Manu Chao 3909.indd
Transcription
Manu Chao 3909.indd
JUNE 27 WHAT ABOUT CHAO • T H E F U N K - S O U L B R O T H E R • Most of the world is already on board; it’s high time that Ireland at large embraced the brilliance of Manu Chao P erformers who sing in Galician or Wolof don’t dominate radio playlists; recording with the patients of a psychiatric hospital isn’t a wellworn path to success either. Then again, not many artists on the planet are quite like Manu Chao. Examples of his uniqueness – even in the wild world of music – are easy to find. In 1993, Chao and his group, the soon-to-be-disbanded Mano Negra, commandeered a train cobbled together from decommissioned carriages and travelled across Colombia, accompanied by a full circus troupe, on a tour of free concerts at stations along the way. And he brought his journalist father to document the whole thing. Sixteen years later, another wild South American project saw the ‘King of the Bongo’ record an entire album, Viva La Colifata, in partnership with the Argentinians who run Radio Loony at the facility of which they are patients. Even Johnny Cash didn’t get too close to the Folsom Prison gang, never mind collaborate. A winsome mix of punk, reggae, Latin and ska – all bundled together with a pop sensibility – is combined with a direct, antagonistic politicism rarely seen since the work of Bob Marley. The heady cocktail has swept around the world. José-Manuel Thomas Arthur Chao, to give him his full and proper title, is nothing short of a superstar in France, where he was born, or in Spain, where his roots lie. The various adventures across the Atlantic have seen him enjoy success across Latin America too. His popularity has stretched to Irish shores to an extent; he played sold-out shows in what was then The Point, once while Metallica did their thing in the RDS the very same night. He also packed them into Phoenix Park in 2007, and the year previous played an early-afternoon set to a lively and sizeable Oxegen crowd; anybody who visited Punchestown will know just how much it took to drag the sore heads out of their tented dwellings any earlier than teatime. He traverses languages like a trapeze artist; from French to Spanish and English to Portuguese. In a 2003 visit to Dublin, he even told Hot Press’ Danielle Brigham that he wouldn’t be averse to getting in touch with his inner Gaeilgeoir. “If tonight I get drunk in Dublin and inspiration comes, it’s really possible that the song’s gonna be in English, or even Irish, because the surroundings are made of these sounds. I travel with my ears and with my nose as well.” Despite the acclaim that greeted his seminal album Clandestino – and the cult following he managed to build – he remains something of an unknown quantity for many in Ireland; the international superstar who’s somehow managed to creep under the radar. His relatively low profile is in part due to his humble attitude; he’s more likely to grab a kip on a friend’s floor than in a five-star hotel, and shuns the showbiz lifestyle for more personal – and occasionally political – pursuits. One man who can shed some light on the enigmatic hero is Dugs Mullooly of Celtic-punk veterans Blood Or Whiskey. The group had the opportunity to support Chao on his last Irish visit – and found themselves getting up close and personal with the star backstage. “He knocked on our dressing-room door,” Dugs recalls, “handing us a beautiful bottle of ten-year-old whiskey to thank us for coming to play with him. We were in pure awe. He was a really friendly guy; personable, down-toearth, and really happy to be in Ireland.” Indeed, the gratitude shown towards the Irish act was genuine; Chao had handpicked them for the date. “It turns out he would get bands from the local area to support him wherever he went,” Dugs explains. “In Bilbao, for instance, it might be Fermin Magaruza from Kortatu, or another band that he liked himself. He said he loved our band, and that’s why he requested us. At that time we'd just released Cashed Out On Culture, and apparently he had it on his tour bus. Manu’s stuff is extremely political – standing up for the working man – and we’re the same; on that album we had lots of songs about injustice in society.” “I was sitting in our manager’s office when an email arrived,” he continues. “It said Manu Chao would like us to play with him. I thought it was someone pulling our leg, but thought ‘we might as well say yes anyway’. I was a big fan of his old band, Mano Negra. I had the King Of Bongo album when I was in school, and loved ‘Out Of Time Man’; that would feature a lot when I’d make up mixtapes! That’s why I was blown away, and thought it was a joke.” The invitation, of course, was very real, but it wouldn’t have been the first comical misunderstanding centred on a Chao gig in Dublin. An unsuspecting promoter, so the legend goes, once underestimated the pulling power of the performer, and booked Whelan’s for a show. It was only when the ‘sold-out’ signs appeared immediately that his levels of stardom became clear. He’s kept a pretty low profile of late, with 2007’s La Radiolina his last studio release. That’s part of the reason why his RHK date is one not to be missed; for another, we asked the man who watched the last Irish gig from the side of the stage just what to expect. “A big party!” Dugs laughs. “Manu’s a phenomenal live performer and it’s an amazing show. Even though the lyrics are kind of dark, the music is upbeat and uplifting. That last time, it was in a tent, because it was November; a nice summer’s evening this time would be the cherry on top.” GETTING THERE There Is No Concert Parking If travelling from the City Centre, you can also walk to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. It is approx. 30 minute walk from O’Connell Bridge. Pedestrian access will ONLY be permitted through the East Gate on Military Road. Public Transport Luas Take Luas to the concerts in the grounds of the RHK this week. Travel on the Luas Red Line and get off at Heuston, the RHK is just an 8 minute walk from here. For more info check www.luas.ie/routes Dublin Bus These Dublin Bus routes serve Heuston Station pprox.. 10 minutes walk to the concert site: 25, 25a, 26, 66, 66a, 66b, 67, 69, 79, 79a, These Dublin Bus routes serve James Hospital approx. 10 minutes walk to the concert site: 13,40,123 For more info check www.dublinbus.ie. Taxis & Pick Ups There will be no taxi access permitted onto Military Road before, during or after the events. A drop off area will be in operation for taxis on Johns Road West in the Vicinity of Heuston Station. A taxi waiting area will be facilitated along St John’s Road West (Inbound) for pick up following the events. Manu Chao plays The Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Saturday June 27 Blood or Whiskey featuring Dugs Mullooly (far right)