Text by Patricia C. Figueiredo
It took a while, but it happened! There's no other way to start this review, because the Replicantes that took place in Porto Alegre last Thursday, the 15th, was just one of those scheduled for May and June of this year , but which ended up being rescheduled (some even canceled) due to the floods that hit the entire state of Rio Grande do Sul three months ago.
Opinião concert hall itself is located in one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, which was almost entirely underwater. Because of all this, it's a rather unique feeling to be back at events in recent weeks and to see that, little by little, the city is resuming its cultural agenda.
Os Replicantes would have performed this commemorative show on a much more significant date, May 16th, marking exactly 40 years since the quartet's first concert. However, the fact that the performance took place three months later than planned did not diminish the celebratory experience for one of the most emblematic bands of Porto Alegre's alternative scene.
With tickets sold out, the venue began to fill up shortly after the doors opened, and even outside, there were many people waiting and enjoying a pleasant evening on the street while waiting for the show to start.
And when there was no way even an ant could fit into Opinião, a video appeared on the screen with testimonials from fans and friends, recorded at the exhibition about the band that took place between March and April at the Museu do Trabalho in Porto Alegre. They were birthday messages and stories people had to tell about how Os Replicantes had been present in their lives.
The Replicantes kick off the punk party with Júlia Barth on vocals.
Moved by the video, the fans applauded. And it was in this atmosphere that Júlia Barth, Cláudio Heinz , Heron Heinz , and Carlos Gerbase took to the stage and opened the night with "Nicotina." The audience sang so loudly that it felt like we were still in the good old 80s. Right after the first song, the lineup changed. Júlia left and Wander Wildner appeared. The two embraced in the corner of the stage, and the band's legendary original vocalist took over the vocals.
A huge punk mosh pit formed in front of the stage, and other people throughout the venue were jumping and headbanging. “Sandina” and “Surfista Calhorda” were sung in chorus in succession. Wander shows that he has changed very little in four decades. His voice is impeccable, and it's contagious to see him on stage doing his slightly awkward dances and powerful interpretations of the lyrics. The spirit of punk rock is strong in this body!
And then comes another rotation of members: Wander leaves the stage, Gerbase leaves the drums and takes over the vocals. Luciana Tomasi, who was one of the band's producers and provided backing vocals on some tracks, and Cleber Andrade takes over the drumsticks.
Gerbase's set was insane. It basically went through the first album, O Futuro É Vortex , with "Boy do Subterrâneo" and "Hippie, Punk, Rajneesh," and the third album with "Minha Vizinha," "Só Mais Uma Chance," and "Negócios à Parte." The set also featured saxophonist King Jim , an iconic figure in the Rio Grande do Sul music scene and former member of Replicantes.
Former members were able to participate in the party.
We barely reached the middle of the night and the show had already turned into a genuine punk party. On stage, in the pit, and in the mezzanine, the excitement took over and people were dancing. In front of the stage, I saw some guys crowd surfing and literally ending up upside down and with their legs in the air. On stage, Gerbase and Luciana were having so much fun, and the interaction between all the members was incredible. The Heinz brothers were impeccable on guitar and bass, with their traditionally simpler but always lively lines, keeping the band's essence in evidence.
Júlia Barth makes a brief appearance once again, singing “África do Sul” and soon gave way again to Wander Wildner, who in his set got the crowd going with “Astronauta” and “Ele quer se Punk”, a great classic. There was even a moment when the two sang “A Verdadeira Corrida Espacial” together.
Júlia has a strong, angry, and raspy voice. The vocalist more than handles singing the newer tracks like “Maria Lacerda,” “Libertá,” and “Punk de Boutique,” the latter two being from their latest studio album Libertá , released in 2018. But she also doesn't disappoint when it comes to older songs like “Chernobyl” and “Mentira.” It's no wonder she's been the band's lead vocalist for 18 years.
A great show deserves a great ending.
After Júlia's set, all the band members and guests returned to the stage for a fantastic encore of "Surfista Calhorda". Before finishing, of course, we had "Festa Punk", driving the audience wild. And to close, one more encore, this time of "Sandina".
It was truly a very special night for the band and the fans. Being able to see all the people who were part of Replicantes' career is indeed a historic event. The kind of event we'd like to see more bands doing, with current and former members interacting and enjoying the night as much as the audience.
It's clear that, forty years later, Os Replicantes remains an extremely relevant band in the music scene of Rio Grande do Sul and Brazil. Their songs have never ceased to critically portray the ills of society and the politics that surround us, and even after all this time, the band sings old verses that have as much impact today as they did when they were created – all with a contagious and joyful energy. Long live Os Replicantes!
