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.
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.
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #64 – The Grandeur of Ghosts edition can now be listened to on mixcloud. It is a good soundtrack for today, 25 de Abril (April 25), is the day my country stopped being a dictatorship 50 years ago. April 25 is also Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day. The programme includes Portuguese songs connected to 25 de Abril, an instrumental track from Mick Harvey’s Waves of Anzac and other anti war songs, instrumentals and poems from Siegfried Sassoon and Federico Garcia Lorca. You can read more about the programme here: https://mondobizarremagazine.com/2024/04/21/amazing-songs-other-delights-64-the-grandeur-of-ghosts-edition-by-raquel-pinheiro-radio-ye-ye-monday-22nd/
Tracklist: 01 – Johnny Mandel – Suicide is Painless (from M.A.S.H.) 02 – Credence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son 03 – The Cranberries – Zombie 04 – Golpe de Estado – Rev 25 05 – JP Simões – Mudam-se os Tempos Mudaram-se as Vontades feat. Ruca Rebordão, Nuno Ferreira, Márcio Pinto, Pedro Pinto (José Mario Branco song) 06 – Mick Harvey – Vietnam 07 – José Afonso – Grândola Vila Morena 08 – Vivian Kubrick – Ruins (Full Metal Jacket soundtrack) 09 – New Order – Love Vigilantes 10 – Jimi Hendrix – Machine Gun (live at the Filmore East,1st night, 31.12.1969) 11 – Jacques Brel – La colombe 12 – Siegfried Sassoon – Suicide in the Trenches read by Stephen Graham 13 – Paulo de Carvalho – E Depois do Adeus 14 – The Libertines – Shiver 15 – Federico Garcia Lorca – Balada de la gran guerra by Joan Mora 16 – Amália Rodrigues – Zé Soldado, Soldadinho 17 – R.E.M. – Orange Crush 18- Elvis Costello – Shipbuilding 19 – Tom Waits – Day After Tomorrow 20 – Manic Street Preachers – Suicide is Painless, Theme for M.A.S.H.
The Grandeur of Ghosts by Siegfried Sassoon
When I have heard small talk about great men I light my two candles; climb to bed; then Consider what was said; and put aside What Such-a-one remarked, and Someone-else replied.
They have spoken lightly of my deathless friends, (Lamps for my gloom, hands guiding where I stumble,) Quoting, for shallow conversational ends, What Shelley shrilled, what Blake once wildly muttered…
How can they use such names and be not humble ? I have sat silent; angry at what they uttered. The dead bequeathed them life; the dead have said What these can only memorise and mumble.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Daniela Tedim
One thing is certain – Something new will happen. The Man is in constant innovation. Is that cool? … It is. In this particular instance it is. There is a coherence in the manner and presentation in synchrony with the idyosincrasies of mi artist-performer. It is in aesthetics and the imaginary that Paulo Furtado’s art of music takes a different short cut, but the vanishing point between rock’n’roll evens goes away and returns to him. A dynamic present on Zeitgeist – the new album played at this concert.
The rebelious gentleman presented a well structured setlist, starting with Everyone, One More Time, Good girl and Naked Blues, wandering between the before and the now in a frenzy of contagious emotions that seethed throughout the room with shades of insolent eroticism that insists on watering our garden on a pouring rainy day. Motorcycle Boy was also played, and, towards, the end Fix of Rock’n’roll.
Very well accompanied on stage by Filipe Rocha (bass), Cabrita (sax), Mike Ghost (drums) and Sara Badalo (vocals) who, with her remarkable and sensual voice has a highlighted role on Zeitgeist. The show never stops because there is no time to waste. We’re on the last round and hips haven’t stop moving at the rhythm of such incendiary rock’n’roll. Guests Ray and Best Youth join the party adding colour to the scenery.
Already among the audience Paulo Furtado punchily asks what is supreme glory. Until someone gets the right answer: Love! He ends up upon the back bar. No one wants a K.O. We all want a mutually agreed and quite sweaty satisfaction. I maintain this Legendary Tigerman is our most genuine case of pure, raw, é o nosso caso mais genuíno de rock’n’roll, even on the latest record in which keyboards and samplers a la carte are enequivally present. With the bar raised quite high, in my view, he remains a rock’n’roll guru. Legendary, no doubt. Vive le Rock!
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #62 – The Spring Wonders edition airs Monday, 25th, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com (or on the app).
It is a simple, gentle programme with songs that evoke Spring even several of them aren’t Spring songs per se.Some of the ongs are just out – Einstürzende Neubauten’s Ist Ist – one is not even out, therefore the enigmatic “?”, others are from various decades.
I like the feeling and emotions of the chosen songs put together. I hope you like it too.
Tracklist: 01 – The Learning Station – Spring Is Here 02 – Bill MacKay – Glow Drift 03 – Erica Buettner – Our Most Fragile Things 04 – Candelion feat. Cody Francis – I’m Thinking of You 05 – Laura Veirs – Lake Swimming 06 – Combustible Edison – Hot and Bothered 07 – Einstürzende Neubauten – Ist Ist (Rudy Shadow percussion version) 08 – Jasmine Minks – Soul Station 09 – The Gentle Spring – Dodge The Rain 10 – Pernice Brothers – The Ballad of Bjorn Borg 11 -? – ? 12 – Divine Comedy – Perfect Lovesong 13 – They May Be Giants – Birdhouse in Your Soul 14 – The Hit Parade – Apple Tree 15 – Brian Eno & John Cale – Lay May Love 16 – The Beatles – Blue Blue Sky 17- The Smiths – There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #61 – The It Is All New edition a programme filled with novelties can now be listened to on mixcloud.
Monday, March 11th, 2024, 3-4pm (gmt) Running time: 60:01:12
Tracklist: 01 – The Black Keys – I Forgot To Be Your Lover 02 – Been Stellar – Passing Judgment 03 – Bodega – Tarkovski 04 – Crumbs – DIY SOS 05 – Blind Zero – Running Back To You 06 – P. S. Lucas – Black Sand 07 – James – Our World 08 – Pete Astor – Chinese Cadillac 09 – The Sex Organs – Sex Shop 10 – La Luz – Strange World 11 – Wolf Manhattan – You Can’t Always Win 12 – Nourished By Time – Hand On Me 13 – Girl and Girl – Hello 14 – Six Organs of Admittance – The Mission 15 – Liam Gallagher & John Squire – Make It Up As You Go Along 16 – JP Simões – Mariazinha 17 – The Libertines – Night Of The Hunter 18 – Corridor – Mon Angent
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights #61 – The It Is All New edition airs Monday, 11h, 3-4pm (gmt) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com
This edition is a programme filled with 18 new, newish songs like You Can’t Always Win Wolf Manhattan single from the second upcoming album, and a cover of a decades long Portuguese song, Mariazinha by José Mário Branco here interpreted by JP Simões.
As is often the case with my radio shows, the selection is eclectic, from established to new names, from Portuguese to American songs.
Tracklist: 01 – The Black Keys – I Forgot To Be Your Lover 02 – Been Stellar – Passing Judgment 03 – Bodega – Tarkovski 04 – Crumbs – DIY SOS 05 – Blind Zero – Running Back To You 06 – P. S. Lucas – Black Sand 07 – James – Our World 08 – Pete Astor – Chinese Cadillac 09 – The Sex Organs – Sex Shop 10 – La Luz – Strange World 11 – Wolf Manhattan – You Can’t Always Win 12 – Nourished By Time – Hand On Me 13 – Girl and Girl – Hello 14 – Six Organs of Admittance – The Mission 15 – Liam Gallagher & John Squire – Make It Up As You Go Along 16 – JP Simões – Mariazinha 17 – The Libertines – Night Of The Hunter 18 – Corridor – Mon Argent
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 