Pedro Toro, jumping from analogical to amplified and back using the intermittent function of his microphone, presented Short Music, "a mini-festival inserted into the larger festival of ALCINE" and then introduced us to the first artist, Henry Lee Shmidt, born in Valencia but whose heart was "made in Nashville", who took us on a journey to the roots of the purest country accompanied by his guitar and voice. Shmidt played his first songs and then had a short break to encourage the audience to help finance his record through Crowdfunding. Worthy of special mention was his cover version of a Hank Williams classic which got the packed crowd in the Corral de Comedias clapping and cheering.
Now offstage, Toro took up the reins of Short Music again to introduce the next guest, but no without first getting the audience to bring out its animal side ("this is a corral, so there is no need to hold back; let’s get rocking"). And the next guest was Caustic Roll Dave, who left the audience gasping at the deployment of 8 pedals, a keyboard, several guitars, a few toys and a loudspeaker, all for his first track, and at the originality of what they were witnessing. Caustic Roll Dave mixes classic blues with funk and rap, and a little hard core.
Another thunderous ovation was followed by the reappearance of Pedro Toro on stage, and then the next artist, here to bring #ALCINE44 Short Music to a close, and to fill the Corral de Comedias with good vibes, with a great time had by all. Rolando Bruno and his Orchesta Midi showed us the charms of Peruvian Cumbia with lyrics loaded with ingenuity and wit, and an audience in constant motion clapping along to this Argentine globetrotter. Rolando’s fantastic sense of humour came to the fore when he dedicated his version of Swan Lake to none other than Natalie Portman, and then brought his recital to a end with another free and fun version of the Rolling Stones hit, "Sympathy for the Devil".
These three performances were followed up in the Flamingo Bar, audience included, where DJ GrooBerG took charge with great tracks from the best of Soul, Funk and Afro.
Another great ALCINE Night of Music. So now we can’t wait for next year, to enjoy another billing up to the standards of one of the best festivals of short films in Spain.
