Review: We Buffalo + Corda + The Yardangs in Lisbon, Musicbox

On July 11 the night was set to celebrate the release of We Buffalo's first EP "Wild Miles".
We Buffalo also invited Corda and The Yardangs to join the party.

At 10.05pm, Corda - that is composed by Tiago Proença (vocals), Raul Carvalho (drums), Pedro Ferreira (bass) and Pedro Bento and Jorge Ramalho, both on the guitars - started their solid show. From a previous performance, I'm glad to notice that they've grown and turned into an exciting band, with a strong psychedelic rock and proudly sang in Portuguese.
Corda made a great job that night and between the powerful guitars and bass and the unstoppable drums mixed with a warm vocals - they began to sound interesting.

Later on, We Buffalo - a trio composed by Ricardo Ferreira (vocals/bass), Pedro Veiga (drums) and Márcia Correia (keyboards/vocals) - gave a solid show representing essentially the wildness of their debut Wild Miles and the friendship that joins them, turning their performance into something real and honest.
Musicbox was now full and loaded to see the main band of the night.
To highlight the raw and pure sound without guitars and huge (but interesting) contrast between Ricardo's hard and deep vocals and energy and Márcia's soft vocal melody.
With high influences of Dead Weather or Queens of the Stone Age, We Buffalo brought the classic keyboards and sweet solos to their iconic sound. And it works!
A strong and cohesive first EP, highlighted by a very good show - surely, a band to keep an eye on.

We Buffalo at Musicbox 

We Buffalo at Musicbox

The Yardangs ended the celebration. Created three years ago and composed by Luís Fernandes (vocals/guitar), José Pedro Esteves (guitars), Henrique Branco (bass) and Ricardo Espiga (drums).
From this band, we expected nothing but a solid and unique performance... That didn't quite happen, being a bit below than expected. Yet, they gave a good show and shared their power rock with their one-of-a-kind attitude proving why they are such a cohesive band.
With a wide path of influences, they are a clear mix of different sounds but that only highlights their own sound.

The balance of the night is clearly positive where three different bands united by their rock sound and their passion for music gaving their hearts and souls to what was a good night for music and especially, for Portuguese music.

Photography by: Sara Juma

Review: Gula + Alf + Corda in Lisbon, Ritz Clube

On February 21st, around 10pm a celebration would be held in.

The Portuguese GULA were celebrating the release of their debut EP O Ano da Fome [which you can now download from iTunes here] and we were there for the party.

The first band to join the stage were the young Alf, composed by Bernardo Vasconcelos on the bass guitar and synths, Pedro Morgado on drums and backing vocals, João Morgado on vocals and guitar and André Bispo on the guitars and backing vocals. They are a very interesting band, with good harmonies and instrumentally strong.

These four young men have a very appealing presence and a very catchy sound that contrast with the well structured songs, an easy turn from powerful and loud melodies to soft symphonies that get you unarmed.

With surprising waves in the songs but keeping the sense and bringing a whole new experience to each listener.

Their surprising synchronized rhythmic without losing their connection in each song, it’s clear their love for music and especially, the love for their music.
It’s really great to see such dedicated bands on stage, even though they seem so young but it’s obvious their talent and future in the business.

If it wasn’t for the drummer’s t-shirt, their influences would be harder to notice – The XX is, for sure, one of the bands that inspire these guys but it’s also noticeable other stronger genres like hard rock.

The second band were the five-piece named Corda composed by Pedro Bento on the guitars, Pedro Ferreira on the guitars, Raul Carvalho on drums and Tiago Proença on vocals.

It was a bit hard to get through out the performance but one thing is for sure, they are really powerful and full of energy.
The voice with flaws that yet bring a mysterious interpretation of their raw sound mixed with a quick upbeat background. Some moments of their performances were dark, proving that their music ain’t for everyone.

Their sound can be described has hard rock with strong influences of electronic music.

The kings of the night. Gula are composed by João Campos on vocals and guitars, Jorge Albuquerque on the guitars, Vitor Calado on drums, Luís Santos on the bass guitar and Bruno Mota on the synths and keyboards.

The first thing to highlight on their great performance is their powerful upbeat instrumentals, having the ability of getting our attention from the very beginning.

João’s vocals extent is flawless with incredible changes in its sound and rhythm but without reflecting any sign of tiredness.
It’s surprisingly good to see how geniusly close they are from the (un)expected, a really good surprise!

An expected quality that catches anyone for being so genuine and pure but mostly, true to themselves and their unique sound.

In terms of melodies and sounds, they are pretty strong and it's clear the talent of each member that bring such an individuality but in resume seem so cohesive and intense.

They make sense from bottom to top and I, personally, wasn't expecting such a great, catchy and interesting live acting from a band that's realizing their debut EP.

It's unquestionable Gula's talent and their truthfulness to their original sound that makes them so incredible and deserved to be explored and listened to. They have such a quality and everything tunes together.
Very versatile and appealing, somehow truly catchy and it really sticks in our heads for being so rich and different from each song.

The way they ended the night was really unpredictable covering a song 7 Mares from an old Portuguese band named Sétima Legião, what a great interpretation. They make a different view from this big Portuguese hit. It was refreshing and a great way of ending this great show!

A really, really great live performance from these men full of talent, cohesion and truthfulness to their music.
I just can’t wait to see Gula live again!

Gula - Portugal em Chamas

Gula (which means 'gluttony' in English) are a rock band from Lisbon, Portugal, formed in 2011. They present themselves as free music producers, as their music goes from the very calm and melodic to the heavy and fast, from the light to the dark, where the Portuguese is the attacking language!

Gula are composed by João Campos (vocals) and Vitor Calado (drums) - both from Rejects United -, Luís Santos (bass) from Acid Season, Jorge Albuquerque (guitar) from Micky Eight and finally Bruno Mota (keyboard) from Hello Atlantic.

They have already performed in several places to promote their work but the official promotion is about to start after the recording of 5 songs in Malware Studios that make part of the band first EP O Ano da Fome. The first single was already announced and it's called Portugal em Chamas.

So far, the new single has already gained some spotlight in Myspace Portugal and Palco Principal.

The official apresentation of the first EP is scheduled for the 21th of February in Ritz Clube, in Lisbon, at 10pm. In order to warm up the crowd CORDA and ALF will present their works, and then Gula ends the night! The tickets for this gig are available for 6€ (with the new EP included) and can be acquired before the gig.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gulapt