Street Art + Jazz Sinfônica

When people ask me about São Paulo, I usually reply saying that it is a “more than it meets the eye” city. Even though the city center offers its own architectural beauty, I wouldn’t call it a reference for tourists. However, when it comes to the cultural offering, or having initiatives for leisure time, São Paulo truly is an amazing city, which not only provides you with a wide variety of choices, but also choices for whatever time of the day you chose. This past weekend I took Saturday’s afternoon (again) to walk around the city center and visit a new Street Art exhibition, and Sunday morning to visit, for the first time, the magnificent “Sala São Paulo” and enjoy a concert from the Jazz Sinfônica orchestra of São Paulo.

Street Art - Um Panorama Urbano

Contrary to what I expected, the Street Art exhibition is not by itself a reason to go to the Centro Cultural. However, if you’re in the zone and you have 15/20 minutes to spend, it still is worth seeing. Even though it advertises more than 5 artists in the flyer, you hardly get to see more than 2 works from each of them. 

For me, Banksy and Vhils (hometown street artist from Portugal) were clearly the most appealing names, but taking into account the high hopes I had, I got a bit disappointed. I was kind of expecting something like a small tour throughout the past years of each of the artists but instead I only got a very small flavour and generic presentation over what they have been doing in the Street Art scene. I was particularly drawn into the the works from Jef Aerosol, a French pioneer from the eighties who is known for his portraits of celebrities and, as always, the painting from Nunca, one of the most stylish graffiti artists in Brazil. Also from Portugal we had “Mais Menos” with a pretty strong political and critical stand in the works displayed.

 

 

 

The entrance is free, and it will take you no more than 20 minutes to go through the entire exhibition, so if you’re close to Praça da Sé go check it out.

Jazz Sinfônica – Concertos Matinais

Knowing that I like classical music and jazz, early in the week my girlfriend asked me if I was up to a concert Sunday morning, in “Sala São Paulo” from the Jazz Sinfônica Orchestra. Immediate question - “how much will it cost us?” -  and immediate answer - “It’s free, but limited entrance”. Allowing the general public to visit one of the best concert halls (if not the best) in the Latin America, and giving them the chance to experience a truly unique concert from a great orchestra without having to spend a single coin, is something worth valuing, so here goes my big up for whoever was the responsible for this initiative.

The concert hall by itself is worth the visit. The way is mixes the classical and historical feeling with some more modern elements in its architecture and design is simply remarkable. It is not in vain that the “Sala São Paulo” always comes as a top 3 must-see locations in any São Paulo tourist guide.

The show lasts a little bit more than an hour and it presents several Brazilian composers. It was the first time I saw an orchestra of this type, and I loved it. I’ve been to some classical music concerts, but adding the drums and some other jazzy essential elements gave it a whole new flavor. The The maestro explained and contextualized each of the seven “acts” that were played, and was able to make a very good connection with the public from the beginning until the end.
In the end, the concert earned a huge standing ovation, and for sure I will dig more about this Jazz Sinfônica orchestra and its endeavors.

Noite de Improviso + Il Trovatore

How good is it to experience different live shows and performances? Past week I had my first night of live improvisation comedy and went to my first opera ever.

Noite de Improviso @ Comedians

If you have been looking for a good live improv show, this is it! 3 guys on stage and 1 invited guest will assure that you laugh until you can’t take it no more. During approximately 1 hour and a half these guys will present you to several improv group techniques (some of them really impressive, requiring a very sharp memory), making the show really interactive with the crowd. As far as I’m concerned, maybe too interactive!!! No, it really is fine, but damn, from a crowd of two hundred people I was one the chosen targets! Basically I got to watch a guy performing Daniel Simoes as business consultant in the funniest situations picked out from the crowd ideas.

The venue – Comedians – is really impressive in the inside. You sit all around the stage in small 4 person tables, you can order different types of drinks and the food menu is really OK (mainly based on appetizers and small portions). The entrance is R$ 40 and the show will be on every Wednesday night at 9pm. Totally worth it!

Il Trovatore @ Theatro Municipal de São Paulo

I have wanted to go to an Opera since my sister got in the Conservatorio Nacional in Portugal. No better time than the season’s opening opera at Theatro Municipal. Il Trovatore is a famous four acts opera which premiered back in 1853 in Rome. It truly is a different experience. The acting and the music are both so powerful and intense that you are easily sucked into the story, even if you have a hard time understanding every piece of it. The Municipal Symphonic Orchestra of São Paulo is simply amazing, and even though it plays below the stage, it earned a round of applause as if they were as important as any of the main characters.

The Theatro Municipal of São Paulo, located in the city center, is a beautiful and historic place which definitely deserves a visit. For R$ 40 I got a decent seat (not sure if me and my girlfriend sat where we were supposed to though), and experienced some unique and truly astounding moments. Il Trovatore will be on until the 22^nd of March during different days of the week. An experience that I will repeat for sure!

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!!

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!

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!

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: