A weekend full of music (part I)!

Just woke up on what it has to be a lazy Sunday after two days full of music. Here's a summary, divided on two posts, of what we have seen and done the last 48 hours.

24th Barcelona Guitar Festival
As a coincidence, we had a double date on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th with this Festival that during several weeks offers all kind of concerts. Friday was supposed to be a very special gig for me, the first chance to see personal favourites Allo Darlin' live. But unfortunately the night turned out a bit disappointing.

Les Sueques. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The night at BARTS Espai Club, a small but quite pretty venue counted started so promisingly thanks to the good vibes transmitted by the support band Les Sueques, another emerging act of the great label El Genio Equivocado (look for them at the Spanish Indie section of this blog very soon). Songs a bit chaotic, a bit undefined, but full of intrigue, potential and challenge. Pop-punk with a dark, sardonic side (somewhat sad that half of the audience only seemed to be there for the jokes), sharp guitar lines and a quartet with a lot of promise.

Allo Darlin' at BARTS. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

With a venue so packed the space was became a bit uncomfortable, Allo Darlin' started their gig and quickly exposed the contradictions of the night. So many irresistible indiepop songs in their short career, a natural charm and the feeling they were having a good time cannot hide the fact sound was pretty average (only exception of Paul Rains' guitar lines) in particular with thevocals. But that wouldn't have been such an important factor. The problem was, that at least to me, this was one of the best examples I ever suffered of how live music is being ruined by postureo: irritating people that is just there because they think "being indie is in/cool", posers, fakers that just have the feeling they have to be there although they don't really care. I'll post on that soon.

Jane Joyd at Music Hall. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

It was a very different thing the next day at Music Hall. Jane Joyd arrived to Barcelona, amazed us, and confirmed what a great artist she is. Surrounded by a fantastic band (kudos to the drummer, a real beast, the keyboardist and the powerful trumpet) and ignited by her disarming voice, the songs were a real impact. Sure, the music proposal can be "too much", and that intensity could be a bit extreme for a full album. This is not the sort of music you are looking to listen each day, it requires some will from the listener. But if you do, you'll be greatly rewarded. Don't miss the chance to see Jane Joyd live.

You can read the second part of this post, on the Record Store Day held yesterday, coming right now here!

Pegasvs, machines going pop in Barcelona

Pegasvs (+ Y). Music Hall, Barcelona, April 12th

Pegasvs in action. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

This concert review is going to be quite biased, as electronic and krautrock music are not my field of (modest) expertise. So me being part of the audience can only be explained by three factors: someone "pushing" me to go, a ridiculously cheap price (reasonable prices, more tickets sold, see?), and of course, the highly addictive Pegasvs homonym debut album. 

Y, support act of the night.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

On a quite full Music Hall (is a very small venue, but still quite remarkable considering there were many concerts going on in Barcelona), showing the considerable buzz Pegasvs are making with their record, the night started with the (gig, performance, session?, sorry for my lack of knowledge) of the support act Y (seems it was their debut live). During a set that lasted more than 30 minutes, this local duo sounded like a mixture between Kraftwerk and the annoyingly ubiquitous Chromatics, thanks to the also annoying "Drive", to me. But again, electronic is not an area where I can make a lot of comparisons.

Luciana della Villa
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

After Y, the turn arrived for Pegasvs, officially presenting their LP live. But for a show advertised as an special occasion, Sergio Pérez and Luciana della Villa their performance wasn't that special. Songs were executed with precision, sounding very close to the album versions. For a non-electronic music fan, that was great, because what makes "Pegasvs" a fantastic album is that behind the Motorik rhythms and machines, the tunes sound pop, with explosive and fascinating melodies like "La Melodía del Afilador" (amazing), "Sobre las Olas" or "Atlántico". But it was also a bit disappointing, as their technically irreproachable performance was quite flat in terms of connection with the audience, giving credit to the ones saying electronic is cold. But that's something that can be corrected, experience will solve it. And it's way more easier when, like Pegasvs, you have the songs. See you again pretty soon!

The Bright, third win by knock-out!

The Bright. Music Hall, Barcelona, March 3rd

The Bright at Music Hall.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Being this the third review of a concert from The Bright you should know by now this blog loves them. Saw them twice on 2011, first in the intimacy of a FNAC store, having just discovered their album (I insist, check "Soundtrack for a Winter's Tale", you won't regret it), and left me longing for more. A naturally charming couple, with disarmingly honest and powerful folk-rock. The second show arrived in November, at Sidecar. Despite repeating the duo format, this was a proper gig, proving that besides songs, Myriam and Aníbal have the needed live presence.

Myriam at Music Hall
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

So, after two concerts, was there anything new to offer? Yes sir, a lot more than I could imagine. Finally the duo arrived to Barcelona with a full-band format. The place, Music Hall, proved to be a pretty venue with a good sounding, and the promise of new songs were incentives enough to be excited for. But the start wasn't easy.

You can have a small audience but succeed. But having a small, very cold and distant audience seems too big adversities against any band. And, at least during the first songs, The Bright struggled to battle that sort of apathy among the public. Which is frustrating, because "Rocking Chair" or "Losing Your Way" were amazing in their electric versions, and the new tune "Rotten Crops" is among their best so far.

Playing the haunting "Eyes"
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

But this couple from León have "that something" and they were relentless in their effort to connect the hesitant public, using "Private Garden", "Coffee and Wine", "Waving Flag" and "Soundtrack", that is, heavy-fire, to reach the halfway point of the gig. And to round off this turning point of the gig, they offered a wonderful rendition of a Bob Dylan's song. The audience finally showed up. The Bright "rescued" them.

The setlist of the gig
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

From there on, the concert vibe changed and the Bright offered gem after gem, showing us their diverse but equally brilliant music. From the stunning rendition of Neil Young's "Cowgirl in the Sand" (it might sound like an heresy to many, but what a difference is hearing it from Myriam's' voice), to the playful versions of Johnny Cash and Led Zeppelin, the rockiers "Dirty Town" and "They'll Go Away" or the mesmerizing "Eyes", taking benefit of the silence on the venue, to create a moment of haunting beauty.

So, third time, third knock-out win by The Bright!