Skank @ Nokia Theater
Monday, 29 June 2009 23:06
“We came here to play in the U.S. and find a Brazil that is even more Brazilian than Brazil itself,” said Skank lead vocalist Samuel Rosa halfway through their two-hour set at The Nokia Theater last Friday. “Thank you for taking the effort to come see us tonight.”
Skank took the stage at around 10:00 PM – roughly two hours after the time the show had been announced. As they prepared to begin, a local DJ warmed up the crowd with the help of Samba Brazil, who played their percussion-based samba. At around 9:30, a selection of tunes picked by the band members began playing on the PA system, but by that time the crowd was uneasy, and they started to Boo and scream for “começa” (“begin”).
The curtain opened to an empty stage, and a few seconds later the quartet walked onto a stage backed by four supporting musicians, starting off with two energetic tunes that immediately got fans on their feet – all the delays seemed to have been instantly forgiven at that point.
The first tune that was immediately recognizable was “Partida de Futebol” (“Soccer Game”), a major hit that became an anthem of sorts after being included in FIFA's official soundtrack for the 1998 World Cup, earning Skank plenty of international airplay. That was the first great sing-along moment of the show.
Aware that most of the fans present there would not be familiar with music from their newly released Estandarte (which can be streamed in its entirety here http://skank.uol.com.br/multimidia/musicas/player/estandarte), Skank filled the set with a mix of tunes from their fifteen-year career, including “Uma Esmola” (“Alms”), “Pacato Cidadão” (“Peaceful Citizen”) and “Jackie Tequila.”
Halfway through the show, they paid tribute to Michael Jackson (who died the previous day) with a highly personal rendition of “Billie Jean” built around the tune's chorus, which led to some free improvisation that showcased the individual talents of the other band members. There 
were also two more covers: a ska-inflected rendition of Paralamas do Sucesso's controversial “Nega Bombril” (“Curly-Haired Black Woman”) and Gilberto Gil's “Vamos Fugir” (“Let's Run Away”), all well-received by fans.
One of the few tunes from the new disc was “Sutilmente,” (“Subtly”), a beautiful ballad written in partnership with singer-songwriter Nando Reis, a longtime collaborator who has penned tunes for Marisa Monte, Titas and many others. That song was clearly inspired by George Harrison's early work, with an arrangement built around slide guitar.
The set ended close to the midnight hour, almost half an hour behind Nokia Theater's schedule (Skank is known for extending their shows beyond the limit – in 2002 at Summerstage, organizers had to pull the plug on them after they went over their allotted time) – fans left with big smiles on their faces, clearly forgiving and forgetting the long wait they'd had to endure over the evening. The band sounded as tight as ever – Samuel Rosa's guitar skills have improved greatly from the last time I saw them, and the same can be said about Henrique Portugal (acoustic guitar,keys), Lelo Zanetti (bass) and Haroldo Feretti (drums). It is little wonder why Skank has become one of the most acclaimed bands in the Brazilian rock scene.
words & photos by Ernest Barteldes
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