“No, Os Mutantes, you are beautiful!” I thought this as the group’s figurehead and lead singer Sérgio Dias humbly lavished praise on the happy audience. And to think that I’d almost given up on the show because of bad traffic! What great fortune if you, too, have had the privilege of experiencing Os Mutantes live. Melophobe caught up with the five-man, one-woman group at The Aladdin Theater on Wednesday night. They were between San Francisco and Seattle, sleep deprived and homesick for their beloved São Paulo, Brazil. Nevertheless, they put on the most spectacularly fun show I’ve seen in a long, long time. I must preface this with how much more meaningful a show is when you’ve sat down and talked with the artists, watched them pin, prod and polish their stage garb, listened to the warming up of vocal cords, and inconspicuously observed a pre-show pep-up (I wish I spoke Portuguese!).
Versatile. Theatrical. Hot. What word best sums up Os Mutantes? The world beat initially brought to mind Pink Martini, but I soon had no idea why. Pink Martini is bland and sedate in comparison to this flaming shot of sound that races your pulse one minute (like the immediate burn of alcohol against your tongue and back of the throat) and lulls you in sweet harmonies the next (that lovely swinging existence on the road to drunken bliss). No, I think a more appropriate comparison could be made to Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, if simply for the frenetic energy with which both groups approach their music and cater to their audiences. In no time at all, Os Mutantes succeeded in transforming the good folks at the Aladdin into gleefully seductive dance machines. Take one front row couple:
They swing tight together
She pushes him hard away and waves her hand in his face
He reaches out, cups her cheeks in his hands
They toss their hands up high over their heads and sweep them down over their bodies
He smoothes his hair and edges a hip in toward her
She shakes her head and looks away
He strokes her hair and they dance
It is obvious that Os Mutantes are highly skilled musicians and performers, and that, in spite of the difficulties of the nomadic touring lifestyle, they absolutely love what they do. I don’t think, however, that much of this is communicated by enjoying their music in the privacy of your own home. No, you must trek out and experience them LIVE! And when that happy day comes that you should find yourself, twitchingly impatient, standing in a long line outside some venue waiting to snake into an expensive (but oh so worth it!) Os Mutantes show, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for ripping guitar solos, hearty whole-group singing, irritatingly catchy beats, and romantic melodies that shred into noise. Oh, and don’t forget your dancing shoes and extra deodorant!
DOWNLOAD: Os Mutantes - Teclar (MP3) or Follow us for more Os Mutantes MP3s (Twitter)
Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
thanks so much nadine! probably the best compliment a photog can get!
and thanks for reminding me to embed the video in the post too!
by Steve Benoit on Sun May 20, 2012 at 09.33 am from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
I can’t get over how these photos captured my up close memory of the night.
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 11.08 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
Or should it be whoever? F my grammar.
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 10.30 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
Whomever took these photos certainly captured the night!
by nadine on Sat May 19, 2012 at 10.26 pm from the entry: Father John Misty + Har Mar Superstar - Brighton Music Hall (Boston, MA; May 16, 2012)
“Mindkilla” is awesome. I’ve got this music video last week and really impressed through watching every performance particularly “Glass Jar”. Thanks dude. :)
dance contest
by Mark Waugh on Thu May 17, 2012 at 05.54 am from the entry: Gang Gang Dance's Illuminating "Mindkilla"
Also, I have yet to pay this venue a visit, is it good spot? good people, good vibe, good atmosphere?
... man, i hope i win some tickets…
by Jaz Bonnin-Aldatz on Thu May 17, 2012 at 12.27 am from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
Looking forward to the show. Would love to win some tix for my pals.
by MC Breath on Wed May 16, 2012 at 07.40 pm from the entry: It's all good, see Fishbone for free at Fête
