*****

Caetano Veloso is as legendary a figure in Brazilian music as say, Paul McCartney in the UK and Bob Dylan in the US.  It’s worth seeing legends live at least once though they are often likely to let you down.  Not so Caetano who still sung and played brilliantly at the first of a series of concerts at the Barbican to celebrate the Tropicalia movement.

The Tropicalia arts movement began in 1967 with the musical arm releasing their manifesto album in 1968.  Combining samba and bossa nova with psychedelia and surreal images, it finished in 1969 when Veloso and another leading light Gilberto Gil were imprisoned then exiled by Brazil’s military dictatorship.  Imprisoned more because the authorities didn’t understand their subversiveness rather than their message being overtly political, Caetano and Gilberto lived in London between late 1969 and 1972 when they returned to Brazil and became musical superstars.

The now 64-year-old Caetano and the +2 band came on stage to an overwhelming warm response the like of which I’ve only witnessed a few times before.  The appreciative audience, featuring a fair scattering of London-based Brazilians, then settled back into their very comfortable seats for the musicians to play majestically.

Caetano played guitar and sang brilliantly, his supple voice weaving effortlessly through the phrased samba melodies.  For the first quarter of the show, he was backed very sympathetically by the +2 band featuring Caetano’s son Moreno on guitar and vocals, Domenico Lancellotti on drums, sampler and vocals, Alexandre Kassin on bass and vocals, Pedro Santos on guitar and Stephane Zoccoli on drums and percussion.  Unlike most rock music, their excellent, understated arrangements predominantly used the top strings of the guitars, both for chords high up the neck and attractive arpeggios.

After a few songs, the +2 band left the stage for Caetano to perform a solo mini-set.  Backed by his exquisite, acoustic samba playing, this included a moving version of London London, a song recorded while he was in exile.  With its images of helpful, friendly policemen, London London could be a nice though slightly twee period-piece were it not written by someone leaving persecution to come and live in the UK.  Tonight’s performance was touchingly dedicated to Jean Charles de Mendes, the young Brazilian tragically killed in error by the UK’s security forces in the aftermath of the 7/7 attacks.

After playing solo, Caetano then took on the humorous but touching role of the father figure as the +2 band played a few of their songs.  These ranged from a more modern take on samba to post-rock and quality techno (yes, this does exist!) with doting Dad joining in or watching from the sidelines.  All excellent stuff – a kind of Radiohead without the angst…

Caetano then rejoined the band for a grand finale of his songs and a cover of The Beatles’ For No One.  He left to a standing ovation and my only regret was that it was over too soon.  A superb and moving gig at an excellent venue.

20.4.06