"I wish I was a fisherman wallowing in the sea. Away from the land and its bitter memories." Mike Scott
Lennon said that "life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans". In the case of our protagonist, Mike Scott (The Waterboys), those plans have been primarily musical: road and blanket, songs with a lyric that takes refuge in the great Anglo-Saxon poets and a carefree attitude that fits in with the bastions of rock. Mike has never hidden and, with a career spanning more than three decades and almost twenty albums released, this Scottish crooner can boast of being one of the key figures of his generation. He has been able to adapt to change and explore the swampy terrain that tends to provide unforgivable mistakes. To have a home you have to have a war, and Scott has a home full of fans who have understood the supreme value of his compositions.
A week ago, I had the privilege of chatting with him on the occasion of the upcoming visit of his incombustibles The Waterboys to the Noches del Botánico, and the release of their new work, Where the Action is (2019), which they will present to us on Sunday, June 30. The first thing that surprises when listening to Mr. Scott ─as Así me dirigí─ is that, behind that deep and grave voice, there is a close and extremely nice man. A musician seasoned in a thousand battles that breathes simplicity, humility and human quality. Three attributes difficult to find in these times of absolute technology.
Mike Scott doubts the existence of the current rock scene and says he loves playing music of different styles. His new album is probably his most eclectic and for that reason he doesn't like to be labelled. His experience has allowed him to "play" between genres and he defines his band's music as simply Waterboys Music, with all that that means. The Waterboys have been popular in Spain for a long time, which is why he always ends up coming back to our country. Mike enjoys our character, our food and, of course, our weather and our magnificent cities.
There is also time to reflect on live music and how nice it is to play at a festival like the one at home, surrounded by trees and nature. His voice doesn't tremble when he tells me that "everyone with a functioning brain should be concerned about climate change, we should all unite in this cause, there are many fools who ignore what is happening". I sense some concern when I tell him that in Spain philosophy is no longer studied in schools; he asks me if a right-wing party is governing, stating that such governments don't want good education. We don't need no education, Pink Floyd sang.
We talk about the impact the Waterboys have had on current bands like The War on Drugs - who did a great version of the classic A Pagan Place─and he tells me that he is really happy to know that they inspire new generations. Finally, when I ask him about an album I shouldn't miss in 2019, he tells me that he has bought the new Anderson Paak album but hasn't had time to listen to it yet.
After this colloquium in which we talked about music and the vicissitudes that assail us these days, I would like to recommend the concert that The Waterboys will offer us on 30 June together with Paul Carrack. Creative freedom and, undoubtedly, a night to remember rapturous pieces that are dressed in improvisation and mastery.
Nicolás Fernández
Kulturtado
