Hi with Missionary Bell by Cass McCombs. Have a nice afternoon.
Sivert Høyem, CCOP, Porto 10.10.2025.
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!
Thalia Zedek Band – Boat Outside Your Window
Hi with Boat Outside Your Window the title song from Thalia Zedek Band’s new album. Have a nice afternoon.
Alex Fernet – Hey Lady
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!
Ricardo Reis Soares – Qualquer Coisa
Hi with Qualquer Coisa by Ricardo Reis Soares. Have a nice afternoon.
Cass McCombs – I Never Dream About Trains
Hi and happy Sunday with another song mentioning trains – I Never Dream About Trains by Cass McCombs.
Ron Sexsmith – When Will The Morning Come
Good morning with our Middle of the Week Song – When Will The Morning Come by Ron Sexsmith.
Bernard Butler – Preaching To The Choir (Live At The Green Note)
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
Bill MacKay, Understage – Rivoli, Porto, 13.09.2024.
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.
Lloyd Cole, Casa da Música, Porto, 28.04.2024.
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.
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 