They arrive at the Ateneu Barcelonès to talk about the return of The Last of the RowManolo García wears a denim jacket. Quimi Portet, a mid-season blazer. "I look like Manolo's lawyer," says the inter-regional star with the sense of humor that also permeates the press conference. "We are at your disposal if you have any easy questions that we haven't studied," Portet asks. "We deserve that joy," adds García. The joy of a nine-concert tour that will begin on April 25, 2026, in Fuengirola and will then stop at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium (May 3), Roquetas de Mar (May 16), Madrid (May 23), Barakaldo (May 30), A Coruña (June 7), and the Ciutat de València Stadium (July 4). Tickets, with prices ranging from €71.50 to €104.50 (including booking fees), go on sale this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on the Ticketmaster website.

The good rapport between Manolo García and Quimi Portet has led to one of the highlights of the year: the return of El Útimo de la Fila to the stage. For now, it will be a tour, scheduled for 2026, with concerts in Fuengirola, Barcelona, Roquetas de Mar, Madrid, San Sebastián, A Coruña, Avilés, Seville, and Valencia. Tickets for the concerts will go on sale this Tuesday, April 29th. on the group's website.

A few days ago, a younger friend asked in a chat room why we like Quimi Portet so much. Some of the responses were: "For his lyrics," "He has a cool, naughty side," "He's aged really well," and "He already had great songs with El Último de la Fila." I added that she understands Catalonia very well. "Very well argued, I'll listen to it," she concluded.

Quimi Portet begins Songs in Bello Limousin (1987-2020) (The Second Periphery) as if he were Pla: "We Catalans are generally considered to be rather modest cattle [...]. If I had been intelligent, I would have been a plausible cynic, but [...] I have had to settle for being what they call "a joker"... The lyrics of Portet's songs in Catalan come with biographical-philosophical introductions that contradict this: Portet shines for his intelligence.

The musician Quimi Portet (Vic, 1957) has just published Songs in Bell Llemosí, a book that compiles the lyrics to his 130 songs in Catalan. The prologue is by Quim Monzó and the epilogue is by Manolo García, with whom—among many other things—Portet spent a decade of madness with El Último de la Fila. Read without musical accompaniment, Quimi Portet's lyrics are even more fun, delicate, poetic, or metaphysical. That's why there won't be any questions in today's interview. Just verses from his songs that I've selected to keep the conversation going with Quimi Portet.