JAMES TAYLOR STEAMROLLERED AT VIVEROS

JT on his Guitar
Signing Autographs in the interval
JT and the Band

When I told my Spanish friends I was going to see James Taylor perform live in the city they seemed unimpressed. But I wasn't fooled, I know this deadpan expression well; they didn't know who the hell I was talking about. I was a bit worried however. If they didn't know who JT was, did this mean I would be sitting with 3,000 Brits and the odd tourist? This lack of knowledge about one of the most influential musicians of the 20/21st century (JT has collaborated and performed with Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, who used to be one of his backing singers, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Neil Young, Carole King - who is also back on tour - et al), is staggering. He's been around forever and, despite the ups and downs of earlier years, this current European 'Down Home' Tour could be straight from the 60's. When he walked quietly onto the stage to thunderous applause (mostly Spanish, I was relieved to see), he seemed vaguely surprised to see us. His band, Steve Gadd, Larry Goldings, Jimmy Johnson, Michael Landau, Kate Markowitz and Arnold McCuller were all dressed in the 60's uniform of jeans and T-shirt. All except the remarkable Andrea Zonn, the sweet-voiced fiddle player, who wore a shapeless black dress and sandals. They looked as though they'd come to play at a small town benefit.

As Taylor began to sing, his voice was a bit shaky. He's been on the road since April; was he already fatigued? But it didn't last and he gave us what we wanted: 'Sweet baby James', 'Fire and Rain', 'You Got a Friend'; the familiar numbers came streaming over the warm, appreciative Valencian audience.

Live, he's amazing. His band unfailingly excellent, the vocal harmonies lump-in-the throat wonderful. He was relaxed and amusing, joking with audience when they yelled for him to sing their favourite songs, picking up the list from his feet and telling them where it was on the schedule - and when a heavily-accented Spaniard yelled 'I love you James', he paused and volleyed with 'Gracias,Señor'. Even during the 20 minute interlude he stayed put signing autographs and T-shirts, smiling that gentle JT smile.

The highlight of the evening was his rendition of 'Steamroller Blues'. First written in 1970, where it appeared on the album 'Sweet Baby James', this current arrangement was astounding, bringing the entire audience to its feet. Now he allowed us to hear just how extraordinary his vocal range is and, of course, we knew all the words. In fact, the first time Elvis heard 'Steamroller Blues' he put it straight into his repertoire and sang it time after time until his death in 1977.

We came running to see him again .... but was it just a little too understated ... a little too 'warm and folksy'? I, for one, would have liked a few more new songs but I suspect I'd have been outnumbered. The audience wanted familiarity and this he gave – in spades. A truly memorable experience.
Barbara O'Neill

Yann Tiersen Live in Viveros Gardens

On a sticky night in Viveros multi-instrumentally-talented Yann Tiersen, showed he’s not just a one-trick pony. Despite repeated bellows from the audience of “Amelie, Amelie”, the film for which he wrote and performed the soundtrack, and which made his name, Tiersen didn’t play one single track from the movie. Instead he played a totally new set that, funnily enough, was in some ways better because it perfectly suited the style of the audience, which was mainly 20-30 year-olds of a wide range of nationalities. It was a shame not to hear his wonderfully atmospheric accordion playing, but the stunning way he handled a pair of guitars, violin and keyboard show just how brilliant a musician he is.

From the moment Tiersen stepped on stage he had us all in his hands. It was the first time we’ve been to concert at Viveros and didn’t know what to expect, which meant that we could be surprised by anything. And we were! The ambience swayed between mellow and electric, which showed its effect on the audience, where pockets of people spent the whole ninety minutes lost in their own dancing world.

Viveros is fantastic place to have chosen to show Tiersen’s talents, because it’s not a formal venue, and walking through the gardens toward the stage built up the anticipation of a great concert to come – and we weren’t let down!

Jemma and Sophie Prendergast

James Taylor, Anastacia and Yann Tiersen live in Valencia

Valencia's Feria de Julio rolls on this week with great concerts in Viveros gardens by the Río Túria. Tonight Anastacia, who has sold millions of albums world-wide, takes the stage for what promises to be a powerful performance. Friday, Pianist and the composer of the beautiful soundtrack to the cult movie Amelie, Yann Tiersen plays his haunting music.
Saturday night it's the turn of the legendary James Taylor playing music from throughout his long and illustrious career, this man is always great live!
The Last Sunday in July falls this weekend which means only one thing - the Battle of the flowers - let the marigolds fly! Followed by a Mascletà of colours in the riverbed.
Next week, 27 july the FIlmoteca D'Estiu starts, showing Original version films under the stars in the riverbed in front of the Palau de la Música, The African Queen opens the season at 22.30- but get along early and have a light supper and a drink for just a little extra on your ticket.

MIGUEL BOSÉ WOWS VALENCIA IN VIVEROS

The queue straggled almost all the way around the park.  We walked to the end and then shuffled all the way back to the entrance. Was it hot?  It was.  It was also steamy, close, sticky...  and did I mention hot?  Once inside, our positions taken, everywhere I turned I could see fans (abanicas) flapping furiously while the aficionados (fans) stuffed baguettes into their mouths, followed by copious amounts of beer and water.   
Around 10 o'clock the support band 'The Cabriolets' burst on to the stage fronted by a genderless vision in a black, shiny suit and short, slicked-back hair reminiscent of that asexual pop group from the 80's that no one can remember the name of.  Yet there was a kind of closer familiarity ... something I just couldn't place ... but I let myself be pulled along by their thunderous energy (the base guitar amp was banging against my rib cage so hard I thought I might go into cardiac arrest)hoping some fleeting memory would return. I watched carefully; a great voice, definitely male ... or was it? The jacket came off to reveal a black bra... a-ha so .... then a new song .. a lot of energetic, suggestive dancing... uh-huh .... then, a snap of elastic and gone was the bra.  Mmmm ... man breasts or .... ?  A moment later the trousers disappeared to reveal black briefs.  The crowd shrieked with delight.  Could it be ...? I wasn't sure .... finally, with a theatrical flourish the briefs were discarded to thunderous applause ... and before us stood a being in a beautifully crafted flesh-coloured thong. What the hell was I looking at? So familiar, yet ...
As a warm-up band they were pretty good, although the Valencians, as usual, talked through most of it with the occasional recollection that they'd come to a concert.  Of course, we were only waiting for Miguel Bosé.  The Cabriolets bid us farewell and the stage darkened followed by the usual flurry of shadowy figures silently re-arranging the props for what seemed an age.  Without warning a dazzling light appeared. The crowd roared. He was here.  
Miguel Bosé is an accomplished showman but then he's been around a long time.  He has made countless albums, the last with the likes of Ricky Martin, Michael Stipe and Laura Pausini and he should be a huge international star by now but, just maybe, he doesn't want to be.  His movements are entirely original and we, his fans, would recognise them anywhere; the arms moving from side to side, the expressive hands, the hips, that amazing, wolfish grin.  
He opened with 'Amante Bandido' and like children being given their favourite fairy story we roared our approval.  We knew the words and we sang along, loudly and, surprisingly, melodically. Suddenly, there she was! Who is The Cabriolets frontman?  Bimba Bosé: the androgynous niece of Miguel.  And now, here they were, erupting into 'Como un Lobo'.  We yelled, we air-clapped into the humid night air and we sang along; 'pasa paso' has never been bellowed with such velocity. 
The show came to an end sooner than expected but, of course, we weren't going to let him off so lightly, despite the unmistakeable hum of stale deodorant in the stifling 28º.  He came back for two ‘encores’ and then another.  Bimba returned to lend her weight to an already memorable performance and still we wanted more. 
Now gone midnight I didn't know whether it was sweat or tears running down my face ...but finally it was over and with the peculiar orderliness of Spanish crowds, we made our way back through the park for a final glass of wine in The Alameda; the perfect end to a perfect evening.   Thank you Valencia. For all your faults you certainly know how to stage a great concert.
BARBARA O'NEILL

Chambao live in Valencia review

Idylic is what you could call Chambao's live concert at the excellent feria de julio in the Jardines Real (Viveros) last night. A lightly lit pathway up to the stage, a bar with tables and chairs and a huge stage with a comfy poof for la mari, and her band surrounding her. Despite the light shower of rain that we were served, the weather was perfect, warm with a light breeze, and the setting was perfect. Full of their adoring fans, a mix of bohemian and hippy life loving Spanish and morrocans, the indie/arabic/rap/flamencan band gave their all for a full 2 hours. The feria de julio is always beautifully organised, and this year they really have hit the spot with an amazing line up and patient and understanding staff. We really are looking forward to the rest of july. Our highlight of the night was watching a beautiful new mummy with the tiniest baby, breastfeeding as she sung along to la maris famous song Poquito a poquito, it just shows, in Valencia, you can do anything...

Opera in Viveros Gardens, Valencia

It was a night at the opera on a sultry Saturday evening in the lovely Viveros Gardens in Valencia. A night of the 'best ofs', All your favourite Arias sung by some great Pro (Semi-Pro?) soloists and a good orchestra. All conducted by someone who looked suspiciously like Gene Wilder. Of course, it wasn't him, but curiously, there was no printed program or any mention anywhere in the venue or on the program of who any of them were. Having searched around, we think it might have been the State Opera of Bulgaria.
We discovered a new (to us) drink, Limon Granizada and Beer Clara (shandy) - discovered by our good friends, the Roddises on a previous jaunt to Viveros to see Coppelia.
The rain came midway through the second half of the concert and many of the audience did a runner, shame! Most of us had umbrellas and some, pictured above, used alternative methods of shelter!