Mid Sussex Music Hall ( Hassocks) £20
Tenía18 años cuando escuché por primera vez a Mark Eitzel, en una cassete grabada por mi amigo Mikel Olaiz, quien por aquella época ya acogía en su casa de la Plaza de la Cruz una creciente y cada vez más impresionante muestra de documentos sonoros. En un lado de la cassete grabó el primer disco en solitario de Mark Eitzel, una joya en directo testimonio de un concierto pequeño que tituló Love Songs. Aquella voz joven por entonces, unica y potente produjo un efecto que ha perdurado hasta ahora y ha sido una pieza importante en mi cada vez mas desconstruida identidad musical. Pero es verdad que unx va eligiendo las voces que permanecen a lo largo de los años, a través de países, de casas, de las amargas pérdidas y de los momentos mágicos. La voz de Mark Eitzel ha permanecido en mi tiempo y espacios, pero fue desde que llegue a Inglaterra que sus canciones han tendido a dominar muchos de mis paseos y muchos ratos en casa. Don’t be a stranger es mi disco favorito, aunque me gusta absolutamente todo lo que ha hecho. Sus letras, inteligentes, valientes, hermosas, duras, acogedoras son el acompañamiento de invierno perfecto para almas resueltamente desorientadas en Brighton.
Así que escuchar en vivo a Mark Eitzel, junto a Javi ( otra de las voces que ha permanecido a través de los países, las casas, los momentos mágicos y las amargas perdidas ) y Ruto fue, de nuevo, transcendental. Simbólicamente, la primera canción que tocó fue “ Outside this Bar” de aquella primera cinta que me grabó Mikel O. y no pude contener las lágrimas hasta la tercera canción.
And outside this bar there's no one alive
Outside this bar how does anyone survive
Together you and me
You know we'll never destroy this world
See'mon baby I wish we could destroy this world
Outside this bar
Together you and me turn this quiet night into silence
Together we'll turn this love into violence
El concierto fue mágico a pesar de algunas equivocaciones que le llevaron a decir “soy un fraude”. El, lo más honesto que he visto en un escenario. Mark conto varias anécdotas divertidas, una sobre los líos en los que su sordera le mete cuando abrio para Bob Mould. Finalmente hizo un vis y creo que todos nos quedamos satisfechos pero con demasiadas ganas de verlo pronto otra vez.
Mención para unos hermanos que viajaron desde Newcastle hasta Hassocks (un pueblo a pocos kilómetros al norte de Brighton) para escuchar a Mark, y a una amplia comunidad gay y bear que también disfruta del concierto.
Apologies in advance for the clumsy translation.
I was probably 17 or 18 years old when I heard Mark Eitzel for the first time. This was on a cassette recorded by my friend Mikel Olaiz, who at that time had already begun to host in his house in Plaza de la Cruz a growing and increasingly impressive sample of sound documents, mainly in the form of vinyl. On one side of the cassette, he recorded Mark Eitzel's first solo album, a live gem, a testimony of a small gig that he titled Love Songs. That young voice at the time, unique and powerful, produced an effect that has lasted until now and has been an important piece in my increasingly deconstructed musical identity. But it is true that one person is choosing the voices that remain throughout the years, through countries, through houses, through bitter losses and magical moments. Mark Eitzel's voice has remained in my time and space, but it was since I arrived in England that his songs have tended to dominate many of my walks and many moments at home. Don't be a stranger is my favourite album, although I absolutely like everything he has done. His smart, brave, beautiful, tough, cosy lyrics are the perfect winter accompaniment to resolutely clueless souls in Brighton.
So listening to Mark Eitzel live, along with Javi (another of the voices that have remained despite countries, houses, magical moments and bitter losses) and Ruto was, once again, transcendental. Symbolically, the first song he played was “Outside this Bar” from that first tape that Mikel O. recorded for me. I couldn't hold back my tears until the third song.
And outside this bar there's no one alive
Outside this bar how does anyone survive
Together you and me
You know we'll never destroy this world
See'mon baby I wish we could destroy this world
Outside this bar
Together you and me turn this quiet night into silence
Together we'll turn this love into violence
The concert was magical despite some mistakes that led him to say "I'm a fraud." He, the most honest thing I've ever seen on stage. Mark told several amusing anecdotes, one about the trouble his deafness got him into when he opened for Bob Mould. He finally made a visit and I think we were all satisfied but very much looking forward to seeing him again soon.
I have to mention two brothers who travelled from Newcastle to Hassocks (a town a few kilometres north of Brighton) to listen to Mark, and a large gay and bear community that also enjoys the concert.
#15 Mark Eitzel