Text by Patricia Camara
The renowned Opinião venue in Porto Alegre hosted the Rio Grande do Sul bands Marenna and Rosa Tattooada last Thursday, the 5th, as well as a loyal audience for both bands.
Marenna opened the night with their clear blend of melodic metal with 80s hard and glam rock. The dance floor was empty until the start of the show, but as soon as the band played their first chords, the people who had been scattered around the venue began to gather in front of the stage.
Those who have listened to the band on digital platforms so far probably haven't been impressed; after all, we can't say that Marenna is an innovative band or that their sound stands out. The songs are "more of the same," and the lyrics contain several well-known clichés from the rock universe. It's live that the band truly shows what they have to offer.
Lead singer Rod Marenna explored his higher vocal range with some bold vocal delivery, while the guitar and keyboards added melodies characteristic of bands like Whitesnake and Rainbow at their peak in the 80s. Guitarist Edu Larsch energized the crowd with exciting riffs and virtuoso solos. Beyond the precise and accurate execution of the style, the band captivated the audience with their energy and charisma on stage.
Despite being relatively new to the Brazilian scene, Marenna already has its fan base and, within a setlist of only upbeat songs, "Pieces of Tomorrow," "Need to Believe," and "Breaking the Chain" were just a few tracks that featured enthusiastic audience participation, with many singing along to the choruses and clapping.
With the venue now fuller, everyone eagerly awaited Rosa Tattooada , and the band arrived with a bang with "Rock and Roll Until I Die," and there was no better way to describe the purpose of these loyal fans that the band has.
The veterans of Rio Grande do Sul rock quickly promised a show without guests or covers, that is, purely Rosa Tattooada's DNA, and, just a few minutes into the setlist, it was already evident that the trio's identity had not suffered with the passage of time or with the changes in the lineup, and the voice of the only original member, Jacques Maciel , continues to be Rosa Tattooada's trademark.
There was no shortage of romantic songs: “Um Milhão de Flores” (A Million Flowers), “Tardes de Outono” (Autumn Afternoons), and “Diamante Interestelar” (Interstellar Diamond) were much appreciated and sung in chorus. The good old spirit of rock and roll was also present with “Hard Rocker, Old School” and “Na Estrada” (On the Road).
As Jacques himself mentioned, "Hell Will Have to Wait" is a classic of Rio Grande do Sul rock. I must add that it's the most dramatic and intense song we have, not only from the band, but probably also from Brazilian rock. The song, which tells the story of a young man betrayed by his beloved, who considers the worst but ultimately finds redemption, intensely moved the fans who, at their request, turned on their cell phone lights to enjoy the ballad.
With “Carburador,” a song that had been highly requested by some fans since the middle of the show, Rosa Tattooada closed their celebratory concert for an enthusiastic and very proud audience who spared no energy in cheering the band all night long. A flag of Rio Grande do Sul brought onto the stage also showed the members' pride in so faithfully representing this southern branch of Brazilian rock.
During the evening, vocalist Rod Marenna commented: "It's a night to celebrate hard rock, friendship, heavy and original music," and indeed, all these elements were heavily present with the two bands, and the audience enthusiastically supported the local artists.