Wednesday, 26 July 2023
Tuesday, 25 July 2023
Alaskalaska @ Hard Club, Porto, 22.07.2023.
 |
| © Marcos Leal/Mondo Bizarre Magazine |
words: Marcos Leal (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Marcos Leal
Londoners Alaskalaska debuted in Portugal last Saturday Night in a single date on Hard Club, in Porto.
The wait for the concert, scheduled for 9:30pm, but starting about10pm with an unannounced opening act, was spent between drinks, cigarettes and conversation. As a warm-up, Black Sombrero, from Gaia, played some songs characterized by a more direct rock sound in the vein of Queens of the Stone Age or Foo Fighters. They were well received by the audience that made them feel welcome, despite some errors in the execution of the songs, taken with ease.
One more cigarette and a drink while waiting for Alaskalaska. The quintet, formerly a sextet presented their album Still Life (2022) opening with Growing Up Pains (Unni’s Song). The song, with a beginning and slow progression served as a good introduction for what was to follow. Alaskalaska has members with a background in pop and jazz and their sound comes from this combination of different influences described by themselves "art dream-pop". From what war heard, they’re not far from the description.
The concert was mild, but engaging in its jazz-infused pop and R&B touches, never boring, never predictable. Without major interruptions or interactions with the audience Alaskalaska maintained a great performance, proving to be very good live. In the short interventions between songs, due to the declared shyness of vocalist Lucinda whose father said he was Portuguese, she said she was very happy to play for the first time in Porto and to thank the way the whole band was received by the concert promoter.
After a setlist includedind songs from their two original albums in which main singles, such as Rise And Shine and Monster and Pressure could not be left out, Lucinda announces the last song of the night, Still Life, the title track of their new album. An announcement that provoked a reaction from the public signalling they wanted more.
Still Life, a song that made those attending dance, was the farewell to Porto’s audience. As Lucinda had said, “was a good one”.
Lucinda, John-Duarte, Fraser Rieley and Co., left under claps from an audience waiting a never happened encore.
 |
| © Marcos Leal/Mondo Bizarre Magazine |
Monday, 24 July 2023
Saturday, 22 July 2023
Wednesday, 19 July 2023
Monday, 17 July 2023
Sunday, 16 July 2023
Amazing Songs & Other Delights - Summer Break | Repeats
 |
My Amazing Songs & Other Delights is on a Summer break. New shows will return in September. Until then they are repeats every other Monday (starting tomorrow, Monday 18th), 3-4pm (gmt+1) on Yé Yé Radio: https://yeyeradio.com/ or on the app.
All previous shows: https://www.mixcloud.com/infoyeye/playlists/amazing-songs-other-delights/
Wednesday, 12 July 2023
Sunday, 9 July 2023
Melvins, Hard Club, Porto, 08.07.2023.
 |
| © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota |
words: Neno Costa (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota
According to Cicero’s expression that “men are like wines, age souring the bad, and bettering the good” applies with full propriety to the Melvins, as attested by their stopover in Porto, as part of the 40th Anniversary Tour. It is not the first time that the North American trio has called the turning of the hourglass to christen their tours; the 25 and 30 years of career deserve similar reference, suggesting a balance that, far from throwing them into any nostalgic bedlam, underlines the freshness displayed on stage and the musical richness of an unavoidable legacy that contaminated much of the most interesting that sprouted in the metallic territories and their substitutes, from Nirvana to Tool, through Soundgarden and Mike Patton.
© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota
With the main room of Hard Club crowded with a generous generational range of attentive ears, a far from innocent Take On Me” by A-Ah (1985) was heard as an introduction to a pedagogical and electrifying journey that revisiting albums such as the highly acclaimed Bullhead (1991), Houdini (1993) or (A)Senile Animal (2006), among other gems of their vast career. Like a magician of the decibels, Buzz Osborne wore his mystical robe in a pervasive performance, with voice and guitar in flawless symbiosis, with the melodic thunder of the prodigious accomplice of the early hours, drummer Dale Crover and the most recent acquisition (2015) by the fun and talented bassist Steven McDonald. The Melvins' generous and well-articulated menu made the walls of a space that asked for expansion sweat in the face of the overflowing energy of an irreproachable performance that did not disappoint the audience that, by the end of the evening, only carried a single frustration, the price of the beer.
© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota
Saturday, 8 July 2023
Friday, 7 July 2023
We Are Scientists, CCOP, Porto, 05.07.2023.
 |
| © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota |
words: Marcos Leal (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota
Many years went by after We Are Scientists auspicious debut album With Love And Squalor (2006) with the hit Nobody Moves, Nobody Gets Hurt. However, never reaching the success of some of their contemporary peers and, despite some albums with relative success, as time went by they lost relevance. That could be seen from the reduced human frame present at the auditorium last Wednesday night, highlighting the lost hype of yesteryear.
While having a drink and waiting for the band the doubt hovered … what would We Are Scientists had to offer in 2023?
The concert started lukewarm, but pleasantly, with a song from the new album Lobes (2023), Lucky Just To Be Here, in a way of welcoming the public from Porto who timidly approached the stage, followed by No Wait At Five Years and Contact High, more recent songs from the band's portfolio. It was necessary to wait for the fourth song of the night to go back to the beginning of their career to listen to Great Escape, a song from their first album, which provoked quite enthusiastic reactions from the audience in theirs 30s and over, in a kind of nostalgia meeting. But, it was much more than that. From then onward it was a sequence of catchy indie songs with danceable and colorful post-punk tones, with Chris Cain's pulsating groove basslines, the basis on which many of the band's songs are based and which, together with Keith Murray's guitar create excellent dynamics.
.jpg)
© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota
In addition to the musical sequence that oscillating between older and more recent songs, those more recent songs demonstrating the new material is very well achieved and works very well live, it was evident that more than musical and creative dynamics, the great chemistry between Chris and Keith who, between songs, did small “stand-up” sessions, in their very American way of speaking, playing and interacting with the audience, drawing reactions and smiles. Many of them animated Americans who danced and made the party and Chris thanked their presence, after thanking the Portuguese attending.
At a certain point, members of the audience offered them tonic ports because in one of those conversations between songs they praised the drink. Before the first stage exit came the band's most successful song, Nobody Moves, Nobody Gets Hurt, which got everyone moving and singing along with the band. On the way back, they played four more songs with great energy making them move to the middle of the audience to dance – said energy delivered throughout the concert. A beautiful final stretch that dispelled any doubts that existed before the concert. We Are Scientists proved to be in excellent shape both in presence and performance, as well as creatively. A super competent and contagious concert in which the band revealed great delivery, despite the reduced audience. Clearly demonstrating that they haven't lost the pleasure of playing and making music, even if they haven't achieved great success. They deserved more.
© Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota
Wednesday, 5 July 2023
Monday, 3 July 2023
Warpaint, Hard Club, Porto, 30.06.2023.
 |
| © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota |
words: Paulo Carmona (freely translated by Raquel Pinheiro); photos: Telma Mota
They are four. At times, when it comes to vocal harmonies, they seem like one. Other times they look like two blocks that complement each other perfectly. A rhythm section (bass and drums) and a melodic section (guitars and vocals). Bass and drums deeply mark Warpaint's songs given their density. Jenny and Stella are cohesive and impose very interesting dynamics on the different tempos of the songs. Emily and Theresa, for their part, are extremely melodic on the guitars in which the notes are distinguished one by one in the beautiful harmonies created by the instruments. Perhaps it is here, in Warpaint’s songs that the so-called dream pop has its most striking expression, all else is indie rock'n'roll in its softest essence.
The Californian band presented at Hard Club an increasing setlist: Stars, Champion, Hips, Bees, Krimson, Undertow, New Song. All in that atmospheric nostalgia so characteristic of Warpaint, like a hand rocking the cradle. The audience enjoyed it and applauded to the point where the band members felt at home with it, which made them loose more and open up into jokes and games. A hand fan came out of a saving hand from the middle of the audience for Jenny to cool off. Soon after, she waved it at Stella's face, who effusively thanked her for the gesture. The folks liked it, of course they did. How not to? It's fun!
Warpaint returned to the stage after a highly requested and sweaty encore to treat the crowd to Without; Nudes and Beetles drewing a valiant ovation. There is no doubt that the girls have a remarkable following of fans that shows itself.
The only thing that spoiled the party a little bit was the sultry heat reigning inside the Hard Club’s room. Almost unbearable. The exit door looked like a mirage in the middle of the desert.
The night air brought us the expected relief and the cold liquid of a drink running down the throat did the rest. Everything a Friday Summer night needs. What else …
 |
| © Mondo Bizarre Magazine/Telma Mota |
Sunday, 2 July 2023
Amazing Songs & Other Delights #49 - The Last Ride of the Season edition by Raquel Pinheiro, Monday July 3rd, 3-4pm (gmt + 1) @ Yé Yé Radio
Amazing Songs & Other Delights #49 - The Last Ride of the Season airs tomorrow Monday 3rd, 3-4pm (gmt+1) on Yé Yé Radio: yeyeradio.com/(or on the app).
As the name says, it is the last show of the season (Amazing Songs & Other Delights will be on repeats until mid September, returning with a new edition September 18th).
The selection is ecletic in genres, sounds and time periods, somehow giving the effect of a ride on a giant wheel, on a rollercoaster on in another amusement at a funfair.
It as vibrant, interesting, a little peculiar, odd even, shades, that make for a perfect season finale on a hot July day.
Tracklist:
01 - Albert Hammond Jr - Old Man
02 - Damien Jurado - Magic Number
03 - David Christian And The Pinecone Orchestra - The Ballad for the Button-Downs
04 - Anjimile - Father
05 - Death in Vegas feat. Liam Gallagher - Scorpio Rising
06 - Ethan P. Flynn - Abandon All Hope
07 - Faith No More - Evidence
08 - Las Robertas - Steet Feelings
09 - Lael Neale - White T-Shirt
10 - Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers - It's Not Enough (remastered)
11 - P.J. Harvey - I Inside the Old I Dying
12 - Sweeping Promises - Good Living Is Coming for You
13 - Lucinda Williams - Stolen Moments
14 - HotWax - A Thousand Times
15 - Me Lost Me - Heat!
16 - Sonic Youth - The Burning Spear
17 - The Good, The Bad & The Queen - History Song
All previous shows: mixcloud.com/infoyeye/stream | mixcloud.com/MondoBizarreMagazine/
[painting: Faiground, Radosveta Zhelyazkova, 2019]