Concert Review
Leo Middea - Notícias de Puglia Tour
There’s something unmistakably Brazilian running through Leo Middea’s music. Born in Rio de Janeiro, the troubadour, guitarist and songwriter has been making music for as long as he can remember, weaving the colors, rhythms, contrasts and energy of his home country into every song. Leo Middea’s latest album Notícias de Puglia was featured in our Seven Albums To Be Your Summer Soundtrack feature. The album is packed with drums and rhythm, that euphoric feeling of carnival and kissing someone for the first time, and that undeniable pulse of home for Leo. It only makes sense that tonight, on the official last summer day of the year, he is bringing these songs to life in Berlin. There’s something almost magical about hearing Leo Middea’s Brazilian rhythms fill the historic ballroom of Heimathafen Neukölln. Originally built in the 1870s as a salon and ballroom in Rixdorf, the ornate venue has spent the past 150 years transforming from a local entertainment hall to a theatre, cinema and cultural space. Tonight, its old walls are given another chapter as congas, guitars and Brazilian rhythms take over the room. It’s crowded tonight on stage at Heimathafen. Leo Middea enters with a band of five members. Each musician is dressed with a big smile, immediately giving the crowd that warm feeling of familiarity. The show opens with a big bang as we dive right into ‘Fio de Bronze’. No support act warming up the crowd, no upfront warning. From the very first minute, each and every visitor is asked to sing along to the song. The Portuguese-speaking fans take the lead, and the other half of the crowd happily join in for the easy parts. The night is off to a great start. The live instrumentation is incredible. The keyboard is going, the trumpets are strong, the bass is electrifying and a traditional drum kit is joined by a set of hand-played congas, bringing an infectious rhythmic energy to the performance. Leo himself takes part in the band with his guitar. It’s his warm and crystal-clear voice, however, that hypnotizes the crowd. It’s easy for him to sweep the audience away. Let’s be honest, a smile like that is stealing the show! His one and only English song on the album has a background story. Leo introduces the song by explaining in detail how it came to life. One of his friends told him he should really record an English song. He is traveling the world with his tour, so he should give his non-Portuguese-speaking fans something to sing along to as well. The singer agreed, but quickly found himself in a writer’s block. Until one evening, when he spent about five hours in a bar back home in Rio de Janeiro. Drinking beer with friends, he noticed three people passionately kissing each other throughout the whole night. This ultimately became the inspiration for ‘More Than Two’. The absolute highlight of the evening is when the opening track to his latest album is brought to life. ‘Atabaque’ has the band jumping around on stage, ensuring everyone in the room is moving along and celebrating the music. To really become one with his fans, Leo and his bass player join the crowd to dance together to the sounds of a Brazilian street festival. If you came to the show feeling worried about whatever you have going on in your life, we’re sure the joy in the room washed it all away during the performance of this song. Leo and his band play for a whopping one hour and 45 minutes, but the night goes by in what feels like five minutes. We are having so much fun. We all dance as one to ‘Verano’ and sing in harmony to ‘Sulamérica’. Whoever said music unites would’ve been proud tonight. Notícias de Puglia was clearly made with the intention of being played live, and we loved every second of it.
