photo competition Cindy Morris grabs first prize this month for her splendid photo from a turkish mud bath in Pamukkale. She says “It was a funny experience because the other patrons wanted to know what we were doing so we had to explain it a bunch of times.”
Maria Gil with InMadrid at the Saturday Fruit Market in Aluche
Ana Aguilar captures the essence of our photo competition with her pic from the toilets at her local gym.
THIS MONTH: WIN LUNCH FOR TWO AT photo EL ESTRAGÓN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT OR A TRIP FOR
competition
TWO ON THE MADRID TELEFÉRICO CABLE CAR RIDE
Just send us a photo of someone Find us on facebook: reading InMadrid in an unusual place www.facebook.com/InMadrid.magazine or way to have the possibility of winning lunch for two in Madrid’s wonderful vegetarian restaurant, El Estragón. There are two ways to enter: send your photo to our email address (competitions@inmadrid.com), or upload the photo on our facebook page. We have had photos from all parts of the world but to have a better chance of winning, we are more interested in photos taken in Madrid or the surrounding area, the idea being to take a photo of somebody reading InMadrid in a strange or funny place. Be creative, and most importantly, have fun! Note: Winners will not be notified, please get in touch with your name and DNI or passport nº via competitions@in-madrid.com
2 APRIL 2013
Monica Diez Martin, InMadrid and Che Guevara — Cuba
Pedro Fernández sent us this pic from Madrid’s own Retiro park in front of the Ángel Caido sculpture-come-fountain. Pedro informs: “Some curiosities are that it is at 666m above sea level and that there are very few statues dedicated to the Fallen Angel (Lucifer) in the world. There’s the statue of Lucifer’s Rebellion in Cuba and the Monument to Traforo of Frejus in Turin.
MADRID IN ENGLISH
Come get your slice of the Cat’s cake! Friday 12th April
XXVIII Anniversary Party!!! with special concert by
The Pink Punkers from 11pm till late Tue-Thu 21:00-3:00 Fri-Sat 21:00-3:30
Pool Tables Pinball
4 SCENE What’s new in town
5 MADWORLD Top ten travel destinations by Metro, Fairy Tales, Curiosity Shop
6 FLYING THE FIESTA FLAGS A guide to some lesser-known festivals, especially for April
6 LADIES, LOVE, AND LAMENTS Some British Ladies tales from the 1960s and 70s about romance and life in the city
7 BREATHING FLAMENCO One American’s passion for flamenco dancing
8 A NOVEL IDEA Free books at Libreria Libros Libres
8 CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS April gigs—Kill It Kid, Eels, and Jamie Cullum
8 FOR THE RECORD This month’s album reviews—Youth Lagoon and Rhye
9 NIGHTLIFE The best club nights in April, plus listings
10 MONTH AHEAD: ART & THEATRE Where to go and what to see
10 MONTHS GONE BY
Argentine crooner Pia Tedesco will be performing at Festimad2013 — See Scene, P4 for line-up details
A look back at our April, 2000 copy
PUBLISHED BY: CITYSCOPE S.L. (UNIPERSONAL) MANAGING DIRECTOR: NICK HAUGHTON • EDITOR: JEFF WISEMAN • DESIGN: VICKY KNILL, KNIC • MARKETING AND SALES: marketing@inmadrid.com • ADMIN: ELENA ORTIZ • DISTRIBUTION: THE DARK RIDER • ART: JULIA DAVIS, LAURA STEPHENS • MUSIC (REVIEWS): MATT SACHS • MUSIC (GIGS): FAYE HARRISON • NIGHTLIFE: RICHARD LEWINGTON • SCENE: MATT SACHS, RACHEL MORGAN • THEATRE: IRENE BERMAN-VAPORIS • STAFF WRITERS: VICKY KNILL, LAURA STEPHENS • INTERNS: LAURA TABOR, MARITZA MOSSBERG, CLEMENTYNE CHAMBERS, ALYSSA RASMUSSEN, IRENE BERMAN-VAPORIS, CATRIONA SPAVEN-DONN, JULIA DAVIS, MATT SACHS, RACHEL MORGAN, KELLY RUMMEL, MIKA KUBO • WEBMASTER: KNIC • PRINT: IMCODAVILA Views expressed in InMadrid are the opinions of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by the publishers. Although we make every effort to quote the correct prices and opening hours for establishments mentioned in the magazine, it is possible some may have changed since we went to press. All advertisements are published in good faith. InMadrid cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions in individual ads or accept responsibility for work, service or goods. InMadrid is published by CityScope SL (unipersonal), c/Marqués de Valdeiglesias, 6-4ºA — 28004 Madrid. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and artwork will not be returned unless accompanied by sufficient postage. D.L.: M-11696-96.
STAFF
10 A LIFE ON THE LINE Alonso Cano 10 STREETGUYS The bizarre backpacker 11 WHOLE LOTTA ROCK Interview with Madrid-based AC/DC cover band Chamán
12 COME RAIN OR SHINE Indoor and outdoor alternatives to cope with erratic spring weather
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618 434 067 MADRID IN ENGLISH
Cover: Venezuelanborn soloist Georgina on the bill at Festimad
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APRIL 2013
3
scene
■ BY CATRIONA SPAVEN-DONN AND LOU TUNTOWN
InMadrid Music and Social Night We’re pleased to announce that our night of music, fun, and English conversation for all of our friends and readers will take place on Thurs, 18 April. Richard Lewington will be our DJ, and this is a great chance to meet some of our writers and put a face to the names you see here each month. Also, watch our facebook page and website for details of potential guest artists that will make it a night to remember. InMadrid Music and Social Night, Marcel Bar, C/Santa Maria, 42 (Metro: Antón Martín). Thurs, 18 Apr, from 9pm.
Metro map masterpiece? Back in September, 2010, we published an article about the work of Dr Max Roberts of the University of Essex concerning his new ideas for curvy metro maps—a plan to eliminate harsh zigzags and straight lines, and replace them with a smoother, clearer, more circular design. The article provoked many comments, and Dr Roberts, having recently tried a circle-based map of the London Underground, has now produced a similar idea for Madrid’s Metro. “I’m interested to know whether the concentric circles work for other cities, not necessarily to create an easy-to-use map—I’m curious as to whether this is a ‘high-impact’ approach,” he says. We’re pleased to reproduce the map here—any comments will be gratefully received to our email or website addresses. Further details of Max’s London map can be found on london-underground.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/tube-map-in-circles.html
Nomada Market: Independent Design Fair
Check out weird and wonderful Finnish heavy metal band Lordi, 2006 Eurovision winners, at Sala Penelope on Thurs, 25 Apr. See www.lordi.fi
Bursting with creativity, young talent and artistry, Nomada Market has become the most important fair of its kind in Spain. Around 150 exhibitors and more than 60,000 visitors attend its four major fairs per year. This Madrid event will display clothes, shoes, jewellery, design objects, lamps, photography, stationery, and ceramics, by designers specifically chosen for their unique and creative talent. Nomada Market also supports new business ventures and has set up initiatives to help designers struggling to sell their products due to the current economic climate. The styles exhibited are normally indie, craft, vintage and homemade, and the overall theme this April is “back to school”. Nomada Market, Atico de la estación de Chamartín (Metro Chamartín). 5-7 Apr, 12-9pm. See www.nomadamarket.com
English Comedy The Freshly Squeezed team continue their English comedy stand up and improv nights this month, as well as the Freshly Ole Stars edition, which presents Spanish comedians trying out routines in English. Guest star for the Ole Stars night will be Danny Boy Rivera and Diego Fabiano. Keep your eyes peeled for an interview with both English and Spanish comedians in a future edition of InMadrid. JaJaHa!Comedy in English, BeerStation, Cuesta de Santo Domingo, 22 (Metro: Santo Domingo). Thurs, 11 Apr, 9pm (Ole Stars); Sun, 21 Apr & Sat, 27 Apr, 8pm (Freshly Squeezed). To reserve tickets and confirm dates, see www.freshlycomedy.com.
Proyecto Fake! Cinema Season To correspond with the Circulo Bellas Artes’ Proyecto Fake! art exhibition, a season of films has been planned, all of which relate to fakery, fraud or deception. Rob Reiner’s famous heavy rock mockumentary This is Spinal Tap is a notable selection, as well as a rare chance to see The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, made in 1978 and starring Monty Python’s Eric Idle and Michael Palin. Other classics include Carol Reed’s The Third Man, Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko and Banksy’s Exit Through The Gift Shop. Specific dates are still to be confirmed, but all movies are in original version. Proyecto Fake Film Season, Cine Estudio de Circulo de Bellas Artes, C/Alcalá, 42 (Metro: Sevilla/Banco de España). Tel: 91 360 54 00. 18 Apr-5 May. Tickets €5. See www.circulobellasartes.com
ALMONEDA: antiquities, art and collectibles fair This year’s annual Almoneda fair, where all goods must be more than 50 years old, is a paradise for vintage vultures. There will be in excess of 125 businesses, displaying more than 25,000 items, including different styles of jewellery, headwear, clothes, furniture, dolls, paintings, sculptures and collectors’ items. With so much to see it makes for an essential visit for those interested in fashion, design or art. Antique dealers and galleries from all over the world cater to all tastes and budgets, so everyone can find something adorable and affordable. ALMONEDA Feria de Antigüedades, Galerías de Arte y Coleccionismo, Pabellón 3, Feria de Madrid, Avenida de Partenón (Metro: Campo de las Naciones). 6-14 April, 12-9pm, €8, but free on 9 April.
Festimad2013 “Biodiversidad Musical” is the subheading of this annual music festival, now in its 20th year, and the programme certainly has something for all tastes. More than 50 live concerts have been organised, with singers and groups coming from Madrid, Europe and America. Twenty five venues will host the shows, with artists such as Venezuelan-born soloist Georgina, Mad Sin, Mister Marshall, and The Baked Beans And Tomato Sauce. The “festivals within the Festival” include the Caramelo Rock Festival with Pez Limón and Los Gatos del Gitano at the Rock Kitchen on 20 Apr, Legends Voices of Rock with Bobby Kimball (formerly of Toto), Bill Champlin (Chicago), Joe Lynn Turnes (Rainbow & Deep Purple) and Steve Augeri (Journey) at Joy Eslava on 21 Apr, and Festimad Crooner for a taste of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin at Sala Clamores on 4 May. Amongst the notable Spanish names on the programme are Los Enemigos, CPV, Inlogic, Arizona Baby and Supersubmarina, a nordic contingent includes Friska Viljor, Satan Takes a Holiday, and The Poodles, whilst the UK’s Ocean Colour Scene play La Riviera on 22 Apr. Also, Daniel Minimalia is at the Hard Rock Café on 24 Apr (you can find an interview with Daniel in our January edition). Festimad2013, various concerts and venues throughout Madrid, 19 Apr-4 May. See www.festimad.es for full details.
Spinal Tap
Kadavar—70’s retro-sound at Festimad2013
Argentine crooner Pia Tedesco will be performing at Festimad2013
4 APRIL 2013
Life is Sweet: the music of Mike Leigh films For two nights only, in his show La vida es dulce (Life is Sweet), Spanish guitarist and singer Nacho Vegas presents a musical tribute to the films of English director Mike Leigh, incorporating scenes and dialogue from Leigh’s wonderful characters, in combination with a poetic and social perspective. Nacho Vegas presenta “La vida es dulce”, Teatro Lara, c/Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 15 (Metro: Callao). Tel: 91 523 90 27. 3 & 4 Apr, 10pm. Tickets €20/22. See www.teatrolara.com
Tips from the Tower Helpful monthly advice from the British Consulate office in Pº de la Castellana’s Torre Espacio Update on the Spanish Healthcare system As many of you will have seen in the news over the last few months, there have been some changes to the healthcare system here in Spain. The government says the aim is to make sure access is as wide as possible for people legally residing in the country, while also striving for a healthcare system which is sustainable for future generations. Accessing healthcare here in Spain is different to the UK. For those who are working in Madrid, make sure you apply for your residence certificate with the Extranjería and register for healthcare as a resident. If you are a student and have come from another EEA country to continue with your studies (including interns), you should be able to continue using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access necessary medical treatment during your year abroad. The amount people are expected to pay towards prescriptions has also changed. For example, workers are now expected to pay between 40% and 60% depending on their level of income and the individual situation. Some medicines are no longer available by prescription but have to be paid for in full. For further information on prescription charges and medication, speak with your local health centre or pharmacist. Further information about how to access healthcare in Spain can also be found on the British Consulate website: http://ukinspain.fco.gov.uk
MADRID IN ENGLISH
mwoarldd
Top Ten: travel destinations by Metro Fairy Tales
By Jerome Apolda
The Madrid Metro offers some great options to expand your travel horizons. Of course, it’s the name that counts, although sometimes the action that you take in each station can make for a more adventurous tale:
1
Ibiza (line 9)—just dance discreetly with friends on the platform for a few minutes, share a bottle of coca-cola, and you can admit to having partied in Ibiza.
2
Nuevo Mundo (metro ligero, 3)—hop off the train, have a quick glance around, then hop on again. So, just like Christopher Columbus, you have discovered the New World.
3
Buenos Aires (Line 1)—why spend money on an Atlantic flight when you can visit Buenos Aires for the cost of a metro ticket? (But maybe bluff that you visited Rio de Janeiro too, rather than Vallecas).
4
Bélgica (Metro ligero, 2)—yes, Belgium is just a short trip on line two of the Metro ligero. Go in a local supermarket to see bruselas and buy some chocolate, just to make a full Belgian experience.
5
República Argentina (Line 6)—stroll along the platform to say you’ve walked from one end of the country to the other.
6
Sevilla (Line 2)—briefly dance flamenco here, to allow you to tick off the “been there, done that” item on your Spanish list of desires.
7
San Francisco (Line 11)—we accept that the Metro station may not be the best place to meet California girls, and there’s no Alcatraz and no bridge. But at least it’s not in an earthquake zone.
8
Colombia (Lines 8 & 9)—hop off the train and sell your friend a few Aspirin tablets. Then tell everyone you’ve done drug dealing in Colombia.
9
Islas Filipinas (Line 7)—promise your partner a trip to the Philippine Islands, then bring them here to make for a great story in the category “So how did your relationship end?”
10
Pirámides (Line 5)—the magic of Egypt on the Metro? Not really, but at least you can say you’ve been through the gates of the Pyramids and seen the tunnels inside.
Line 11?
Curiosity Shop
FILATELIA GALVEZ
Photo (CC) flickr: sno wpeak
■ ■ BY BY CAMINO CAMINO MARTÍNEZ MARTÍNEZ
Located in Puerta del Sol, Filatelia Gálvez is at the heart of the city and also of madrileño stamp collecting. The store opened in 1868 and is the oldest stamp shop in Spain Any resident or visitor to Madrid should go, at least once, to the Coin and Stamp Collector’s Market, which takes place every Sunday morning in the beautiful Plaza Mayor. It’s one of the most historic markets in the city—the stalls and crowds fill the space under the arches of the Plaza, everyone looking for that tiny hidden treasure or just enjoying the atmosphere. For stamp collectors, close by in the Puerta del Sol is Filatelia Gálvez, a stamp shop that has been trading for more than 150 years. It’s been located in different premises but always at the epicentre of the madrileño philatelic community. At its current location, stamp collectors can find an extensive and high-quality stock, with particular emphasis on Spain from the 19th century to date. Those seeking thematic collections will find stamps focusing on subjects such as animals, aeroplanes, paintings, sports, flowers, music, monarchy, and Christmas, amongst many others. The shop also has philatelic memorabilia and literature, including magazines in different languages and books from all around the world. The company participates in the countless fairs and exhibitions throughout the year.
Filatelia Gálvez, Puerta del Sol, 4 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 531 46 00. Shop: Tues, 10.30am-2.30pm. Phone service: Mon-Fri, 10.30am6pm. See www.filateliagalvez.com.
MADRID IN ENGLISH
Overly Cautious Drama queen
Growing up, fears were supposed to be nothing more than silly nonsense that age would soon cure: the dread of not reaching the potty on time and soiling my pants (yet again); the panic in PE of my classmates realising I had no pubic hair; or the fright of finding out I was interested in their pubic hair. As I grew taller, wider and hairier, so did my fears. What if I never met anyone? What if I never had sex? What if I was stoned to death because I liked penises other than my own? With the nineties coming to a close, I timidly crawled into someone’s bed. Orgasm was had and fears vanished, instantly! After all, what was there to fear? I was 20: I ruled the world. Fears were for pussies! I could do just about anything and anyone! The world was my oyster and I was ready to swallow it whole. And I did, blissfully unaware that its slime could choke me. The noughties were a bag of jelly-babies that I happily devoured. Fears were there of course: the fear of not pulling that hot blond over there or the fear of not fitting in my skinny jeans. Fears I overcame easily. And then my hair started thinning, and as I turned 30, fears made a comeback: Will I ever meet someone (that one again!)? Am I wasting my life? What is the meaning of it all? But rather than let me drown in my own existential paranoia, they flipped on me and they began to nag me like an overbearing mother resentful that you weighted 9lb at birth. It started innocently enough. I would lock the door twice, I would switch off the heaters in case of fire and then, it escalated. Leaving home has become a horrid nightmare. I stare at the tap: it’s not leaking. I touch it to make sure it’s off. Then I look at it again. I switch off all the appliances. I stare at the ashtray to make sure all the cigarette butts are extinguished. Then I run the ashtray under the tap. I look at the cigarettes: they’re soaking. I throw them in the bin. I close the bin, then I open the bin: OK, they’ve not set light to it! I turn back to the tap. It’s off. I stare: yes, it’s off! I lock the door. I turn the key three times, I lean against it: yes, it’s locked! Is the water still running? I reopen the front door, and look at the tap: yes, it’s off! I look at the stove: all the lights are off. I check the bin, check my room, check the bathroom. I lock the door, turn the key three times, lean against it and finally walk away. I walk down the stairs and run back up: yes, the door is closed! Walking away, strangely shaken, I think about all the possible ways something could go horribly wrong. The second I sit down on the train, the certainty of a catastrophe is more vivid than ever: the water is still running, the door is not locked…argh! I try to repress the urge to get off at the next station to rush back home. I repress it, my hands choking the pole. I.. will.. not.. go.. back. Repress it, damn it! The loony bin is round the corner. I can already see myself, waiting in line for my daily dosage of little white pills between an old lady pulling her hair and a chronic masturbator. At least the doors will be closed; but what about the water running? FAIRY TALES is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. Revisit old columns at www.jerome-apolda.com and join me on Facebook!
APRIL 2013
5
Flying the fiesta flags To celebrate the wonderful array of strange Spanish fiestas, Jeff Wiseman and Maritza Mossberg investigate some of the lesser-known special occasions
Y
ou probably know about bull running, throwing tomatoes and any number of fiestas to worship the humble olive. However, the following list offers a few different options for those looking to celebrate in a somewhat surreal manner:
Pillow Fight Festival (Lucha de las almohadas)
The little village of Aparador has the reputation for being the tidiest in Spain, which shouldn’t be a surprise as it’s a centre for cupboard making. Big or small, high or wide, each year the villagers display their cupboards in the plaza. Past innovations have included the multi-door, the cupboard within a cupboard, and the award-winning slim freestander. Also, huge cupboard doors are placed on the facade of every building in the plaza, whilst couples are hinged together for a unique celebratory dance.
The University of Madrid, Carlos III, versus the Politécnica! An official pillow fight in Plaza Mayor for any student who wishes to let off some of the stress accumulated during exam studies. Any ridiculous costume can be worn, but each fight takes place above a huge tub of papermaché, made from the required reading lists for all degrees. As a result, several students have literally almost drowned in their own textPhoto (CC) flickr: by David Shankbone books.
Lucky Egg Festival (Fiesta del huevo afortunado)
Prosthetic Festival (Fiesta de las prótesis)
Spaniards from all over the country flock to Dosdocena for the odd yet fun activities of its Lucky Egg Festival. At dawn, for good luck, visitors and locals smash raw eggs on the heads of loved ones, and then enjoy the traditional huevo dance in La casa del pollo. The festival stemmed from an accident more than a century ago, when in summer a young boy dropped several dozen eggs in the street. They promptly grilled in the heat of the midday sun, providing many of the villagers with a free lunch. Nowadays, it’s a symbolic reminder of finding hope and Photo (CC) flickr:pictor ignotus luck in unlikely ways.
Celebrated since medieval times in San Pedro del Brazo, after an enterprising carpenter in the village made a wooden arm for King Carlos I, “in case His Majesty lost one of his in battle”. The festival has two legs. In the first, all villagers are obliged to wear a prosthetic body part, with the male sexual organ being a popular and amusing choice. The second leg is an arm-wrestling competition, in which competitors have to detach one of their opponent’s three arms. The Festival finishes with a general shaking of hands—wildly in the air—in the village plaza.
Cupboard Festival (Fiesta de los aparadores)
Inflate-a-tater (Fiesta ¡infla la patata!) One of the oldest festivals in Spain, it originated when a local King, Eduardo, ruled the village of Spudalajara. One night, when trying to summon the moon closer to the earth, Eduardo toppled over his castle wall. He would have died if his magician hadn’t been standing below
“Humans are bigger, but we are faster”
Photo (CC) flickr: Robobobobo
with a cart full of potatoes. The magician magically inflated them, cushioning Rey Eduardo’s fall. In an effort to repeat the miracle, the villagers try to inflate potatoes by any conceivable method, including lung power, oxygen cylinders and bicycle pumps. The festival climaxes on Saturday night when all the potato pieces from the failed experiments are made into a huge tortilla.
Day of Silence (Día del silencio) In the village of Tranquilo, residents take an oath for one day of silence in celebration of the power of language. Several years ago, one student made a very moving speech in the village about how many of us take verbal communication for granted. The student later died in a tragic accident when a bookcase full of dictionaries collapsed on top of him in the village library. Friends started a movement for silencio in his honour. Individuals who take the oath are distinguished by their red t-shirts, which have the inscription El poder de las palabras printed on them.
Rabbit running (Corre con las conejas) The village of Zanahoria got so fed up with the success of Pamplona’s Bull Run that it decided to have a race of its own. Unfortunately, when established in 1995, the only villager with any large group of animals was English rabbit breeder Warren Burrow, and so volunteers now race against these little creatures. Inevitably, the rabbits win, but on a positive note injuries are few, generally just a grazed knee or two if a rabbit gets caught underfoot. To brighten up proceedings, since 2002, all competitors have had to wear large furry ears and a bobtail.
Further info: The above festivals take place on 1 April.
Ladies, love, and laments The combination of travel and romance in Spain didn't begin with budget airlines. Maritza Mossberg speaks to members of Madrid’s British Ladies Association about love and life in the 1960s and 70s ove! The word that makes or breaks our hearts. Many of us wouldn’t balk at the idea of finding romance in Spain, especially considering how attractive even the “average-looking” Spaniards are. Nowadays, it’s not unusual to jet off to foreign shores for work, travel or study, but during the 1960s and 70s travelling abroad was far more adventurous. To find out about romances in those decades, I chatted with some members of the long-established and wonderfully named British Ladies Association, to discover their stories.
L
Meet the girls The group of eager tale-tellers is Jean, Jenny, Jenifer, Barbara, Julia and Susan, all from the UK. When they moved to Spain in the 1960s and 70s, motivations were
Key to success?
Photo (CC) flickr: LearningLark
6 APRIL 2013
mixed: for Jean and Jenny it was to learn the language, Jenifer moved here to teach English, Barbara was taking a year abroad to study for her degree course, and Susan was just looking to spend a couple of years away, which of course extended longer than planned. Julia was already married to a Spaniard in the UK: “He was my Spanish teacher. We had extra classes. Then I made him a trifle and it became much more serious!” she laughs. “In the end, work drew him back here and I came with him.”
Meeting the men With the exception of Julia, the majority met their partners in Spain, but Jenny’s story spanned continents—she met her future husband in the UK; he was Spanish, but living in Venezuela and had been sent to the UK to learn English at the centre where she was teaching. “He went back to Venezuela,” she explains, “and we wrote, and then he returned to Spain and that was it!” Aside from spicy relationships connected with studies, meetings were often by chance. Jean’s London-based Spanish teacher had a friend in Madrid, who agreed to show her the city on a planned visit. Sparks obviously flew, and they were married within a year of knowing each other. Barbara crossed paths with her future husband by trying to find the Biblioteca Nacional. She asked a young man for directions; he introduced his friend, with whom she got on very well. They kept in contact when she returned to England to work for twelve months, and they married shortly afterwards. Susan met her husband-to-be via friends in Zaragoza. She reflects that when she used to visit him, she would be the only woman present; the other men had to take their girlfriends back to their parents’ home
by 10pm. “At that time I was considered a foreigner, and that was associated with being ‘loose’, more liberal than the Spanish. It was 1974, and Franco was still in power. Men would sort of look at you if you wore a short skirt, a bit more than they do now,” she points out.
Challenges All relationships have their ups and downs, but moving to a new country meant a decrease in contact with loved ones in England, a language barrier, obvious cultural distinctions, and certain societal restrictions. Jenny did not speak any Spanish upon her arrival. “Spain was, of course, very different when I came here,” she remarks, “in some ways a lot safer. Buildings used to have big locked doors. You would clap your hands for the sereno [nightwatchman] to come with a bunch of keys to open the door for you. Each sereno looked after a part of the street.” Jean comments that women could not hold hands in public with men, even if strolling in a park or travelling in a taxi. “If the taxi driver caught you, you could be threatened or taken to the police,” she adds. Jean and Barbara both agree that the biggest challenge was not the language, but the in-laws. “I had more differences with my mother-in-law than with my husband,” says Jean, “She criticised what I did because I did things in a different way.” Barbara’s in-laws were from the Canary Islands, so when they visited her, it wasn’t just for dinner, but for long periods of time.
Men! Getting help around the house was very frustrating for Susan. “My husband had never had to take plates to the kitchen. The idea of doing things was just not considered,” she comments. All of the women
agree. “My husband never changed a nappy! I didn’t have any help at all and I had three children,” Susan exasperates. With men often looking after finances, provision for the future could prove difficult. “Many women over the age of 50 may not have made enough of a payment to the government for a pension,” Jenifer explains, “and it can be a very big problem. I had assumed that my husband was making payments.” She eventually discovered that she would not receive a Spanish pension, but fortunately she was able to pay for a minimum pension with the British system at the time. The problem exists for men too: British and American friends have often left a good job at home to be with a Spanish novia or wife, and have found themselves losing out careerwise and eventually pensionwise. The British Ladies stories suggest finding love in Madrid during the 1960s or 70s may not always have been the idyllic, romantic storyboard we imagine; but relationships are always complicated, and just as susceptible to the ‘mad’ in Madrid as the ‘pain’ in Spain.
MADRID IN ENGLISH
Breathing Flamenco Ryan Rockmore came to Spain to pursue his passion for flamenco; having completed his first show in Madrid, De Madrid al sur, he speaks with Laura Tabor about his journey
t
he performance is in a brick basement, and a cool wine-cellar draft fills the room. On the stage is a man seated with his guitar, and another performer can be seen leaning against the wall. The audience, less than 50 people, hushes as a man in a blue shirt and black trousers comes out and addresses them in Spanish. He greets everyone and welcomes them to his flamenco show in an Andalucian accent that causes murmurs among the audience members. “Wait, but he’s American?” asks the girl seated next to me. When Ryan Rockmore is on stage, he’s not thinking about his accent, or about the audience, or even about the steps he has rehearsed. Once the first chords are strummed and the singer begins the powerful notes of flamenco music, his mind is on the song. “You do 110% in the studio to be able to do 100% on the stage and not think about the nuances or the steps. On stage, I don’t really think; I’m listening to the singing,” says Rockmore. “I think flamenco is inherently improvised, not in the sense of made up in the moment but that it is open to whatever happens. My training was about Baile de Cante, dancing to the singing, respecting the singer a lot because the root of flamenco is the song.”
Feelings first Rockmore is a native of New York in the United States, but as the show begins, and the sounds of soulful voice and guitar accompany his movements, the importance of his nationality fades and the importance of his acquired Spanish culture dominates—the Spanish pride and passion that is intrinsic in the fla-
“
Dance as a lens through which to understand others, especially as it relates to gender, has become part of his passion.
ber being teased. Playful teasing, but it had an impact, which I’m finding in my current research into dance.” After six months he left ballet, because his focus shifted to percussion music, where he was highly successful. Eventually he chose to go to New York University to study Spanish education. He became an avid ballroom dancer on the NYU team, once more encountering dance. Around this time, Rockmore was shaken by a tragedy that lingered as he came to Spain for the first time: the unexpected death of his first boyfriend, with whom he had broken up before heading to college. “That tragedy had an emotional catharsis. There are people who think that flamenco is about suffering; I was ripped apart, and months afterwards I came to Madrid to study abroad,” he discloses.
Sevillana sensations In Madrid, Rockmore experienced various flamenco shows, and his reaction was visceral. “There was almost a calling, and it happens to a lot of flamenco dancers,” he comments. “We weren’t forced into it or actively searching for it, but it happened upon us and we can’t get it out of our bodies.” After returning to New York, Rockmore studied flamenco intensively while finishing his degree, and eventually received a grant that he utilised to go to Sevilla for five weeks to experience the masculine and feminine forms of the dance at the Centro de Arte de Flamenco de Sevilla. His research was centred on why adolescent males do not tend to pursue dance, and how flamenco might be a gateway for more men to get involved. His time in Sevilla was revelatory, and became the standard by which he judged flamenco learning experiences. “There are a lot of people who argue that you can’t be a flamenco dancer if you haven’t been to Sevilla, or studied in Sevilla. I kind of believe it,” he says. “I learned a lot, even at the bus stop, having people waiting for the bus break out into song. It was incredible. Flamenco lives in Sevilla. I’m not saying it’s the only place, but it’s in the air and you definitely breathe it when you are there.”
Photo: John Flury
and changing, I want to see the way it reinforces and is breaking its own gender roles.” He also wants to participate in the practical side of his own research with masculinity and dance, by being a part of arts education, making sure that it isn’t left out of the student experience. “Teaching dance at
Turning on the style
Photo: Angelica Escoto
menco style. He keeps in mind the theme of the particular song and the emotion associated with it, as flamenco’s characteristic expressive style leads audience members to read clearly the sentiment intended by each movement and facial expression. “Flamenco is about trying to transmit, not any specific emotions, just what you are feeling and the mood of the music,” he explains. “If you are thinking about an overarching theme of happiness, joking, fooling around, your emotions will be natural. You don’t have to say, ‘I must feel melancholy in this moment’, but you have it in mind.”
Dance journeys He began dancing as a child, when he took ballet classes and played a clown in the Nutcracker. Even at a young age, he ran into the stereotypes that sometimes discourage men from participating in dance. “My mother said she was willing to drive me, and I had been asked to join the ballet,” Rockmore says. “In a photo, I had an outfit with pink and purple tights and a bonnet; that does not scream traditional masculinity. I remem-
7 APRIL 2013
Even in Sevilla, Rockmore recognises that the deep roots of flamenco are local, which put him on the outside at times during his years of development as a dancer: “I worked on my accent—I have a very southern accent, to the point of confusing people; some think I am actually from Sevilla. They know how much I love it; you may be an outsider, but they can see your love and your dedication for the culture.” When he later returned to Sevilla to pursue dance more long-term via a Fulbright grant, he would spend days in the studio from ten in the morning until nine at night. He took classes, ranging from learning to play castanets to singing, along with countless technique classes with masculine and feminine styles of dancing. “I wanted to have a personal experience of gender molding in these classes. I had one class in the morning where I was dancing in a traditional flamenco dress, and a class in the afternoon when I was with a male teacher,” he says.
Dancing through life Rockmore is presently taking 10-12 hours of dance classes a week in Madrid, and next year he’s moving to the United Kingdom to pursue a degree in Dance Anthropology at the University of Roehampton. Dance as a lens through which to understand others, especially as it relates to gender, has become part of his passion. “It’s really coming into the field as a respected art form and a respected way to understand life and culture; that’s what the programme focuses on, looking at how dance is both informed by and informs our way of life, and how that speaks to anthropology,” he explains. “I would look at how flamenco is evolving
Photo: John Flury
“
... you may be an outsider, but they can see your love and your dedication for the culture.
schools or flamenco residencies exist, but arts programmes are being cut left and right, so add flamenco to the Spanish class or the Social Studies class to give it somewhere more stable,” he argues.
Rockmore’s next performance is scheduled for Friday, 26 April, at ArteBar La Latina, Calle de San Bruno, 3 at 8.30pm. To request tickets, write directly to Ryan at rrockmore@gmail.com.
MADRID IN ENGLISH
A novel idea Nick Funnell selects the best movies to see this month Jack the Giant Slayer (Jack el caza gigantes) Providing confirmation of Hollywood’s plan to pummel us with fairytales as it has also pummeled us with superhero flicks, X-Men director Bryan Singer’s take on Jack and the Beanstalk stars Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane and Stanley Tucci. Out now The Paperboy (El chico del periódico) A slice of scuzzy 1960s Florida-set noir from Precious director Lee Daniels sees Matthew McConaughey and David Oyelowo as reporters trying to clear the name of a death-row prisoner (John Cusack) with the help of McConaughey’s brother (Zac Efron) and Cusack’s new lover (Nicole Kidman). Out now Side Effects (Efectos secundarios) Touted as director Steven Soderbergh’s last effort, this is a movie of two halves: the first a purported exposé of the drug industry; the second a dive into noirish psychological waters. Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars as the suicidal New Yorker prescribed new medication by psychiatrist Jude Law that threaten to destroy her life with partner Channing Tatum. 5 Apr Oblivion Set on a future earth destroyed by alien invasion, Tom Cruise’s latest concerns a robot repairman who’s led to question everything he believes about the past after he saves beautiful Olga Kurylenko from a crashed spaceship. Based on Tron: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski’s own graphic novel, it also stars Morgan Freeman and Andrea Riseborough. 12 Apr Alacrán enamorado Santiago A Zannou’s adaptation of Spanish actor Carlos Bardem’s novel—who also appears here alongside bro’ Javier Bardem—is a Romeo and Juliet-style romance about the love between a Latin American immigrant (Judith Diakhate) and the head of a violent neo-Nazi group (Álex González). 12 Apr
Librería Libros Libres has become a well-known stop on the Madrid book-lover’s literary treasure hunt. Ironically, its selling point is that all books are free Books line the walls from floor to ceiling, divided into sections such as travel, history, philosophy, psychology, education, and politics. There are fiction shelves too, including Spanish, English, French, and German editions, and also a “videotheque” for DVDs, with a bucket for takehome movie sessions, and the rest offered as weekly rentals costing one or two euros. The Librería Libros Libres opened six months ago, but stems from a much wider project that started in October 2009, when three intrepid and innovative people set up Grupo2013, with the goal of increasing literacy in Spain and abroad. The words of Alejandro de León, the founder, summarise the strategy: “We believe that the way to end poverty and inequalities is to invest in improving education, as much in Spain as in developing countries.” Now, there are more than 400 associates—112 teachers, 250 children receiving classes from the group Maestros y Alumnos Solidarios, three people in the office, more than 50 temporary volunteers, as well as various subscribers and collaborators. These teachers in solidarity, Maestros Solidarios, are a major part of Grupo2013’s development projects. A large, varied group of helpers offer private classes in Madrid to finance projects in developing countries, and grants are raised to support children’s education across South America, Africa and Asia. A new project has also just been launched in India with the Friends Association of Kalitala, which supports an orphanage for around 100 girls under 18 years old. Grupo2013 is organising sponsor-
ship for each child; however, some twenty more donors are needed to ensure the project’s success. By taking these children off the streets and financing not only their education at school, but also their most basic needs such as food, clothing and medication, Grupo2013 believes that they will then be able to integrate themselves in society and help those around them. Where grants are sent to individual students, books and textbooks are also sent to the same communities to create libraries. So far, Grupo2013 has successfully set up six across Central and South America, as well as one in Madrid. Donations from collaborators are a big help, but the main income is from clothes outlets and special sale days with the fashion company Blanco, and other fundraising events organised by Grupo2013. Having created a network of teachers to raise money for the education of those in poverty elsewhere in the world, Grupo2013 has turned its attention to its own city. The same teachers involved in international projects are now also giving free extra classes to almost 400 students in four public high schools around Madrid. So, a visit to this charitable bookshop is not just a worthwhile trip to find a forgotten gem among the many stacks of books; it is also a journey to support literacy and education on an international scale. With that in mind, you can add to their collection by giving books you no longer require, renting a DVD or making a donation, in the knowledge that everything you give is helping someone.
music
concerts
for the record Matt Sachs gets out his olives and tells us what we should, or shouldn’t, be listening to Youth Lagoon Wondrous Bughouse Fat Possum
How much insight and perspective on the world would one expect from a 23 year old from Idaho? If the sophomore album by Boisebased Youth Lagoon—the stage name for the prodigical Trevor Powers—is any indication, the answer is quite a lot. Since 2010, Powers has been making dreamy psychedelic music through which he explores themes well beyond his years. On his debut album, Year of Hibernation, he travelled inward in an attempt to map his own mental psyche. On Wondrous Bughouse, Powers turns his attention outward, focusing instead on the astonishing and mystifying nature of the universe. The result is a collection of songs that continuously change in form and structure in a way that seems to embody the simultaneous joy, terror and sheer awe of life. “Dropla” makes for a happy-go-lucky tune that turns nightmarish as Powers repeatedly chants “You’ll never die” before it morphs back into its original carefree refrain. “Mute” begins with grand simplicity and a glacial pace before a duet of squeaking clarinets cuts through the suspended fuzz of bass-heavy reverb and gives the song a heart-throbbing turn, only to change in the final moments with an unresolved solo piano. The penultimate number, “Raspberry Cane”, while arguably the most accessible, sounds like an Oasis track on acid, traversing through a range of musical motifs and emotions. On Wondrous Bughouse as a whole, Youth Lagoon follow a similar trajectory to other solo artists who began in their bedrooms, trading in a confined, intimate sound for one much grander and covering it all with a thick coating of reverb. What separates Powers from the pack is his penchant for never allowing his songs to get too comfortable; he loads each new twist and turn with a melody more captivating than the one before.
Rhye Woman Polydor The debut album from Los Angeles-based soul/pop group Rhye has been shrouded in mystery since a single track first appeared anonymously on the internet several months ago. The song, “Open”, featured a captivatingly sensual voice that many believed belonged to a woman. Eventually, it came to light that this music was coming from the collaboration of two men: the Canadian-born classical cellist and singer/producer Mike Milosh and the Dutch electronic soul artist Robin Hannibal. Their first LP, entitled Woman, is collection of intimate, beautiful, and downright sexual songs rooted in R&B and soul, perfectly crafted with only the barest of elements. The aforementioned “Open” begins with the simplest of chords, a sparse drumbeat and a bass that persists as strings and guitar subtly fade in and out. The following track, “The Fall”, continues in a similar fashion, though with a more pulsating rhythm. The opening jazzy piano chords provide the backbone as the song progresses through string and horn interludes that surge and swell under the direction of Milosh’s mesmerising voice. “Verses” is constructed from an even greater collection of tiny pieces: a steel drum, plucked strings, and the soft delicate rhythms on the upper register of a piano, all held together by the ethereal melody. The problem is that these three tracks are found in the first half of Woman and, by comparison, the remainder seems somewhat weak. Without the catchy hooks on “Open” or “The Fall”, the simplicity of the songs begins to sound repetitive and almost tedious. In short, the music is undeniably beautiful with its mix of intimate soul riffs and stunning vocals, but Woman becomes too predictable and one comes away wishing that Rhye had maintained just a little bit more mystery.
8 APRIL 2013
■ BY FAYE HARRISON
Kill It Kid Thurs, 25 Apr, 9.30pm. Moby Dick Club, Avda del Brasil, 5 (Metro: Santiago Bernabéu). Tel: 91 556 17 44. www.mobydickclub.com. Tickets €10 from www.ticketea.com Formed in Bath by a group of university mates, Kill It Kid are a bluesinspired, dark pop-singing four-piece. They’re fronted by the two-part harmonies of Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward, and their sound has been likened to a blend of Tom Waits, Antony and the Johnsons, and The Raconteurs. Impressive as these comparisons are, Kill It Kid manage to shine through with a sound that is very much their own: a heated, adventurous take on shadowy blues through strong tunes, distinguishable two-part vocals and a fondness for telling tales with clever lyrics. Check out “Send Me An Angel Down” from their eponymous 2009 album before you have the chance to check out the real thing on the 25th.
Eels Sun, 28 Apr, 8pm. La Riviera, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com. Tickets €25 from www.ticketmaster.es. California-based alternative rockers Eels have been around since 1995. Band members have changed across the years, both in the studio and on stage, making Mark Oliver Everett (better known as ‘E’) the only official member for the most of the group’s work. E’s lyrics often touch on depression, uncertainty, and death, while at the same time offering glimpses of light amidst darkness (listen to “Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues”). Eels’ sound taps into a wide range of genres, from blues to grunge to chamber pop, which is evident in the unusual musical style of every album. Whilst the band has experienced some mainstream appeal and success, they firmly remain a critically acclaimed group with a strong cult following. Since their debut, Eels have made nine other major studio albums with their most recent, Wonderful, Glorious, having been released this year.
Jamie Cullum Tues, 30 Apr, 9pm. Sala But, C/de Barceló, 11 (Metro: Tribunal). Tel: 91 445 58 61. Tickets €30 from www.ticketmaster.es Brit jazz-pop singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum has achieved a lot in his 33 years. He taught himself how to play the piano and guitar when aged eight, rejected a place at Oxford University to be awarded a First Class Honours degree from Reading, and, with only £48 to produce it, released his first album, Jamie Cullum Trio—Heard it All Before, in 1999, of which 500 copies were made and sold. Thanks to the hype around his debut, Cullum went on to sign a one million pound record deal and his second studio album, Twentysomething (2003), went platinum and became the number one selling studio album by a jazz artist in the UK. Cullum ended 2003 as the country’s biggest selling jazz artist of all time. His incredible talent as a singer and musician has jazzed up songs such as Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop The Music” and Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary”, stamping them with a such an identifiable sound it’s as if they were his own. If all that has impressed you, this gig is definitely not to be missed.
MADRID IN ENGLISH
Dave Clarke@La Riviera Paseo Bajo de la Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Angel). Fri, 12 Apr, from midnight. Prices from €15. See www.reverseclub.es
He may be known as The Baron of Techno, a moniker given to him by John Peel, but Dave Clarke has an anarchist streak a mile wide and punk in his soul. Born and raised in Brighton and frequently expelled from school, Clarke fully admits to being a disruptive boy with a short attention span caused by an insecure home Dave Clarke life. What started him on the road to being a DJ was combining his father’s love of technology with his mother’s disco-soul records. Retreating to his attic room he made tapes for friends, dismantled electronic equipment, and subsisted on a musical diet of Visage, early hip hop, Pigbag and punk. When his parents split, he ran away from home, sleeping rough in car parks before a friend offered him floor space. Music kept him going. From soul to the Psychedelic Furs, from Devo to the nascent Chicago house sound, Clarke devoured it all voraciously and blagged himself a DJ slot in Brighton. Soon, gigs provided Clarke with a meagre living, but in 1994 his reputation was sealed by a series of EPs known collectively as Red. The debut album Archive 1 followed, flecked with hints of breakbeat and electronica, a novelty in the puritanical techno scene at the time, but this niche became the catalyst for the international success that he has gone on to achieve.
live listings BY RACHEL MORGAN
2 April Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, World). Central Café Rebeca Moscardo (Pop-rock). Sala Galileo Galilei Guillermo Lancelotti Moe Jazz Jam (Jazz). Moe Club
3 April PL Girls (Rock). Costello Club Glazz y Patax (Rock). Sala Galileo Galilei Nacho Vegas (Folk, Rock). Teatro Lara Rubén Rot. Café la Palma Poetry Slam Madrid (Poetry). Intruso Bar Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, World). Central Café
4 April Black Mouth (Heavy). Café la Palma Bring Eddie Home!. Intruso Bar Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, World). Central Café The Powerfool Trío (Blues, Rock). Moe Club Festival Emergenza (Rock). Gruta ‘77 Black Mouth (Heavy). Café la Palma Little Wonder, a Stevie Wonder tribute (Disco, Funk, Pop) Costello Club Marwan (Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Galilei Jesse Davis (Jazz). Bogui Jazz Nacho Vegas (Folk, Rock). Teatro Lara
5 April
White Xperience@Plaza de Toros de Moralzarzal
Avenida Salvador Sánchez Frascuelo, 9, ■ BY RICHARD LEWINGTON Moralzarzal (Bus: 876 from Plaza de Castilla). Sat, 6 Apr, from 9pm. Tickets from €15. See www.ticketmaster.com & www.facebook.com/WhiteXperience
White Xperience is a festival with a unique format which promises to play with the senses. With more than nine hours of music from Pignoise, The Zombie Kids, Dani Moreno and Pascal Renolt, coupled with a visual spectacle, participants are invited to come dressed in white to create an all-inclusive atmosphere. On what is set to be their first concert of their 2013 tour, Pignoise will also present their new album Time and Space, which is themed on the place we occupy in a world of experiences. The Zombie Kids, who signed with Universal Music last year, have had their first two singles—“Live Forever 2012” and “Spanish House Mafia”—hit the number one spot on iTunes Spain. The Kids also won the top award at last year’s MTV EMA Awards for Best Spanish Artist. The cast of DJs, artists and producers, led by Edgar, Jay and Ikki, are set to spread their energy and style in the manner for which they’ve Pignoise become famous.
24 April
Hotel París (Rock). Costello Club Cómicos Madafakas Night Show (Comedy). Intruso Bar Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café
Lebbond (Electronic, Pop). Café la Palma Ladrillo y Mujer (Rock). Costello Club Roberto Fonseca (Jazz). Teatro Lara Mad Sin (Psychobilly), Declare la Guerre Nucleaire (Psychobilly). Gruta ‘77 Tom’s Cabin (Folk). Intruso Bar Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café
12 April James Hunter (R&B, Soul). Teatro Lara Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café Taxi (Pop-rock). Joy Eslava Travellin’ Brothers Big Band (Blues, Soul). Sala Galileo Galilei Gladston Galliza (Brazilian, World / Traditional). Bogui Jazz 7suns (Afrobeat, Jazz, Latin, Rock), Pimiento Groove (Funk, Jazz). Café la Palma Zico (Pop), Alberto Azul (Experimental, Punk, Rock). Costello Club Pedrá (Rock), Platerock (Rock). Sala Lemon Malditos Mojarras (Rock, Soul). Moe Club “Chao Chalao” (Punk-rock), Psycho Loosers (Punk-rock), Mártires de Uganda (Punk-rock). Gruta ‘77 Greenwhales (Rock). Intruso Bar
Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café J Nevado & friends (World). Sala Galileo Galilei Peter Muller & Vivian Garcia (Acoustic, Hip-hop). Café la Palma Walter Sax Big Band (Big Band, Jazz, Swing). Moe Club Aperitivo R´n´R (Tribute). Gruta ‘77 Cool Jam Lounge (Jazz, Lounge). Intruso Bar
MADRID IN ENGLISH
18 April
Pablo Carbonell (Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Galilei 11 April Peatón (Pop-rock), Mobe (Pop-rock). Café la Maldivas (Indie rock). Moe Club Palma Festival Emergenza (Rock). Gruta ‘77 Luis Verde Sexteto (Jazz). Bogui Jazz Vinila Von Bismark (Burlesque). Intruso Bar Chocolate Sexy (Rock), Nap the Band (Rock). Sidonie (Alternative, Rock). Teatro Lara Gruta ‘77 Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café Meshell Ndegeocello (Tribute). Teatro Lara Luís Pastor (Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Before Sunrise Blues (Blues, Rock). Moe Club Galilei Tuya (Indie-pop). Costello Club Javier Colina Trío (Cuban Son, Experimental, Merche (Pop). Joy Eslava Rock, Pop). Bogui Jazz Maria Reyes (Pop). Intruso Bar La Huella Posse Band (Funk, Rap, Reggae). Café Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). la Palma Central Café René (Pop). Costello Club
14 April
Guillermo Lancelotti Moe Jazz Jam (Jazz). Moe Club Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café Patricio Barandiarán (Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Galilei Clyde (Indie, Pop), Tiger & Milk (Pop). Costello Club
c/Costanilla de San Pedro, 7 (Metro: La Latina)
17 April
Bob Sands Big Band. Bogui Jazz Jazz Manouche (Jazz, Swing). Intruso Bar Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, World). Central Café Nadik Barrón and Pablo Sciuto (Folk, World / Traditional). Moe Club Open Mic. Café la Palma
9 April
VINOS, TAPAS, COCKTAILS & LOUNGE MUSIC FABULOUS CAIPIRINHAS
Supergigante, Groovettes (Pop). Intruso Bar Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café Claudio H (Argentine, Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Galilei Laura Enrech (Broadway, Cabaret). Café la Palma Who’s Spain (Tribute). Costello Club Bambikina (Country). Moe Club
7 April
Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café
LA TABERNA CHICA
10 April
McGill Clan (Blues, Jazz). Bogui Jazz Dead Capo (Experimental, Jazz), Retrovisor (Rock). Intruso Bar Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, World). Central Café 13 April Hurry Men (Afrobeat, Funk, Soul). Moe Club Riot Propaganda (Hip-hop, Rap). Sala Penelope Ubhs (Pop-rock). Café la Palma Gimnástica, Santos de Goma (Pop). Costello Club Combo Nº1, Escuela de Blues de Madrid (Blues). Moe Club 6 April Emision Pirata (Metal). Gruta ‘77 Primero Aniversario Sociedad De Blues De Madrid Munduko Beat Percusión (Afrobeat, Cuban, (Rock). Intruso Bar World). Intruso Bar Eliseo Parra and his band (Folk, Rock, Roots, Ole Swing (Jazz, Swing). Central Café World). Central Café Luis Ramiro (Meditation, Sensation). Sala Galileo The Phantom Keys (Rock). Sala Galileo Galilei Galilei Edu Big Hands (Rock). Moe Club Maronda (Indie, Pop-rock). Café la Palma El Hombre Viento (Rap). Café la Palma Spin Off (Gospel). Bogui Jazz Servant. Costello Club Metropol (Pop-rock). Café la Palma Juanma Barroso “Nairi” (Jazz). Bogui Jazz Miremonos (Rock), We Were Dawsons (Rock). Rochers Night. Gruta ‘77 Costello Club
8 April
Nightlife Spotlight
15 April Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café Amir-John Haddad (Flamenco Fusion). Sala Galileo Galilei
16 April Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café Guillermo Lancelotti Moe Jazz Jam (Jazz). Moe Club
19 April
Hechizo (Rock). Sala Lemon Potato Head Jazz Band (Jazz, Swing). Moe Club Básico Permanente (Rock), Maybe Nots (Rock). Costello Club Driving Blind (Black Soul). Intruso Bar Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café Mala Suerte (Pop). Sala Galileo Galilei Xenia Rubinos (Electronic, World). Café la Palma CPV (Hip-hop). Sala Penelope Bobby Martínez Quartet (Jazz). Bogui Jazz El Gran Bonobo (Rock), Die Away (Rock), Big Bang (Rock). Gruta ‘77
20 April Devianlynx (Rock). Sala Galileo Galilei Betamotion (Rock). Café la Palma Berklee Ensemble (Rock). Bogui Jazz Del Prince & Kings of Rythm (Rock), “Lucky Strike” (Rock), The Quarterbacks (Rock). Gruta ‘77 Bakin Blues Band (Rock). Moe Club Local Qua4tro (Rock). Costello Club La Pollería Presenta Fix This Funk (Rock). Intruso Bar Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café
21 April Kamariatribal (Dance, Tribal-fusion). Moe Club Jorge Ahijado (Pop). Costello Club The Mending Pulse (Black Soul, Funk, Jazz). Intruso Bar Legends Voices of Rock (Rock). Joy Eslava Rammstein (Heavy, Industrial, Metal). Palacio de Deportes Perico Sambeat Quintet (Flamenco Fusion). Central Café Shelzza (Belly-dance, Oriental, World). Sala Galileo Galilei Open Mic. Café la Palma Big Band Música Creativa (Big Band). Bogui Jazz
22 April Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café Ocean Colour Scene (Rock). La Riviera Goram City (Pop-rock). Sala Galileo Galilei
23 April Lee Ranaldo (Rock). Teatro Lara Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café Castillo Inglés (Pop). Sala Galileo Galilei Guillermo Lancelotti Moe Jazz Jam (Jazz). Moe Club
25 April Magnética (Rock), Habitante (Rock). Costello Club Bob Sands Big Band. Bogui Jazz Giuda (Glam, Punk), Juanola Heads (Punk-rock). Gruta ‘77 Lordi (Heavy). Sala Penelope Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café Naked Lens (Indie rock), Tucan Morgan (Indie rock). Café la Palma Dorian (Electronic, Pop). Joy Eslava Funambulista (Pop). Sala Galileo Galilei Dan & The Cookers (Tribute to Joe Cocker). Moe Club
26 April The Sand Castles (Pop-rock). Café la Palma Regina Zeneré (Funk). Intruso Bar Los Enemigos (Rock). La Riviera Javier Krahe (Singer-songwriter). Sala Galileo Galilei Blue Velvet (Tribute to Credence). Moe Club coffee&wine (Pop), Llum (Pop). Costello Club Alain Richard Quartet (Jazz). Bogui Jazz Quemadura (Rock), Cheerleaders Asesinas (Rock), Deskarte (Rock). Gruta ‘77 Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café We Are Standard (Pop). Sala Penelope
27 April Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Tribute to the Beatles). Costello Club Sarah Quist Quintet (Jazz). Bogui Jazz Slam & Howie (Country, Trash), No Cash (Skacore), Leone (Country), Astray (Rock). Gruta ‘77 Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café Sotos (Rock), Romero (Rock), Calle Abajo (Rock). Sala Lemon Señor Marrón (Rock). Intruso Bar Noche Sabinera (Pop-rock). Sala Galileo Galilei Cotton Gang (Blues, Swing). Moe Club
28 April Kúnkere (Percussion). Intruso Bar Alessandra D’Ambra (Dance, Oriental). Sala Galileo Galilei Gentleman Clef (Acoustic, Rock, Soul). Moe Club Say (Hip-hop, Rap, Urban). Café la Palma La Leganés Big Band. Bogui Jazz Looking Back Over Chopin (Saxophone). Central Café Eels (Rock). La Riviera
29 April Aurora García Sextet (Blues, Jazz, R&B). Central Café
Venues BOGUI JAZZ, C/ Barquillo, 29 (Metro: Chueca). Tel: 91 521 15 68. www.boguijazz.com. CENTRAL CAFÉ, Plaza del Angel, 10 (Metro: Sol/Antón Martín). Tel: 91 369 41 43. www.cafecentralmadrid.com COSTELLO CLUB, C/ Caballero de Gracia, 10 (Metro: Gran Vía). Tel: 91 522 18 15. www.costelloclub.com SALA GALILEO GALILEI, C/ de Galileo, 100 (Metro: Islas Filipinas/Canal). Tel: 91 534 75 57/58. www.salagalileogalilei.com GRUTA 77, C/ Cuclillo, 6 (Metro: Oporto). Tel: 91 471 23 70. www.gruta77.com JOY ESLAVA, C/ Arenal, 8 (Metro: Sol). Tel: 91 366 54 39. www.joy-eslava.com INTRUSO BAR, C/ Augusto Figueroa, 3 (Metro: Chueca). Tel: 91 531 89 96. Open every day, 8pm-5.30am, and until 6am at weekends. www.intrusobar.com and www.facebook.com/intrusobar SALA LEMON, Avda del Brasil, 5 (Metro: Santiago Bernabéu). Tel: 646 006 433. http://www.conciertoslemon.com/ MOE CLUB, C/Alberto Alcocer, 32 (Metro: Cuzco/Colombia). Open every day, 8pm-5.30am, and until 6am at weekends. www.moeclub.com/ and www.facebook.com/moeclub PALACIO DE DEPORTES DE LA COMUNIDAD DE MADRID, Avenida Felipe II, s/n (Metro: Goya/O Donnell). Tel. 91 444 99 49. www.palaciodedeportes.com CAFÉ LA PALMA, C/ Palma, 62 (Metro: Noviciado). Tel: 91 522 50 31. www.cafelapalma.com SALA PENELOPE, C/ Hilarion Eslava, 36 (Metro: Moncloa/Argüelles). www.penelopemadrid.ticketbox.es
30 April Madera: micro-conciertos acústicos independientes (Various). Costello Club Aurora García Sextet (Blues, Jazz, R&B). Central Café Guillermo Lancelotti Moe Jazz Jam (Jazz). Moe Club The Tribulettes (Funk, Soul). Bogui Jazz
LA RIVIERA, P° Bajo de La Virgen, s/n (Metro: Puerta del Ángel/Príncipe Pio). Tel: 91 365 24 15. www.salariviera.com TEATRO LARA, C/ Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 15 (Metro: Callao). Tel: 91 523 90 27. www.teatrolara.com
APRIL 2013
9
Month Ahead art
Pi CK theatre
■ KELLY RUMMEL, MIKA KUBO AND CATRIONA SPAVEN-DONN
o’ the month
Hiperrealismo 1967-2012 Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Paseo del Prado, 8 (Metro: Banco de España). Tel: 91 369 01 51. Tues-Sun, 10am-7pm. General admission €9, students €6. “Photograph or painting?” is what you’re bound to be asking yourself at the Hiperrealismo 1967-2012 exhibition. This extensive retrospective offers more than sixty pieces spanning the five decades of the photorealism and hyperrealism movement, which can be divided into three generations. The first began as ‘photorealism’ in the United States during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Artists like Robert Cottingham and Richard Estes broke ground on the labourintensive work of recreating reality by gathering information via photographs, and using them to create highly detailed and often eye-tricking representations of American culture, such as the bright and reflective surfaces of shop windows, phonebooths, automobiles and diner interiors. The 1980s and ’90s saw the ‘hyper-realistic’ generation, which focuses on maximum detail and accuracy in transferring to canvas what photography captures of everyday life. The work being produced today comprises the third generation of the photorealistic, with artists exploring the newer technologies of high definition digital photography. This exhibition covers all three periods, proving yet again that photography’s contribution to art cannot be underestimated. 22 Mar-9 Jun
Museo del Prado Paseo del Prado, s/n (Metro: Banco de España/Atocha). Tel: 91 330 28 00. Mon-Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun 10am-7pm. General admission €14. Reduced €7. Permanent collection free, Mon-Sat, 68pm; Sun 5-7pm. El trazo español en el British Museum. Dibujos del Renacimiento a Goya “Spanish Drawings from the British Museum: Renaissance to Goya” presents a selection of great Spanish drawings
■ LAURA STEPHENS
that have, until now, only been displayed in the British Museum. In bringing this collection to the Prado, the exhibition marks an international collaboration between two hugely celebrated cultural spaces. With works spanning from the 16th to the 18th century, visitors can trace the development of a number of artists, such as Alonso Berruguete, Diego Velázquez, Vicente Carducho, Alonso Cano, Francisco Rizi, and José de Ribera. 20 Mar-16 Jun.
Other galleries Impresionistas y postimpresionistas. El nacimiento del arte moderno. Obras maestras del Musée d’Orsay Including some of the big names of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism from the French Musée d’Orsay, this exhibition starts with works from the second half of the 19th century, such as Monet’s misty, romantic Houses of Parliament. There is also a large section dedicated to Cézanne, emphasising his importance in bridging the impressionist and post-impressionist movements, as well as demonstrating how he became one of the first avant-garde painters of the era and opened the way for Cubism. Other works include Toulouse-Lautrec’s Montmartre series, Van Gogh’s paintings of Paris neighbourhoods, and Gaugin’s depictions of Brittany, such as Cows on the Seashore and Breton Peasant Women. There are 78 paintings on display, illustrating a radical and deep-rooted move to modernity. Sala Recoletos, Fundación Mapfre, Paseo de Recoletos, 23 (Metro: Colón/Banco de España). Tel: 91 581 16 28. Mon, 2-8pm; Tues-Sat, 10am-8pm; Sun, 117pm. Free. 2 Feb-5 May.
Las chicas del calendario (Calendar Girls)
xxxx
La moda imposible The Museo del Traje is exhibiting part of its collection of contemporary fashion which includes work by some of the most prominent designers of the late 20th century, including Paco Rabanne, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, Thierry Mugler, Kenzo, and Moschino. La moda imposible, Moda de vanguardia en el Museo del Traje spans 19602010, and shows the most daring forms of contemporary clothing as a way to re-interpret fashion. The exhibition is designed around four themes: materials, colours, structures, and messages. Museo del Traje, Avda. Juan de Herrera, 2 (Metro: Ciudad Universitaria/Moncloa). Tel: 91 550 47 00. Tues-Sat, 9.30am-7pm; Sun, 10am-3pm. Free. 28 Feb-16 Jun. Arqueológica Archaeology underpins societies past and present, and this exhibition at the Matadero displays the work of eight artists, including Mark Dion (USA) and Christian Andersson (Sweden). It examines history, religion, politics, urban planning and economy with an archaeological theme. Whether from the perspective of ruins, hidden remains or visible clues, the focus is the people and events that have occurred, under the idea that research into the past can provide substantial information to understand the present. The exhibition includes photographs, contemporary art and installations. Nave 16, Matadero, Pº de la Chopera, 14 (Metro: Legazpi). Tel: 91 252 52 53.Tues-Fri, 4-9pm; Sat, Sun, 11am-9pm. 26 Jan-9 May.
Based on the quintessentially British 2003 hit film, this production features a cast of acclaimed Spanish film, TV, and theatre actresses. Las chicas del calendario tells the true story of the members of a Yorkshire branch of the Women’s Institute who decide to pose naked for a calendar in order to raise money for a local cancer ward after one member’s husband is diagnosed with leukaemia. The idea, at first discussed in jest, comes to fruition with the help of a local amateur photographer, and soon the women find themselves at the centre of a media storm. The production stars Asunción Balaguer, Beatriz Carvajal and Berta Ojea,, whose combined résumés includes such stage hits as Follies and La venganza de Don Mendo, and the internationally acclaimed film The Women on the Sixth Floor. With a story that is equally funny and touching, this will surely be an enjoyable experience, even if your Spanish is less than perfect. Teatros del Canal, C/Cea Bermúdez, 1 (Metro: Canal). Tel: 91 308 99 99. Tickets (www.entradas.com) from €19. Tues-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 6pm and 9.30pm; Sun, 6.30pm. 3-28 April
Steel Magnolias The Madrid Players latest production, Steel Magnolias, will take place towards the beginning of May, but early booking is recommended. The story, written by Robert Harling, is about the joys and risks of trying to reach our dreams, and how far the bonds of family, true love, and friendship can take us. It follows the day-to-day lives of a group of friends—six women of different ages—who live in a small town in the south of the USA, and focuses on their relationships, using humour and heartbreak to explore illness, courage, and hope. It was adapted as a film which starred Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton in 1989, and is considered a modern classic of American theatre. This is your chance to see a stage version in English. Instituto Cardenal Cisneros, Calle de los Reyes, 4 (Metro: Plaza de España/Noviciado). Thurs, Fri, 8.30pm; Sat, 5.30pm and 8.30pm; Sun, 6pm. 9-12 May. Tickets €12 from ticketsmadridplayers@gmail.com See www.madridplayers.blogspot.com
A life on the line
Months gone by
Streetguys
Vicky Knill sheds some light on the famous individuals whose names merit a city Metro station
April, 2000 (Vol 5, issue 4)
The Bizarre Backpacker
Alonso Cano Alonso Cano was a famous architect, sculptor and painter in the 17th century and has been nicknamed “The Spanish Michelangelo”. His most famous works include Inmaculada del Facistol (The immaculate conception, a sculpture which can be seen in Granada cathedral), El milagro del pozo (The Miracle at the Well, a painting maintained in the Museo de Prado) and Noli me Tangere (Don’t touch me, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest). He also designed the façade of the aforementioned Granada Cathedral (which is pretty cool). Born in 1601 in Granada, Cano moved to Sevilla to study painting and sculpture under Francisco Pacheca, who also taught Diego Velazquez. Cano became a royal painter and architect to Philip IV (just like his friend Velazquez, who has tended to overshadow him), as well as being made instructor to the king’s son, Prince Balthasar Charles. Cano was, by all accounts, a bit of a character. On one occasion he got so angry at a buyer who questioned his price that he smashed a statue of a saint (which at the time was a capital offence). He also fought a duel with fellow painter Sebastian de Llanos Valdes and was forced to flee Sevilla. Then, in 1644, he returned home one night to find his house burgled, his wife dead and his Italian servant missing. Now, I know what you’re thinking; “So the missing servant was the prime suspect, huh?” You would think so, but rather unfortunately Cano was condemned by magistrates (who were probably still peeved about the statue), and he had to peg it to Valencia. When he eventually returned to Madrid, he was arrested and tortured, but endured without incriminating himself. Whether he was screaming “Find the bloody Italian servant” remains unrecorded. Nevertheless, he was set free and took Holy Orders. He died in 1677, and in his dying moments, he pushed away a priest who was trying to hold a crucifix against his chest, as he didn’t like the fact that the priest had been blessing conversos (Muslims and Jews who had converted to Christianity) in the same way. Despite being a man who, we feel, would have little or no patience with ticket machines or delays, the Metro station, on line 7, was named after him and opened in 1998.
10 APRIL 2013
InMadrid looks at its archives to remember how things were in times past The Asian Dub Foundation took the cover of our April 2000 edition, with an accompanying interview by David Oancia Prieto, even though the group was performing at the Festival Internacional Espárrago in Andalucia. Other articles included a light-hearted look at how to complain in Spain by Clare Maloney, whilst Justine Cogan looked at the popularity of Shakespeare on the 436th anniversary of his birth— prompted by the fact that the Royal Shakespeare Company was performing in Madrid. Music: Lou Reed was at La Riviera on the 17th, and Ricky Martin played the Plaza de Toros de las Ventas on the 26th and 27th. Tom Jones, Carlos Santana and Oasis were all in the city the following month. CDs: Our “Groove Check” included a review of AC/DCs Stiff Upper Lip, which was described as “pure adrenalin atavism— the best way to kick off the millennium imaginable”. Movies: Highlights included John Schlesinger’s The Next Best Thing (Rupert Everett, Madonna) and Ang Lee’s Ride with the Devil (Tobey Maguire). Curiosities from our classifieds: Our Desperately seeking section included “Looking urgently for didgeridoo player and teacher”. Heart to heart, as always, provided the most interesting ads: “Dominant male English teacher (attractive, 35) seeks submissive female student for free classes of English with a difference. If you need a firm hand with your English, write for further details...
This wonderful backpacker can often be found entertaining passersby around Calle Arenal and Plaza de Oriente. With stylishly parted ginger hair, tartan trousers, and a substantial tartan blanket, there’s clearly a Scottish tone to his persona. A MacBackpacker, perhaps? The backpack itself is bigger than he is, which begs the question: What does it contain? Haggis? Whisky? Edinburgh Castle? Or, if he happens to be inter-railing around Europe, perhaps he has his own train? We like him regardless, including his scruffy leather jacket, and his recorder. He’s often accompanied by his dog, which plays dead by lying on its back with its legs pointing skywards. (We’re assuming, despite its appearance, that the dog is a craftily constructed fur imitation, and not actually real. If it’s a living creature, then it really needs an urgent health check.)
■ JEFF WISEMAN
MADRID IN ENGLISH
music
Whole Lotta Rock In these times of Justin Bieber and Gangnam style, Vicky Knill discovers that Chamán, a Madrid-based AC/DC cover band, still offer good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll and can also boast a strong connection with the original group
t
he atmosphere is electric and the sense of anticipation emanating from the crowd is contagious. A drummer and guitarist, both dressed casually in the unofficial rock uniform of denim and tshirts, enter the stage at Sala Boite, followed a minute later by a dapper-looking man in a suit and tie, complete with waistcoat—the band’s lead singer Mat Van Kriedt. This is Chamán, a Madrid-based band that, until meeting
“I was born the same year as AC/DC and my mum was kind of a crazy groupie. She made my dad take me along to rehearsals, which wasn’t the best choice for my hearing or for my dad's popularity with the band! “My dad is a guitarist and also a good double bass player so he had some licks. He had a Gibson, an old GS semi, and Angus Young [AC/DC co-founder, lead guitarist and songwriter] fell over backwards to get his hands on it. It turns out that it was the first Gibson Angus ever played.” It would later become Young’s favoured make; so much so that Gibson would make a custom Angus Young Signature SG model.
Partners in rock
Mat Van Kriedt
Photos: Vicky Knill
Mat and deciding to become an AC/DC cover band, had been rocking the local circuit for about 20 years. If Mat’s name sounds familiar, it’s because his dad is part of rock music history.
Rock and roll family trees “My father [Larry Van Kriedt] was the very first bass player in AC/DC,” explains Mat. “He’s from San Francisco and his father, my grandad, was a really well-known jazz man.” Indeed, David Van Kriedt was a jazz saxophonist and composer, who worked with the Stan Kenton band and whose compositions were played by famous American jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck. “He was scared of losing his family to the Hippy explosion during the late 60s, so he packed up and moved everyone to Australia!
As well as Mat, Chamán consists of guitarists David Muñoz and Angus Siete, well-known drummer David Bao and bassist Queque. How did Queque get his name? “Basically Queque needs to be told everything twice,” jokes Mat, before admitting, “It comes from a childhood nickname.” The unusual Christian and surname combination of Angus Siete also originates from schooldays. “Angus had a mate from school who decided one day that from he was going to change his name to Malcolm [after AC/DC’s Malcolm Young],” explains Mat. “Angus, whose real name was Javier, said to his buddy: 'Hang on, that’s what I wanted to do!'” But it was too late, so instead of becoming Malcolm, he adopted Angus, after AC/DC’s lead guitarist. The current line-up started performing together about two years ago. “I knew this guy from the village where I live,” says Mat, “and he was always telling me about some mates who have this band, and that they wanted to come and meet me, have a few drinks and talk about AC/DC. I didn't really know what he was after but he was so persistent that I finally agreed to it to get him off my back. But it actually turned out to be a lot of fun.”
The current starts flowing “For me I think the first show was unforgettable. We were changing the Chamán of old and doing something that the fans
had never seen before. We were all nervous, especially me. I had never thought about doing an AC/DC cover before for fear of what the actual AC/DC would think of me. My dad is in touch with the other original members and I didn’t want him to get any flak from the guys. So I was worried about doing a good job. After the third song we all felt like we were floating away from our bodies and looking at the crowd pouring beer over themselves and banging their heads in a trance. It just took off and became something that felt right for everyone involved.” Chamán is an unusual name for an AC/DC band. Does it have some religious meaning, or is it a hint at leading their audience through the spiritual wilderness? “I think probably drug-taking is to blame for that!" Mat smiles. “The band
Those about to rock Reflecting on the past, present and future, Mat’s happy with the band’s progress. “The plan from the beginning was to learn the AC/DC tunes back to front, so that our compositions would take on an AC/DC flavour of their own. At the moment, we have seven killer
After the third song we all felt like we were floating away from our bodies and looking at the crowd... banging their heads in a trance.
“
have been around for 20 years and they’ve always had the same name. The values were different then than they are now but the name has remained. It isn’t easy to put aside 20 years of history.”
Let there be rock Back at the gig, the band plunges into a series of powerful, high-octane rock covers, including “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Shot Down in Flames” and “Up to my Neck”. The gig is a tribute to Bon Scott, the former AC/DC lead singer who died in 1980. “We were invited to do this homage to Bon Scott by El Ra/Na, a guy who is the kingpin of the Spanish AC/DC fans. He had heard about us doing shows from his subordinates, who’d had a good time watching us. We focus on the Bon Scott era only so it made sense for us to agree to it.” In addition to the rocking guitar riffs and powerful drum solos, it is Mat’s exuberant, high-energy performance which grabs the attention. While quiet and laidback off stage, when performing he is transformed into a screaming, wailing, rock ’n’ roll superstar. Which of these two facets of his personality would he say was more his true self? “My real life has always been around music so the ’me’ you saw on stage is probably closer to reality. Playing old school rock ’n’ roll is a
MADRID IN ENGLISH
real buzz and, yes, it can be tiring but I don’t really realise how much it’s taking out of me until after the show. We’re not as young as we used to be. When we’re on stage we’re having such a good time that it just flies by and before we know it I am back into my ’real’ life.”
songs up our sleeve and we sometimes like to give our fans a treat every now and then, but the idea is to keep things under lock and key until we have enough material to make an album worthy of its heritage. Right now, we plan to continue doing AC/DC covers around Spain and hoping that with each concert a little more magic will rub off on us.” When he’s not singing with Chamán, Mat is a booker for “electronic music cathedral”, Fabrik, so there’s little time for anything else. “Chamán is all the band that I can take at the moment," he explains. “Way more than enough—I think I lose a kilo and a half at each show. We don’t mess about.”
If your rock appetites have been whetted, check out Chamán on 4 April at Sala la Mala (Metro: Campamento), where they play the first Thursday of every month, or 13 April at Custom Spring Bash (Urtinsa industrial estate, C/Polvoranca, Alcorcon). Biker clubs Custom 13 and the Piratas will be at the latter.
APRIL 2013
11
Come rain or shine Erratic spring weather can cause havoc with your plans in Madrid. Irene Berman-Vaporis looks at alternatives for a wet or sunny day t’s that time of the year again: the time when Mother Nature is a tease. Spring is here, it’s finally warm enough to take off your jacket, but you daren’t go out without an umbrella— which is enough to give anyone a good case of seasonal affective disorder. Madrid, however, can always offer a wet-weather haven or a spring heaven:
Blue skies, shining on me
i
The positive side to April showers is that at some point the rain has to let up. You can always take a stroll through the Retiro, but other blue-sky bounty is available:
1. Parque El Capricho—branching out to this park is a joy, as you can find French, English and Italian gardens in a less-crowded environment. This 14-hectacre garden dates back to 1784 and was originally created as a nature retreat for the illustrious people of the era. It’s been used as a backdrop in many films, and supplies an array of colours, a lake and curious buildings. Paseo Alameda de Osuna (Metro: El Capricho)
It’s raining again For those seemingly endless days in April when the sol doesn’t appear in the Puerta del Sol, these are sure to keep your spirits up:
1. Jardín Botánico de Atocha—No one wants to stroll through a garden when it’s raining, but since this garden is inside, the weather doesn’t matter. Oddly located in the middle of the Atocha Renfe station, the botanical gardens spring up as an unexpected haven of greenery among the grey concrete jungle of the bustling station. And there are turtles. Lots of turtles. 2. Medina Mayrit Baños Árabes—If the umbrella you bought from that man outside the Metro fell apart after five minutes, you’re probably soaking wet; so why not embrace water for what it is? Soak up some relaxation with a dip in these Arabic baths and let the warmth surround your entire body. You’ll leave feeling like a new person; and after all, spring is about rebirth and renewal. C/de Atocha, 14 (Metro: Sol) 3. Café de la Luz—Even if it’s another consecutive day of overcast skies, the light’s always shining at Café de la Luz. With such a fitting name, it’s no surprise that warmth exudes from the friendly staff members, who never hesitate to sit down for a chat with customers, and the cozy atmosphere creates a feeling of intimacy. A perfect escape from the bleak outside world. C/Puebla, 8 (Metro: Gran Vía)
Photo : Maritza Mossberg
3. Museo de Arte Público—If you don’t fancy a stuffy museum when it’s gorgeous outside, meander to this open-air museum. Located under a bridge crossing Paseo de la Castellana, passersby and art merge together. Its 17 modern sculptures— stone or metal constructions—make it an ideal spot to take unique photos. Paseo de la Castellana, 40 (Metro: Rubén Darío) 4. Madrid Río—There’s always something to do along this 10 km stretch of river, from an urban beach to hiking areas, tennis and basketball courts, and football pitches. If you’re not one for sports, check out the gardens—there’s the Aniceto Marinas, the Puente de Segovia, the Puente de Toledo, or the Invernadero de Arganzuela greenhouse. The area runs for 10km along the Río Manzanares, and with more than 15 play areas, it’s also a great spot to bring kids.
4. El Corte Inglés—One of the best places to catch breathtaking views of the city is none other than the El Corte Inglés store by Callao Metro. Its café on the ninth floor allows customers the opportunity to see Madrid’s sights—from the Royal Palace, to Opera, Gran Vía, and the Casa de Campo—all with a hot coffee, and without an umbrella. C/Preciados, 3 (Metro: Callao) 5. Museo Sorolla—Museums are the obvious choice when the weather’s gloomy, but the Museo Sorolla should be your go-to rainy day hot spot because it has artwork from the “painter of light”. Joaquín Sorolla’s delicate landscapes take you to the coast and countryside, and if you can’t actually be on the beach, his vibrant paintings offer the next best option. (Incidentally, if the skies turn blue, the Museum’s small garden is an oasis of peace and quiet.) Paseo del General Martínez Campos, 37 (Metro: Rubén Darío)
Photo (CC) flickr: Promomadrid_Alfredo_Urdaci
Photo (CC) flickr: Merce
2. Second hand book market—Between the Retiro and Atocha, you can browse through hundreds of secondhand books on stalls that hold a plethora of hidden novels waiting to be discovered. Afterwards, you can always visit the Real Jardin Botánico (€3) and find a cozy spot under a tree to begin reading your newly acquired classic. La Cuesta de Moyano (Metro: Atocha)
5. Parque del Oeste—Famous for its flowers, May sees an international rose festival in la Rosaleda, the Parque del Oeste’s rose garden, but a pleasant April often brings earlier blooms. The Templo de Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple, offers good views, and then from the Pintor Rosales entrance, a ride on the Teleférico cable car will present better ones. Since the ride finishes in the Casa del Campo, you can end your day with a picnic in the city’s largest park. Paseo del Pintor Rosales (Metro: Argüelles)
Eating & Drinking great ideas for eating out in Madrid Eating & Drinking
Thai Restaurant The authentic taste of Thailand in Madrid c/San Bernardino, 6. Metro: Plaza de España. Tel: 91 559 83 15
Bangkok
VEGAVIANA Vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Madrid
Excellent Thai Cuisine
Daily Menu 9,70
c/Arenal, 15 (esquina Bordadores, 13) Tel: 915 591 696. Metros Sol or Ópera.
c/Pelayo, 35 (Metro: Chueca) Tel: 91 308 03 81. Open Tues-Sun 1:30-4pm. Tues-Sat 9-midnight. Closed Sunday & Monday
VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT WHOLE FOOD
Oriental tea house Arabic cuisine and cakes –Delicious Couscous– Tues-Sat, evenings: belly dancing Classes: belly dancing, Arabic percussion
Ventura de la Vega, 4 (In front of “las Cortes”) Tel: 91 429 50 92 Tres Cruces, 4 (Metro: Sol) Tel: 91 521 87 21
c/Martín de los Heros, 28. Tel: 91 559 57 85
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Spanish for foreigners 1 Small groups 1 All levels (D.E.L.E. Official Exam) c/Fuencarral, 13-2º, 28004 Madrid Tel: 91 522 31 22. Fax: 91 532 85 09. e-mail: info@carpemadrid.com www.carpemadrid.com
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156E 40 HOURS MONTHLY * Groups or private classes * Special classes for companies c/Carmen, 6 — 28013 Madrid 91 522 04 72 - 91 521 10 04 91 522 18 57 - 91 531 38 56 e-mail: info@cee-idiomas.com
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APRIL 2013
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FROM 12 MARCH ROOM TO RENT IN 4 CAMINOS From 12 march, room to rent in 4 caminos for man/woman. Completly furnished and centric flat to share with another girl. Flat with TV and internet.5 min far from 4 caminos subway, and 10 min far from Nuevos ministerios subway. The room is furnished, illuminated and has table to study. 300 euros month+expenses apart+1 month deposit.Call Diana: Tlf 676 15 69 87. 2 ROOM APARTMENT PLAZA DE ESPAÑA AREA Recently renovated 2 room apartment consisting of 1 large bedroom with either 2 single or 1 double bed and living room-kitchen available for short or long term lets. Spacious bathroom with shower, large wardrobe with safe, weekly cleaning with change of bedlinen. Wifi and TV, air conditioning, washer, dryer.second floor overlooking inner courtyard. 900 Euros per month plus gas and electricity. Well kept historical building with day concierge. Contact: Barbara Wenger, wengerbarbara@gmail.com . Tel. from within Spain 660 389 221. CENTRO MADRID ROOMS rooms for rent, Centro Madrid easy walking distance to 2 metro stations,bus and cercanias, rooms are bright and airy as there are lots of windows, All mod cons in kitchen and an outside patio. line 1 Puente de vallecas line 6 Mendez alvaro 250€+expensive,deposit. tel.-680 65 32 02 JOSE. carlosgasanz@yahoo.es.
SPANISH GUITAR LESSONS Even after dedicating more than twenty years to the guitar, by playing and teaching, every time I get more and more excited to transmit my passion for it to others. It doesn’t matter what level you are in, if you want to take guitar courses, I’m ready to help you by teaching all that I’ve learned from the best teachers and through my own experience. Classes in English or Spanish. The first lesson is free for trial. Metro: Goya & Manuel Becerra Telephone: 650672356 Email: astur_kirichian@yahoo.es.
holiday-accommodation APARTMENT IN THE BEST PLACE OF ANDALUZIA SALE (75.OOO euros) or RENT (400 euros month) a beautiful apartment fully furnished of twoo bedrooms and a living room,in a tipical spanish village of Andaluzia. 9 Km from a famous Palmar Beach and Caños de Meca. Private garage. Elevator. Good weather and sun all the year. Supermarket. Call Yolanda - 0034 627 834 694. HOME - 91 237 30 19 Ana 666 161 898 yolaespinoso@yahoo.es.
dance-classes MARISA’S DANCE ACADEMY Come and learn Ballroom Dancing, Latin and New Vogue in English. New Vogue is a style of dance danced in Australia. For further information contact Marisa on 670 735 746 or by email: marisabaile7@gmail.com.
language-classes spanish SPANISH CLASSES Qualified native teacher with experience. One to one or groups. Grammar, conversation. DELE.Revision text. Zone: Moncloa or in your place. From 15 euros negotiable. Cristina 656 634 343. Email: cristinadomingo3@yahoo.es. LEARN SPANISH WHILE YOU HAVE FUN Enthusiastic, native Spanish speaker offers private Spanish lessons (all levels) at his place in the centre (near metro Tribunal) or in yours. Nice home with terrace and a lot of books. Pablo, licensed in Fine Arts and free-lance journalism, offers one to one or group classes. Grammar and conversation. All in a fun way. From €12. Learn about Spanish culture with visits to exhibitions, museums, theatres, bars and sight-seeing. Hourly and total immersion classes. Contact pablopeinado50@gmail.com or phone 659794508.
english QUALIFIED ENGLISH TEACHER, LONDON UNIVERSITY. Qualified English Teacher, London University. Specialized in business English and Cambridge exams. 20
years experience. celine83@gmail.com, 679159919. ENGLISH CONVERSATION CLASSES Graduate from Oxford with over 10 years teaching experience offers conversation classes. I can help you improve your fluency in business or general English. €20 per hour. Please call me for a trail class. 610 307 499.
sailing BOATING LICENSES ARE NOW A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SP BOATING LICENSES ARE A LEGAL REQUIREMENT IN SPAIN Serenity Sailing RYA Training Centre. Competent Crew to Yachtmaster, Powerboat Level Two, VHF & ICC. Ownboat tuition on sail and power. All licenses are internationally recognized. If you have a yacht or powerboat get qualified and certified. Contact Richard +34 638056224 / enquiries@serenitysailing.com / www.serenitysailing.com.
clubs
Therapy, Graphotherapy, Hypnosis. Anxiety, mood disorders, depression, relationships, social skills, addictions, marriage and family counceling, group therapy. Possible on-line therapy. Handwriting analysis. Introduction to graphology. Nereida Gómez, registered psychologist M-17.690 Tel. 659 50 26 88 n.gomez@iridio-sl.com. COUNSELLING THERAPIST IN MADRID Counselling Therapist in Madrid offer a bilingual psychological counselling service in English and Spanish, which is orientated to the specific needs of the English speaking community in Madrid. The first session gives me the chance to evaluate if I can be of help to you and also it allows you to evaluate whether you wish to continue working with me. This first session has a fee of 10 euros to cover my costs. I have an office in calle de la salud 15 28013 Madrid. e-mail me at: chrisneill@counsellingtherapistmadrid.com my web page: www.counsellingtherapistmadrid.com.
for-sale
clubs-sports LOS NARANJAS - FIELD HOCKEY We are a mixed team of men and women of all ages and levels of experience, who meet up at the weekends to play hockey and socialise afterwards. If you are interested in joining, contact us via email: los.naranjas.hockey@gmail.com. MADRID LIONS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB, EST. 1997 Madrid Lions Rugby Football Club welcomes new players of all levels and nationalities. Pub night Thursdays from 8.30pm at Finnegan’s, Plaza de las Salesas (Metro Alonso Martínez or Chueca) where you can find out why we are Madrid’s most popular and successful social rugby club. Check out www.madridlionsrfc.com, email info@madridlionsrfc.com or ring Charlie on 636 067 716 or Paul on 679 225 067. MADRID CRICKET CLUB Madrid Cricket Club is always looking for new players of all levels and nationalities. We hold regular training sessions and friendly matches in Madrid from March to November and we have two teams in the Spanish Cricket League. For more info contact Joss (663 395 058) or Jon (655 069 9 11), send an Email to cricketinmadrid@yahoo.co.uk or visit www.cricketinmadrid.com.
counselling COUNSELLING MADRID Welcome to Counselling Madrid, a friendly & professionally run private counselling practice devoted to the international community. Expats, spouses, students & foreign professionals, the main users of the service, enjoy access to both face-to-face & online counselling services. Living & working abroad brings many challenges while support networks take time to develop. This explains why the practice is run by qualified Counsellors, Therapists & Coaches who have lived & worked abroad themselves. Counselling Madrid abides by the BACP Code of Ethics. www.counsellingmadrid.org admin@counsellingmadrid.org - C/ General Diaz Porlier 57, Madrid. THERAPIST / COUNCELOR Psychotherapy. Cognitive-behavioural and Humanistic approach, Solution Focused
SOFA, VARIOUS FURNITURE AND HDTV Highest offer... Moving back to the UK so looking to sell a HDTV, a 3 seat + 2 seat sofa and Buffon (all matching), a computer desk and chair, tv stand with two drawers, living room table, small table and a 2 x white 5 drawer units. Will sell separately but prefer job lot. Cost new 2years ago was €3000 All good condition and any viewing welcome - in central madrid near Retiro. Email for more info or to make an offer.. Andym2910@hotmail.com. FULL HEIGHT FRIDGE-FREEZER (Fagor) for sale, €30 or swap for mini-fridge. Collect in central Madrid. Also two Carrier portable air conditioners (one working, the other has some sort of fault), €40 the pair only. Contact 618 434 067.
MULTILINKUAL: INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS IN MADRID Multilinkual.com Meet new people and practice languages, FREE. Tuesdays (O’Neill’s, Príncipe 12, from 22h), Thursdays (Beer Station, Santo Domingo square, from 22h), Fridays (o.v. movies at Cine Ideal & Bulevart pub, Jacinto Benavente square), Sundays (Marca, Valverde 44, from 19h) ask for David. Also dinners, trips... puestres@yahoo.es, Facebook: Multilinkual. MADRIDBABEL: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN MADRID!!! Meet people from all over the world, practise languages absolutely FREE & make new friends through our wide range of international activities: EVERY WEDNESDAY > International Evening from 20:30 at Café Galdós (Los Madrazo 10 - metro Sevilla). EVERY SUNDAY > International Afternoon from 19:00 at Café Galdós (Los Madrazo 10 - metro Sevilla). EVERY WEEK-END > Films in o.v., international dinners, tapas evenings, excursions, trips, sports, wine tastings, cultural visits, parties & many other activities!! For more info contact Fran (madridbabel@yahoo.es) or visit www.madridbabel.es. LANGUAGE TASTING Intercambio and Wine Tasting Taste a new language and practice your wine drinking! The most interesting language exchange in Madrid Every Tuesday you are invited to come and enjoy conversations about wine and anything else that interests you while practicing Spanish, English, or French. We meet at Madrid’s coolest new bar, “The Cunning Fox” in Alonso Martinez. (C/ Santa Teresa 14) from 8-11:30pm. Each week we will offer 3 new wines and tasting notes and other drinks for the non-wine-drinkers as well as easy conversation starters so you’ll always have something to say. Oh,Entrance is free!.
jobs
health-and-fitness WANT TO GET FIT FOR THE SUMMER? My aim is to help others achieve their health and fitness goals through a well structured training schedule and healthy eating habits. In every day life we are faced with various different challenges and there is no bigger challenge than keeping fit, healthy and feeling great each and every day. I would like to help you achieve your goals by guiding you through specialised training plans and providing advice on nutrition and healthy eating. For more details, please visit my website: www.hfhealthandfitness.com or call me on:+34 603523871.
heart-to-heart friendship LOOKING FOR NEW FRIENDS IN MADRID Hi there, I’m a 45 y.o. guy living in the centre of Madrid near Plaza Mayor. I’d like to meet up with English speakers my age or younger for friendship. My interests are mostly cultural activities - museums, music, opera, theatre and food. Hobbies are looking after my cats, travel and cooking. Get in touch via ozyboyes@yahoo.co.uk.
intercambios groups
jobs-offered ENGLISH TEACHERS REQUIRED NORTH AND SOUTH MADRID ELINGUA is currently recruiting native or near native ENGLISH teachers to give In-company classes in the North and South of Madrid. If you are looking for some teaching hours, have experience, are motivating and enthusiastic, send your CV to cv@elingua.es. SALES DIRECTOR SEEKS PERSONAL ASSISTANT; to work in our busy central Madrid office; making telephone calls and chasing new contacts. Full time position, but would consider part time / job share. You must be highly motivated, have a happy disposition, and be a fluent English speaker. Salary with bonus scheme available to the right candidate. Possibilities for promotion, which may suit graduate entrants. Please reply with a copy of your CV (in English) to: hr@amaliawealth.com.
tertulias MADSHORTS LITERATURE GROUP Do literary discussions appeal? Join us, an established group that enjoys reading and exchanging views about texts. We meet once a month, and arrange nights out for meals, plays, literary fairs, films etc. If you’re interested contact us at madshortsmadrid@gmail.com.
Wanted Freelance, Bilingual Salespeople Earn great commissions in your spare time.
InMadrid is looking for enthusiastic, bilingual salespeople to sell it’s new range of mixed-media advertising solutions. Experience not essential. Self-motivation a plus. Unique products and market.
Send your CV and a photo to work@in-madrid.com
14 APRIL 2013
MADRID IN ENGLISH
service guide service guide service guide service guide service guide Language Services
Work Offered
Teacher (QTS) and an NVQ3 Required native English female to work with 1 to 6 year old children in a British Nursery School in Pozuelo. School Holidays paid. Possibility of full day job (9.00h a 17.30h) or half day job (9.00h a 14.30h).The Nursery is very well communicated with Madrid centre by train or bus or metro ligero.
Please send your CV to britishnursery@britishnursery.com. www.britishnursery.com
MADRID IN ENGLISH
APRIL 2013
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