
This blues band began in the southern Brazil, more precisely in a region called "Vale do Rio dos Sinos". Their line-up consists of Uraneo Laureano (vocals and tenor saxophone), Tiago D'Andrea (piano, Hammond and Rhodes), Rafael Salib (electric guitar, acoustic guitar and backing vocals), Samuel Moraes Bolacel (electric and fretless double bass) and Paulo Barros (drums and percussion). The album 'Maus Tempos, Bons Tempos' (Bad Times, Good Times, in english) was recorded and mixed in São Leopoldo City (BR-RS) by Roberto Coutinho & Chico Pereira, and mastered in Chicago (US-IL) by Blaise Barton. It’s worth to mention that this work was financed by the Cultural Fund of São Leopoldo's City Hall and counted with special guests: Gonzalo Araya (harmonica), Dejeane Arruée (trombone) and Bruno Nascimento (trumpet).
This album has several influences: boogie, country, funk, rockabilly, New Orleans jazz, Mississippi blues, Chicago blues, rock and even samba/rumba!!! And the lyrics... They are in portuguese!!! FINALMENTE TIVEMOS NOSSA VINGANÇA!!! Yes, you will have to put this in google translator to understand what i said, just as many brazilians do with songs in english... MUAHAHAHAHA!!! Furthermore, this album still has its own accent, both in its music and in its lyrics. Already in the first track the word "guria" is used, and this is a very regional term from the state of Rio Grande do Sul to denominate a woman. And then you are probably asking yourself: But this is blues, is funk, is rock, its blues rock sung in a strange language??? Ahhhhhhh... this question reminds me of a rather peculiar story!!!
One time, Rafael Salib (the guitarist) told me that when he lived in the United States, he was able to see a lot of blues shows and the bands played things that were not considered blues outside the US, such as Purple Rain - yes, that Prince music - and when he asked why they played it, they simply replied, "Oh, but there's a lot of blues in that song!". At these little seconds, we have some kind of enlightement, and we perceive that blues is like jazz and any other music style... There’s not a “right” accent, there’s not a “correct” way to play, because each musical style isn't just a "kind of language", it's a way of life, it's an Aura! And this guys have the Blues' Aura!!! They REALLY have it!!!
Oh, they are planning to release this album on 12' vinyl, so follow them on Facebook and stay tuned to not miss this first class train...
Glauber