Ratos de Porão + Dead Fish (09/03/2014)

Yesterday I got to take part in a historic moment of the Brazilian Punk-Hardcore scene. Still being alive and still playing on the road after 33 years of existence is an accomplishment that few bands have in their repertoire. Ratos de Porão recorded their first album in 1984, and this year they are celebrating its 30^th anniversary. To commemorate, the band put up two shows, bringing back the original line-up that recorded “Crucificados pelo Sistema”.

I got to the venue right before Dead Fish started playing. This band dates back to the early nineties, and coincidently this year they are also celebrating the 10^th anniversary of one of their most well succeed albums – “Zero e Um”. I am not the biggest fan when it comes to punk-rock or melodic hardcore, but I gotta give it to these guys, this was a pretty damn good show. The vocalist was unstoppable during the entire show, and the drummer really is nothing short than amazing. The band played the album from the beginning to the end, making the crowd go insane. A crowd with a lot of young blood that was able to boost the band with their sing-along and unstoppable moshpits. It was a great opening for Ratos, which surprised me at all levels. The only negative point to mention was the sickening teenagers and posers taking selfies with their iPhones during the entire show. Or maybe it is just me getting old and grumpy.

Now to Ratos! Back in February 2013, I had just arrived in Brazil when I got to see Ratos for the first time playing at home(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6oKHkJm_yQ). That was simply an amazing and brutal show, which even surpassed the one I’ve seen from them 7 or 8 years ago in Portugal. I knew this wasn’t going to be the best show I would see from them, but it was also not supposed to! This was supposed to be an historic and fun show. And it was!! Jão, the current guitarist went to the Drums, Mingau came back from the dead (1984), left the bass with Ultraje a Rigor and took the guitar for the night, Jabá also returned and took the bass and João Gordo assumed his front-man position. As expected, the setlist covered “Crucificados pelo Sistema” but it also included some other early 80’s classics that you hardly get to see at any Ratos show. Hell yeah, old school style!!!! I missed those usual classic punks and more of those die-hard Ratos fans in the crowd, but still, the moshpit was insane - old school pogo, no fancy dancing, beer and sweat in the air, and memorable singalongs. Given the songs played, the setlist hardly had any song with more than 2 minutes which allowed the crowd to keep the energy during the entire show. A Ratos show is simply CHAOTIC, and you got to love that! After one encore and several Ratos chants from the crowd, it was time to go home.

In the end, everybody left the place smiling. It was a different show from Ratos, a show in which you could see the guys having fun going back in time. I take my hat off to Ratos de Porão, not only as Brazilian classic band, but as an international classic band! Oh, and from what I heard, a new album is coming! “RATOS! RATOS! RATOS!”

C.C.M.

Tribute to one of the oldest bands that is still around!! I'm looking forward for a night of classics!

DESTRUCTION PARTYYY!

You know what to expect when Mr. Miyagi is on stage! Beer in the air and skates rollin' over your heads!

DESTRUCTION PARTYYY!!!!

Summer's Main Event - TODAY!!!!

Friends, beach, party and good shows! You can't miss this one!

New blood on the scene!

The first band – Cold Blooded – 4 friends that got together to bring something really fresh to the scene. They kind of have some different influences from what we’re used to hear in Portuguese bands, and for me that’s definitely a plus! Don’t miss out their first demo!

MYSPACE

The second band – Shape – was brought to life in 2009 but only now they’re putting out their first demo. From what I got to hear in their myspace it sounds pretty good. I’m really looking forward to see their energy live. My friends from Black Rain are going to release their tape in the next days! Another one that you shouldn’t miss!

MYSPACE

Finally, if you want to see both bands live, here’s your chance! This Saturday they’ll be playing in Cacilhas along with 3 other terrific bands! Once again, feeling pumped!!

Juicy Records

"Juicy Records begins to leave its mark in 2010. Not to reinvent, nor to divide in worthless categories of genres and aesthetics, but to serve as a platform for projects that transport contents through music. Music with content is music that transmits something. Values, messages, emotions, stories…all of these have been brought to us over many years by music, and now it’s time to gather some friends and give something back."

"Some people have asked me why am I doing this, why drag my money, my time and my energies on something that can be a total failure just by looking at the state of things nowadays…my answer: I’m just doing me, I’m just following an old dream and creating something to share with everyone. All my life I have been inspired by music. Not only by the bands playing on stage, their words, but also by the people standing on the backstages, working hard to make things happen. I have been on both sides, but most of the time I am just a kid in front of a stage waiting for that burst of sound that makes me feel alive…to all those kids, I bring JUICY RECORDS to life. It’s kinda my way to say thank-you to hardcore and music in general. It was all a dream…but maybe it is finally coming true."

A great DIY initiative by my friend Ema (Walkthewalk). I truly admire people like him, that are not afraid of taking the risk and throw themselves to a project that fulfils their dreams. Go check the website and support the most you can!

Juicy Records Website

New stuff that is worth checking!

I wasn't aware of American VI until I read a small review here. It's always worth listening music coming from Johnny Cash, but the most amazing thing is that the album came out in February 2010 and Cash died almost 7 years ago.

Well, it's not really the most innovative thing from Mindset, but still this "Time & Pressure" has the straight edge feeling that I like. You can expect fast songs always with a message behind the lyrics.

New York legends are back! Quite a surprise this one. "Death to Tyrants" wasn't really my thing, but this new album sure surpasses its predecessor. I'll probably write a small review on the album for my other blog.

We know that when the Wu-Tang boys get together to put something out usually the result is good. "Wu-Massacre" isn't genious but it sure offers around 30 minutes of entertaining and solid Wu-Tang rap!

Regarding this one, it's probably the best album I've heard so far this year. Unfortunately, they lost a bit of the Motorhead touch, but still they pulled out an amazing set of 10 songs. My friend Gonçalo will probably write a review on this album pretty soon.

Cologne, March 2010

This week I'll be too busy taking care of a presentation for my course, so next weekend I'll post a review of this night of concerts. Seriously, it surpassed all my expectations. Respect to the German crowd that was there last night! Way way better than the Dutch! Completely insane...

I didn't get that much sleep at the hostel though. The couch awaits me!

Good News!!!

Close to my place, and only for 12.50€ ? Cool!

I would probably prefer to see H2O along with my friends in Portugal, but this one will have to do it!

Just the proof...

...that I didn't do the same mistake again! My ticket is here (not a fancy one for my collection though).

Something interesting I found about the receipt they sent me was the message on its bottom right corner. Unfortunately, I'm getting so used to see radical right-wing people in Hardcore shows around here, that it's good for change to see that there are still people that fight against ideals that do not belong to the Hardcore scene. "Keep your country tidy!"

I should have known better...

This is what you get when you don’t know how things work in a different country. Remember the nice Madball and friends show at Rotterdam? I’m not going. I tried to buy my ticket one week in advance, and the response I got was “I’m so sorry the show sold out 2 weeks ago”. I never saw a Hardcore show running out of tickets in Portugal, but oh well, this ain’t the land of Fado is it? As my Portuguese friends must be thinking now – ESTUDASSES!

It isn’t the end of the world though. The party was delayed only for few days. Instead of partying with the Dutch, I will have to do it with the Germans. I think Cologne is even closer to Maastricht than Rotterdam.


8th of March - Cologne, Germany

The ticket is on it's way!!!

Next Friday

Yes, it's gonna be good!

LiMpA_ViAs recommends for today!

Saturday!!! Feeling Pumped!!!!

Oh yeah baby, "Municipal Waste is gonna fuck you up!"

Back at my home country it was like this few months ago: