Six weeks without a live show, turned out to be a long time indeed. So when I read about Papangu's visit to Rio in December I knew I had to be there. In The Netherlands my rule of thumb is music beats football. In Brazil it can be that futebol bate musica. On this afternoon the choice was between Fluminense's last competition match or Novas Frequências festival. Asking Papangu about the time-schedule, which was not found online by me, it showed that they would start when the match was just finished. So no double program and Circo Voador it was. This venue is one of the classics in Rio and actually the most beautifull I've been to so far. It s a circus tent indeed next to Lapa's famous arcos. As we are in Rio that means only the back and top of a tent. On the sides it opens to a large outside area with food, drink and tables available. Keeping an eye on their program from now on, as this was a ver nice setting for a show indeed. Side comment to Dynamo Metal Fest a small pizza with proper thin crust and good taste at 3,50 euros, watch and learn.
Arriving around 17:30 I immediately bumped into Vitor, drummer of Papangu, who invited me backstage to say hi the band and others too. A very warm welcome, but I think I stated before that Papangu are truly nice guys. Finding out how tickets for drinks worked and staying Dutch with Amstel this evening I took my place in the arena for a good close look at Papangu. The other two bands on the bill where unknown to me and would prove to be very different
Papangu kicked of at 18:15 and seeing them for the 4th time within six months should indicate they can not surprise me any longer. Well guess what they could. Papangu does not follow setlists and with a new album being recorded in Berlin straight after their European tour the evening started with lots of new material. Just when you think it is more jazz over metal this time, they cranck up the volume and go black metal again. I am already curious about their next album and what styles it shall bring. Seeing the band in Rio again, meant more people already knowing them and the chance to chant Papangu back to the band. Tonight brought lots of instrumental parts and quite asome jazz, but at the same time the heaviest version I ever witnessed of Boitatá. Highlight might have been the instrumental with the same guest guitarist that played Garage Grindhouse earlier this year (sorry forgot his name) .So another great show by Papangu it was and I hope that in 2026 I can see them again in Rio.
Hereafter the shows would be by bands I never heard of until the announcement of this evening. Test e Deafkids turned out to be different indeed. The stage showed two drums, plus percussion at one drum at the back. In front we got a guitarist who also played percussion or bongos and a bassist who would scream at us at times. That is lots of drums/percussion and this resulted in rhytms all over their set of noise drones and postrock. Vocals if happening were either very distorted or towards the extreme. I had found my place at the back in the stands and came to the conclusion that this band was great for seeing live and not so much to play on CD at home. A good set they gave us and open minded souls must have loved this.
The headliner this evening were Metá Metá and yet a completely different direction musically. This trio had a female vocalist with strong expression, an acoustic guitarist who sang at times and a saxophonist who played flute at times. The place was filled and people danced and sung along with to me new music. The way the guitarist mistreated his guitar was impressive and loud given the setting. The saxophone did add to the atmosphere and vocals could go up to hysterical screams. While Test e Deafkids were a band to see live, I thought this more a CD band, but they did not bring merch.
So the evening ended and I was pleased I opted for the music. It was great to see Papangu again and even without Marco on bass in quartet formation they were huge again. Outside it was all about samba, but I slowly get to know my way around in the Rio underground scene, which should lead to at least one more 2025 show.
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