Thursday’s Brazil Night in DC

By STEVE KIVIAT

Updated 11:09 AM EST, Thu, Jan 8, 2009

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Thursday’s Brazil Night in DC was originally published on Black Plastic Bag on Jan. 08, 2009, at 9:47 am

This town usually only gets a handful of Brazilian acts per year, but Thursday night is a doubleheader. Rio’s Marcio Local will be doing a dinnertime gig at the Kennedy Center while Sao Paolo’s Garotas Suecas will be appearing later, along with local DJ Neville Chamberlain, at Comet Ping Pong.

Local’s new “Marcio Local says, “Don Dree Don Day Don don”: Adventures in Samba Soul” on Luaka Bop won’t be officially released until May 12th, but this 32 year-old’s offerings with his band on myspace sound promising. Local says he’s trying to deliver a 2009-style combination of Jorge Ben and Banda Black Rio. That means vibrant, sunny Portuguese melodies over funky keys, bass, and percussion grooves with horns booming in and out.

Garotas Suecas’ version of samba is filtered through the Brazilian tropicalia movement and garage rock. Suecas feature shouted vocals with a touch of classic Brazilian lilt along with mid-sixties guitar, organ, and harmonica sounds inspired by both UK and American acts. Expect Chamberlain’s pre- and post-band spinning to tie together multiple Brazilian genres both old and new.

Marcio Local performs from 6 to 7 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F. St. NW. Free.

Garotas Suecas and DJ Neville Chamberlain will be at Comet Ping Pong beginning at 9 p.m. at 5037 Connecticut Ave. NW, Tickets: $10. Doors: 9pm.