Text by Marcelo Gomes
The opening act was Skamoondongos . The São Paulo band, led by vocalist Axl Rude, played not only career hits like "Ocupar E Resistir" and "Bella Ciao," but also a cover of Cólera's "Medo" and "2 Tons" by the band Subtones , which was dedicated to Mingau , the bassist of Ultraje a Rigor who was recently shot . Despite the strong political criticism during the show, the band managed to get the crowd dancing to the sound of ska music accompanied by a sensational brass trio.
The opening act was cool, but when Toy Dolls took the stage, an extraordinary energy transformed the place, something that will surely remain in everyone's memory. With their unique blend of humor, iconic songs, and a breathtaking performance, Michael Olga (vocals/guitar), Tommy Goober (bass), and The Amazing Mr. Duncan (drums) proved once again why they are considered one of the greatest punk bands in the world.
The intro was hilarious, a sudden "Happy Birthday" followed by Lionel Richie which drew many laughs, ending with "Theme Tune" and then launching into "Fiery Jack," which everyone sang along to. "Cloughy Is Bootboy" was accompanied by clapping, and you could feel the synergy in the air. Duncan started "Bitten By Bed Bug" while Olga and Tommy started taking off their suits. With the place packed, the heat only intensified, and the party was just getting started.
As the show progressed, the guys toured through their catalog. “Benny The Boxer”, “Dougy Giro”, “I've Got Ashtma”, “El Cumbanchero” had the crowd going wild like there was no tomorrow. The audience sang and sang very loudly, making the Carioca Club seem like a giant karaoke bar. It had been a long time since I'd seen such an intense audience. On stage, Olga and Tommy led the party, doing choreography and interacting with the fans.
In "The Lambrusco Kid," Olga took the opportunity to remove her vest and say she was thirsty. A "waiter" began serving bottles of various sizes until a giant one arrived. It looked like champagne. The guy popped it, and a shower of paper came out. The irreverence of these guys is incredible and contagious.
The next chords revealed the band's most famous song. "Nellie The Elephant" was the highlight of the show. The audience put on a show of their own and participated wildly. During the breaks, when the fans shouted "OOOO," a wall of sound so dense that it almost drowned out the band—it was amazing. If the performance had stopped there, it would have been enough, but they also showcased their musical skills in "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by the classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach .
A celebratory atmosphere hung in the air. The setlist included songs that were part of the childhood and adolescence of most of those present. And that wasn't all; their stage presence was very striking, every movement of the guys seemed to enchant the audience. In the case of "Wipe Out," they pulled another trick out of their sleeve: in a synchronized movement, at each pause in the music, they rotated their guitar and bass 360 degrees and continued playing. An epic moment of the show.
They played a long encore and closed the show with “Dig That Groovy Baby”, “When The Saints Go Marching In”, “Glenda And The Test Tube Baby” and “Idle Gossip” in a really high-energy mood. While many artists today opt for a lot of technology and visual effects, the trio reminded us that the essence of the show is live music.
The Toy Dolls' show was simply legendary. Their iconic songs combined with a charismatic and humorous stage presence created an unforgettable night for everyone present. What truly set this show apart was the audience interaction. The packed house and euphoric reaction from those present proved that even after 40 years, the band continues to captivate and inspire new generations.
Our contributor Leca Suzuki also attended the show and captured the evening. Check out our full photo gallery below (if you can't access it, click here ):
