Last July 30th, Angra concluded their Unplugged Tour in Brazil, with their final performance at the Ópera de Arame in Curitiba. Coincidentally, in August 2023, the venue also hosted the recording of the band's acoustic DVD, which has no release date yet.
The gates opened a little after 7 PM, but in an organized manner, the public had no difficulty arriving at the venue this time. The show offered both regular meet and greet "holy stage" . Tonight, the "holy stage" had a larger number of people compared to the previous show here in the capital of Paraná. In this option, fans can watch the show from a small audience area set up on the main stage.
The event didn't have an opening band, which resulted in a very long interval between people arriving and the start of the show, scheduled for 9 pm. But that's okay, those who were there could chat a lot, take photos, and enjoy the place before the band took the stage.
Angra acoustic and guests
The evening began promisingly, with the performance of "Nova Era," from the 2001 Rebirth Fabio Lione , Rafael Bittencourt , Marcelo Barbosa , Felipe Andreoli , and Bruno Valverde were accompanied by a full orchestra and a very intimate stage design, including candelabras and candles.
Next, to the delight of the audience, came "Make Believe," a 1996 classic from the album Holy Land , from the band's early lineup. Both of these songs sounded great in their acoustic versions.
The venue, besides being very beautiful due to the surrounding nature, was packed, resulting in a perfect setting for the acoustic show. The night promised to be exciting; Fabio Lione interacted a lot with the audience, who responded promptly. The other band members seemed more shy, perhaps tired due to the length of the tour. But they soon became more enthusiastic and interacted more with the crowd.
It's worth highlighting some changes compared to the first acoustic performance in the city; the song "Gentle Change," for example, from the album Fireworks , featured Fabio Lione on vocals in the second performance. I believe that in the first presentation, which was the DVD recording in 2023, the song had more feeling and emotion in Rafael Bittencourt's voice.
Vanessa Moreno and Kiko Loureiro
The first guest, Vanessa Moreno , took the stage for a few songs, but the one that caught everyone's attention was her flawless rendition of "Wuthering Heights." The Brazilian singer's version received a standing ovation from the audience, who had previously enjoyed Amanda Sommerville's vocals. Recalling another comparison, this time the song gained more feeling in Vanessa's voice, in contrast to Amanda's more European technique and style. The song, a cover of Kate Bush's , was originally recorded by Andre Matos for the album Angels Cry .
Finally, the moment many early Angra fans had been waiting for arrived: Kiko Loureiro joined Vanessa on guitar. The highlight was their performance of "Holy Land," taking much of the audience back in time. The emotion of seeing Rafael and Kiko together again was indescribable, even if only for a short time, along with the nostalgia for Andre Matos.
Tony Garrido and Kiko Loureiro performing “Late Redemption”
Unlike other performances on this tour, where Kiko covered Tony Garrido , this time the show was complete. I believe the performance of "Late Redemption" was one of the best moments of the night. Without a doubt, everyone on stage showed great chemistry and no longer appeared tired, regaining the band's usual energy.
Kiko's farewell from the stage came with "Rebirth," where the band demonstrated they had done their homework and presented a very well-coordinated version. As the night drew to a close, it was Fabio Lione's turn to recapture the audience's attention with the excellent "Bleeding Heart," also from the album Rebirth . The song was perfect in an acoustic format, a moment eagerly awaited by the audience, who also shone with the lights and structure of the venue.
The final moment, where the introductions are made and then the band takes a break for the final song. And it wasn't long before the chords of "Carry On" began, the audience participating fervently, knowing it would be the end of the night. Despite being very well arranged, this particular song didn't have the same impact in the acoustic version. What makes this song unique remains the weight of the original riffs, but it was courageous of the band to adapt this song so beloved by Brazilians.
Late night in Brazil's coldest capital, which, incidentally, was a little warm. Audience and band satisfied, fans thrilled, many young people and children, who are already responsible for carrying the meaning of Angra to future generations.
Check out the photo gallery from the Curitiba presentation:
Angra gap
After their performance in Curitiba, Angra surprised everyone by announcing a hiatus for the band in Santiago, Chile. The announcement was made via social media on Monday morning, the 2nd.
The band announced they will be taking a break from their activities after more than 11 years of dedication. They feel they need a period to "recharge their batteries," but before that, they will hold special events, such as the release of an acoustic DVD and tours in Europe and South America, which are expected to extend into the first months of 2025.
During the hiatus, the members will dedicate themselves to personal projects, but will remain connected to fans through social media. They thank everyone for their support and promise to return stronger and more inspired.
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