planet Lakroon, Panoptical Architecture for Empty Streets in a Silent City, Wil’n’Chic, Be Bop and Sonhos Pop, and, towards the end Freaky Dance and My Funny Ana Lana. A great celebration, no doubt.Is it me or this more thrilling, frantic, alternative as well as pop side of rock as its strongest expression in a time references were few, but, indisputably, remarkable.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Hiliana Melo

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

The Club Meets the Drill

© Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em Expansão

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.

© Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em Expansão

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.

© Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em Expansão

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.

© Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em Expansão

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

Wolf Manhattan, Mouco, Porto, 24.02.2024.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

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

A contagious happiness, as if was thick fog, immediately came upon the audience. Wolf Manhattan’s cheerful music collides with the time period of its creation – during the pandemic – which leads to believe (I may be wrong) it was a very effective way that João Viera, such an alternative pop music chameleon, found to buffer that distressing period. Among the chaos, an artist soul emerges as one of the best medicines for humanity.

We were given an amusing, intelligent performance, created by sound and improvised theatre. There were rabbits, ghosts and aligattors with raving multiple signs in which shaking your butt dancing, grotesque and fantasy go hand in hand with the rocking of an hypnotic merry-go-round.

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

As for Wolf Manhattan’s songs, that join juicy electronic pop, alternative indie-pop-rock with a certain beat, Back to Her, Wanna go Back, Voices in My head and, of course, Sometimes attended the celebration. I would have far more to say,but prefer to tie with João Vieira’s own words to us “I want much more than a concert. A performance, a story, an imaginar, an universe, something different than just a music show.”,grounded, according João, in his be all – David Bowie. And he pulled it off. David Bowie??? – What else!

© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Paulo Carmona

O Salgado Faz Anos… Fest, Maus Hábitos, Porto, 29.01.2022

29/01: Salgado turned nine

10000 Russos © Neno Costa

text: Neno Costa (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota

After a fasting tour of the sun, Salgado’s party returned for its 9th edition at Maus Hábitos. As usual in previous editions the line-up presented an appealing variety of musical proposals, making for choices between the concerts that took place on the three stages of a sold out venue. As usual, the people turned out in droves, filling the night with a friendly atmosphere, tinged with reunions and …beer. The highlight goes to 10000 Russos, a band from Porto that opened the evening, with themes from their latest album Superiertia (2021) in a renewed psychedelic incursion, dense and rich in sound textures and healthy evocations. On the Stockahusen stage, the most breathable, the Gãrgoola were a good surprise, in a shamanic performance that left a taste for more. Salgado Stage crowded, suffocating. In the background, Samuel Úria (Um Gajo Com Pés De Roque Enrole) emerged from the human barrier that prevented progression, and the chords of a well-behaved punk set the audience on fire. Stage change. Inescapable for lovers of full-bodied rock with contagious psychedelia, Gator The Alligator electrified the Super Rock Stage before another good surprise, the creative and irreverent performance of Unsafe Space Garden. Return to Stockhausen stage for O Manipulador, where Manuel Molarinho orchestrated the pedal mattress that unfold and transfigured, with creative singularity, a well-manipulated bass guitar. With Salgado Stage overflowing with Pluto (Manuel Cruz and Peixe), Super Bock stage was an alternative for a dip in emotions unconfined by the punk energy of Galician Kings Of The Beach, closing the set of performances which program had to undergo some readjustments due to circumstances. A note of recognition is required for Maus Hábitos’ workers, for their professionalism and friendliness, on a laborious and particularly demanding night. Happy birthday to Salgado.

Gãrgoola © Telma Mota
Samuel Úria © Telma Mota
Gator The Alligator © Telma Mota

29/01: O Salgado fez nove anos

Unsafe Space Garden © Neno Costa

texto: Neno Costa; fotos: Neno Costa & Telma Mota

Depois de uma volta ao sol de jejum, a festa do Salgado regressou para a sua 9.ª edição nos Maus Hábitos. O programa, como tem sido usual nas edições anteriores, apresentou uma variedade apelativa de propostas musicais, obrigando a escolhas entre os concertos que se desenrolaram nos três palcos de uma casa esgotada dias atrás. Como tem sido hábito, o público acorreu em peso, tingindo a noite com um ambiente simpático, tingido de reencontros e…cerveja. Destaque para os portuenses 10000 russos com temas do seu último álbum, Superiertia (2021), numa incursão psicadélica renovada, densa e rica de texturas sonoras e saudáveis evocações a abrir a noite. No palco Stockahusen, o mais respirável, os Gãrgoola constituíram uma boa surpresa, numa performance xamânica que soube a pouco. O Palco Salgado apinhado, sufocante. Ao fundo, Samuel Úria (Um Gajo Com Pés De Roque Enrole) emergiu da barreira humana que impedia a progressão e os acordes de um punk bem comportando incendiou o público. Mudança de palco. Incontornáveis para os apreciadores de um rock encorpado de psicadelismo contagiante, os Gator The Alligator eletrificaram o Palco Super Rock antes de mais outra boa surpresa, com a atuação criativa e irreverente dos Unsafe Space Garden. Retornou-se ao palco Stockhausen para O Manipulador, onde Manuel Molarinho orquestrou o tapete de pedais que desmultiplicaram e transfiguraram, com singularidade criativa, um baixo bem manipulado. Com o Palco Salgado a transbordar com Pluto (Manuel Cruz e Peixe), o palco Super Bock foi alternativa para um mergulho nas emoções desconfinadas pela energia punk dos galegos Kings Of The Beach, fechando o périplo de atuações cujo programa teve que sofrer alguns reajustes por força das circunstâncias. Impõe-se uma nota de reconhecimento para os trabalhadores dos Maus Hábitos, pelo profissionalismo e simpatia, numa noite laboriosa e particularmente exigente. Parabéns ao Salgado.

O Manipulador © Telma Mota
Pluto © Telma Mota
Kings Of The Beach © Telma Mota