Rootsy, Brazilian music in an Brazilian Expat bar in Lisbon, Portugal. What kind of music were they playing?

August 13, 2012 10:25 AM

I was in Lisbon a few months ago and found 2 Brazilian “ex-pat” type bars with INCREDIBLE live music. I want to know what type it was. I believe it was in Barrio Alto, the big street for nightlife, but these bars really didn’t seem very touristy. I think I stumbled onto some kind of subculture.

The closest thing I can think of is the rockabilly scene, just the scene not the music. The crown seemed relatively young. They all had a very specific hairstyle. Cut very short, high, and tight on the sides and longer and very messily spiked on top. It seemed to be fairly blue collar, not a touristy place. The bars had this really incredible live music. Upbeat, lots of acoustic guitar, and singing. The coolest thing was that one guitar player, and/or singer would would play a few songs and then somebody from the crown would get and play, this happened over and over again. The whole crowd seemed talented. The music was not samba, rock, but something downhome. I’d call it the Brazilian equivalent of roots music. If anybody knows what kind of music this might be I’d appreciate it.

posted by Che boludo! to society & culture (17 answers total)

Hmm...the haircut you describe is the Ronaldo hairstyle which is fairly popular in Lisbon among the young working class.

And the music you describe - one singer and a guitarist with everyone taking turns - is typical of Portuguese Fado.

So, um, what was Brazilian about it?
posted by vacapinta at 10:34 AM on August 13, 2012

It was a band with bass and drums. I saw Fado and it wasn't the same music. It was very upbeat and party music.

The hair was kind of like the Ronaldo hairstyle, very messy on top, maybe a homemade cut, maybe even a little greasy (I'm sorry to say that). It wasn't what many would consider "high class". The crowd was very young and dressed in jeans and t-shirts. The crowd really reminded me of greasers.

What was Brazilian about it? The bar was full of Brazillians.
posted by Che boludo! at 10:45 AM on August 13, 2012

It was very upbeat and party music.

Was it Pimba, by chance?
posted by vacapinta at 10:48 AM on August 13, 2012

Could it have been música sertaneja?
posted by languagehat at 11:03 AM on August 13, 2012

It wasn't Pimba or Sertanejo. I guess this is a tough one. I hope I'm describing it well.
posted by Che boludo! at 11:07 AM on August 13, 2012

Basically sounds like an open mic night type thing with a house band. I know that's not too helpful but it might narrow it down to being more of a home-style thing than any large genre that's googable.
posted by zephyr_words at 11:36 AM on August 13, 2012

Was it pagode?
posted by agent99 at 11:37 AM on August 13, 2012

The rhythms were a little less complicated than pagode and had guitars. I checked that out first.
posted by Che boludo! at 11:48 AM on August 13, 2012

Can you streetview the bars and find out what they're called?
posted by fshgrl at 12:09 PM on August 13, 2012

I don't think so it was a few months back. I've had this music in my head on and off since then.
posted by Che boludo! at 12:33 PM on August 13, 2012

Can you streetview the bars and find out what they're called?

Bairro Alto isn't a street, its an old neighborhood. And most of the streets are pedestrianized so not on streetview.
posted by vacapinta at 12:35 PM on August 13, 2012

The coolest and rowdiest one was on the East side of Rua de atalaia and I think towards the Northern end of the street.
posted by Che boludo! at 12:37 PM on August 13, 2012

It was a pretty plain bar once you got inside. The bar was on the left. Past the bar in the far left corner was the stage. On the right side there was another room that didn't quite look like it was part of the original floorplan.
posted by Che boludo! at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2012

I asked my Lisboeta (native Lisbon person) wife. She said it sounds like you were in Agito.
posted by vacapinta at 12:46 PM on August 13, 2012

Maybe I'm wrong and the patrons were Portuguese, but the rhythm and vibe was muy South American. Also I guess I should say obrigado to those helping out with this.
posted by Che boludo! at 12:46 PM on August 13, 2012

Or was it Toca de Cachorrao (a Brazilian bar on Atalaia)?

And was the music Choro? Wikipedia link
posted by vacapinta at 1:03 PM on August 13, 2012

I don't think the bar was Toca de Cachorrao but it looks like almost the same vibe. The Toca song was a Samba, no?

It wasn't Choro I was looking for.
posted by Che boludo! at 3:21 PM on August 13, 2012