Live music and stuff in Santander, June 2022

A lot is going on in Santander; it’s a shame I couldn’t see all that I wanted. Oh well.

• 10 May — 10 July: «Atrás toda» @ El Palacete del Embarcadero, Muelle de Calderón, Santander
  A collection of historical photographs of Santander by José Antonio Torcida (1859—1900). The catalogue of the exhibition is available here.

  

• 3 June @ Eureka Santander, Calle San Simón, 8
  This was a solidarity event with Alega Cantabria (Asociación de Lesbianas, Gais, Bisexuales, Trans e Intersexuales de Cantabria) in the light of the vandalism that had taken place at the Association’s seat in Eureka. The music on offer was nothing to write home about (sounded like one highly repetitive song in a loop), but the main reason for me to go there was to meet old friends. The wine and (free!) tortillas were good too.

  

• 3—5 June: Callejeando Food Fest @ La Plaza de Alfonso XIII
  It was a three-day event but I learned about it rather late. I passed by on Sunday. The highlights included food trucks, a free Swing class and music by 14 Cuerdas.
• 5 June: Jazz Jam @ Rvbicón, Calle del Sol, 4
  The base band of Javier San Miguel (sax), Antonio Gamaza (piano), Manuel Cavero (double bass) and Roberto Gamaza (drums) with the guests Manuel San Emeterio (guitar), Adela San Miguel (drums) and Rafa Santana (piano).
• 8 June: ARBEBOCA Quartet @ Rvbicón
  Moving modern jazz from Gorka Benítez (tenor sax, flute), Albert Bover (piano), Giuseppe Campisi (double bass) and Rakel Arbeloa (drums). Watch the full concert here.

  

• 15 June: Highlanders @ Rvbicón
  Celtic folk from Eduardo Andérez (guitars), Borja Feal (flutes, bagpipes), Chus Gancedo (drums) and Carlos Gutiérrez (bass).

  

• 18 June: Mehnai & Mario @ Biblioteca Central de Cantabria, Calle Ruiz de Alda, 19
  An evening of Anglophone rock and pop standards by Carmen Bartolome (aka Mehnai) and Mario de Inocencio.

• 22 June: Tom Kessler Trio @ Rvbicón
  Tom Kessler (guitar), Eric Surmenian (double bass) and Pier Bruera (drums). Watch the full concert here.

  

• 25 June: Fiesta de cumpleaños @ Centro Botín, Muelle de Albareda, Paseo de Pereda
  To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the Botín Centre organised a number of activities culminating in the Birthday Party, with performances by Ain TheMachine and DIVA. I liked the first show: Ain TheMachine was using the live voices of the audience and the ambient noises recorded at the Botín Centre to create his compositions. There was a magical moment it the end of the show when we all lit the sparklers (kindly provided by the organisers).
  Also, for a week from 20 to 26 June, there was free access to the exhibitions:
  • Portraits: Essence and Expression, a permanent exhibition featuring works by Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon, Juan Gris, Joaquín Sorolla, Daniel Vázquez Díaz, Isidre Nonell, José Gutiérrez Solana and Pancho Cossío;
  • Ellen Gallagher with Edgar Cleijne: A law... a blueprint... a scale (14 April — 11 September);
  • The first retrospective of drawings by Juan Muñoz (25 June — 16 October).
  I used that opportunity and am jolly glad that I did; otherwise it would be an unforgivable waste of eight euros.

  

• 26 June: MAR (Micrófono Abierto Rvbicón) @ Rvbicón
• 29 June: Saiz-Surmenian-Urretagoiena Trio @ Rvbicón
  Juan Saiz (flute, sax), Eric Surmenian (double bass) and Mikel Urretagoiena (drums). Watch the full concert here.

  

And that was it for June.

Kokon

a film by Leonie Krippendorff

First period, first love, first sex — not particularly deep but beautifully told coming-of-age tale. Ignore the eponymous cocoon metaphor (luckily avoided in the Spanish version of the title, El despertar de Nora): it’s way too predictable; look out for hidden gems instead.

The soundtrack features Bowie’s Space Oddity and magnificent She by Alice Phoebe Lou.

The Bad and the Beautiful

a film by Vincente Minnelli
score by David Raksin

One more classic that I’ve just discovered thanks to Filmoteca de Cantabria. Starring Lana Turner (The Postman Always Rings Twice) and Kirk Douglas, and co-starring — I’d say, outstarring the main duo — Gloria Grahame, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Gilbert Roland and Barry Sullivan.

Again, not exactly a comedy, but it’s got its fair number of comic scenes. Mr Minnelli was poking fun at Hollywood clichés already 70 years ago: watch out for a swimming pool scene.

The film won five Oscars, including Best Supporting Actress to Grahame. You still can see why.

Estiu 1993

a film by Carla Simón

Although Spanish Wikipedia defines it as “comedia dramática”, Carla Simón’s debut feature is neither a comedy nor a drama. There is no much of a plot either, just a situation lived by a six-year-old girl, which gives this film strangely dreamy and at the same time compelling, almost a documentary feel. Laia Artigas does not play Frida: she is Frida. Likewise, Bruna Cusí, David Verdaguer and Paula Robles are Frida’s new family.

I watched the original Catalan version with Spanish subtitles. The Spanish-dubbed version is available at RTVE Play and, for a change, does not make me cringe.

Atraco a las tres

a film by José María Forqué

This 60-year-old classic is a proof, if one were needed, that it’s very much possible — indeed necessary — to make great comedy even under dictatorship. Just saying. Oh, and don’t miss that churros scene.

One, Two, Three

a film by Billy Wilder

Starring — or should I say, dominated by? — the great James Cagney, this fast-paced comedy is probably the funniest film I saw this year. At times (most of the time, really) its satire is a bit crude, what with all West Germans being ex-Nazis and Russians total dicks. I loved it.

The choice of music is brilliant too: the Ride of the Valkyries, Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance and, best of all, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini used by Stasi agents to torture poor Otto (Horst Buchholz).

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

a film by Don Siegel

I think I first came across this cultural reference twentysomething years ago, in a poem by Robert Rankin from Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls:

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers The Thing from Planet Z The Big Eyed Beans from Venus The Fiend without an ’ead The wild wild women of Wonga Morris the human mole Loup Garou The man from the Pru The Beast from the Bottomless Hole The Phantom of the Opera The lad from the Black Lagoon Vampires and umpires and pirates and poets The Scotsman who lives on the moon Turned up on my doorstep yesterday To say they had put up my rent I said curse and damnation (they had an alsatian) And that’s why I live in a tent.

Another masterpiece that I’ve never seen until now — again, thanks to Filmoteca de Cantabria. According to Wikipedia, this film “was remade several times, including as Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), Body Snatchers (1993), and The Invasion (2007).” There must be somebody working on yet another remake named simply Of.