Good morning with our Middle of the Week Song – A Dwarf In A Tree (A Cautionary Tale) by Duncan Browne.
A Dwarf In A Tree (A Cautionary Tale) is a beautiful song from English singer-songwriter and musician Duncan Browne’s debut album Give Me Take You, originally released in August 1968.
Hi with Missionary Bell by Cass McCombs. Have a nice afternoon.
words: Paulo Carmona (edited by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Paulo Carmona
Sivert Høyem (of Madrugada) possesses an impressive voice with a very rare vocal range in deep tones, very well supported by the diaphragm and perfectly in tune.
He is a man of stories and, more or less, fortunate coincidences with which he captures the audience’s full attention, as they come scented with truth and humor.
Each song is a poetic ode of personal inspiration from something experienced, witnessed, or close. Perhaps that is where his truth and sense of genuine interpretation come from.
The atmosphere felt in each song makes us soar high, and we almost feel a breeze brushing against the skin. It is within the reach of few.
In this intimate solo concert, in which he appears very communicative and friendly, in the third song – Ride On Sisters, and explores his voice between powerful lows and intense, perfect falsettos. Here, Sivert earned the first of several ovations of the night.
Whenever he performs songs from his band – Madrugada – the audience reacts enthusiastically. A good example of this was Majesty, which was sung in full by many of those in the audience. Hollow, On An Island, and even Love vs The World were performed before the announced encore.
Sivert returned to bring us Prisoner, Honey Bee, When Your True Love is Gone, and Moon Landing to end on a high note.
I stayed until the room was practically empty, and there he was, mingling with some of those present. For those on the outside, it really looked like a conversation among friends. Cool!
Hi with Boat Outside Your Window the title song from Thalia Zedek Band’s new album. Have a nice afternoon.
Good morning and good World Music Day with our Middle of the Week Song – Hey Lady by Alex Fernet. Have a good day and let’s dance!
Hi with Qualquer Coisa by Ricardo Reis Soares. Have a nice afternoon.
Hi and happy Sunday with another song mentioning trains – I Never Dream About Trains by Cass McCombs.
Good morning with our Middle of the Week Song – When Will The Morning Come by Ron Sexsmith.
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
Guitar Poetry
words & video by Raquel Pinheiro; photos: João Octávio Peixoto/TMP
To say Bill MacKay’s concert was extraordinary, would be underwhelming. Sublime is a better word. Transcendental, another good one. Those words still don’t do justice to the music, guitar, playing, singing. In fact, being there is the only thing that would do it justice.
Beauty, poetry spoken with an electric guitar as I’ve seldom heard it. Bill sings too, and tells little stories about the songs, however, his visual, sound, poetic mastery of the guitar is the domain of few.
The songs from MacKay’s latest album Locus Land (by the way it’s Terra do Gafanhoto, Bill 🙂 ) gain a different, spiritual, otherworldly dimension live. They become a time within time. A time of gentleness, until the final piece served: Arcadia. Bill stood up to play Arcadia in full, distortion mode adding a sharp dramatic contrast to the tone of the concert.
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 