20-03-2019 – Radio Moscow

Supports: The Black Wizards
Location: Hard club, Porto, Portugal
By: Miguel Melo

Radio Moscow, Rock band from US, California, were in Portugal for 2 concerts, one in Porto and other in Lisbon. In Porto, their concert was in an old market place, previously called Ferreira Borges Market, now converted into concert venue named Hard Club.

To support them, they had the local hard rockers Black Wizards, clearly influenced by 60/70’s hard rock, making them perfect to intro to the psychy accelerated pure rock n’ roll or Radio Moscow.

The concert was sold out and you could see it from the beginning. Right before the main act, the house was pretty packed.

The Black Wizards started with a blast. Their front woman, Joana Brito, certainly delivered a blast with unbelievable guitar skills. They are disciples of the Birmingham rock scene, that’s for sure. Wasn’t all guitar, the bass player João Mendes was steady and the drums served by João Lugatte made their good work of keeping the sound powerful and regular. Didn’t know these guys, but they have been around for a while, since 2015. It was a very cool, strong performance, that didn’t even feel like support. They were indeed confident, playing confidently, almost trying to steal the show from the headliners. Both, guitars, Joana and Paulo Ferreira squealed like violins. Definitely a good work as intro to the main event.

Their sound seems a proper mix between Birmingham sound, heavier, darker, and good Californian rock, lighter and speedy.

The third track, Broke Down, starts with a galloping sound of the bass, by Anthony Meier. From the crowd there was always someone screaming “Ganda baixo!”, the Portuguese for “Great bass”. This would be a constant for all the gig.

The concert kept going and the 8th song, Dreams, was definitely a great moment that stuck in my mind. The problem is that the drums were always flying around! The concert had to stop about 3 times, one of them longer than 5 minutes and the crowd was getting impatient, with people screaming how to help and one lady screaming about unprofessional behavior. But I guess the fans were fine with it and took a bit the time to chill. I guess this is what happens when you drum like crazy. Eventually all was fixed.

When the band resumed the concert it was all good. Parker’s voice is pretty echoey and dusky and the man has mad guitar skills. At some point it was pretty clear that Porto loved them and they loved Porto. After 12 tracks, they played No Good Woman and it seemed we had it the end of our road together.

There was still time for an encore, though. We got to hear 250 Miles and Pacing. They ended greatly and the crowd was theirs. Pity for the trouble with drums and fixing all that, but that’s rock n roll power. It was a great show.

Now we are going to have to wait for their summer tour to see them again. I’m going to be at their concert for sure.

Links:

Radio Moscow

The Black Wizards