My first gig of 2012 happened at CCB (Centro Cultural de Belém) with the incredible Portuguese band The Gift, where the band gave a sold out double date - February 16th and 17th - I went to the last one.
I’ve never been to CCB before – at least to this beautiful auditorium.
On the show, I was able to realize what Salvador from YCWCB said, on the interview the band gave us, about how much architecture could influence the music performance.
I was able to see the band on a summer performance last year – they were very good, full of energy but it was unfair because most people weren’t really paying attention.
With this show people were there for The Gift and for their music and that made all the difference.
The artists that were part of this amazing gig were: The Gift – Sónia Tavares (vocals), Nuno Gonçalves (vocals, keyboards, programming), John Gonçalves (bass, keyboards) and Miguel Ribeiro (guitars, keyboards) and the guest artists: Mário Barreiros (drums), Paulo Praça (guitars) and Israel Costa Pereira (guitars, keyboards).
The Gift’s show was divided in two parts (if you don’t mind I would prefer to call them acts): The first act was dedicated to Primavera – their most recent work – including La Terraza, Les Tulipes de Mon Jardin and several instrumentals, very well played instrumentals like Variação sobre Primavera I and Variação sobre Primavera III and the second act was about Explode promising more colour, dance and energy contrasting with the calm, serenity and somehow more classic Primavera (at least that was my interpretation).
The first act (it sounds more theatrical, way more beautiful when called act) can be described as acoustic thanks to the intimacy and closeness we could feel from the band.
They also included an “old” song Fácil de Entender where every single person (a sold out CCB auditorium) sang with everything they had and made it very worth it.
After almost an hour, the Primavera act ended with the song that gave name (and inspiration) to their new album presented on this part (released on January 2012 and curiously recorded in ten days on CCB).
After 15 minutes of break – the second act, mostly composed by Explode, was completely different. It was full of colour, beauty and will of sharing happiness and music.
Explode is the perfect soundtrack for life. Full of joy and enthusiasm it was really incredible to see how different their interpretation of Explode changed in a few months (since I saw them last summer) they’ve grown up, they become so much stronger and better!
On this part we were able to listen such amazing songs like Made For You, Race Is Long or The Singles and they didn’t forget other hits like Driving You Slow or the “unknown” In Repeat – showing an electronic/disco side of The Gift.
I’m really fascinated with that song because Nuno Gonçalves used this curious instrument called Theremin (read about it here) and it fits perfectly on this song.
A bit more than an hour before the start of the second act, the show really ended.
The Gift’s show was incredible for so many reasons: how well they fitted both albums and both concepts on the same gig – on Primavera they used sober colours, mostly black, with a background projecting the monochromatic photos of the album’s cover and some studio pics, all very classy with a bit of ceremony and serenity at the same time. On Explode we can see the opposite, we see colour, happy outfits, bright and light. Even their posture changed, they were more relaxed and literally exploded joy, fun, movement, dance and MUSIC.
Each part was thought to the smallest detail and it was really inspiring.
They really try to bond with people, to make them feel at home like we were watching them at our own living room. They are constantly interacting, with each others, telling us small stories about the songs and their lives.
After music and beauty, humour was the word of the night. They spread jokes with the audience and between them, it’s amazing to see how connected they are and the way they show it to people it’s so sweet.
They’re honest and kind people and that reflects in everything they do.
Once I wrote “There’s something magical about The Gift, maybe they just breathe music” - read here - and after this gig I can really say that they must do it for sure, what I saw there, all the potential, all the talent, I’m pretty sure they are closer and closer of a bigger and brighter international career.
I also wrote about Primavera - click on the link - “This is why I am proud of being Portuguese, they make me totally proud of my language and our music” and after that night, I am even more.
I’m overwhelmed by their work, their concepts, their unique sound and their enormous talent.
The Gift – never a name fitted so well a band like they do.
The Gift have a hundred faces and all of them suits so nicely!
After the next booked shows, The Gift are doing a pause due to Sónia’s pregnancy. Let’s hope it won’t take long.
Rating: 5/5
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