Review: Os Mutantes

Lawrence has long been a haven for counterculture activity. Sunday's concert at the Granada Theater surely ranks among the most outlandishly unlikely and gently subversive musical events in the college town's history. Even the most fanciful hallucination of a flower-power hippie forty years ago couldn't have foreseen that Os Mutantes, an obscure but influential psychedelic band formed in Brazil in 1966, would find its way to Lawrence in 2010.

For a while it seemed that Os Mutantes' appearance, so long in the making, might never happen. Travel delays wreaked havoc on the evening's schedule. Around 11:30 p.m., over an hour after a set by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti had concluded, Os Mutantes finally took the stage. They were worth the wait.

Transcendent and life-affirming, the collective offered over an hour of exuberant psychedelic rock. While their sound is entirely their own, Os Mutantes' kaleidoscopic mix included a few notable reference points. The funk of Sly Stone, the scathing attack of Jimi Hendrix and the free jazz of Rahsaan Roland Kirk were blended with native Brazilian rhythms.

Os Mutantes is sometimes called "the Brazilian Beatles." Between the septet's flowing robes, unrelenting good cheer and unforgettable songs, the Beatles-esque aura they generated was unmistakable. Based on the rapturous reaction of a handful of South Americans in the audience of about 250, the mere presence of Os Mutantes generated a thrill worthy of Beatlemania.

"They say Americans don't know how to samba," Sergio Dias teased before playing "A Minha Menina." "C'mon, show us what you got."

The crowd danced deliriously to the neon-colored 1968 cult classic. While the sound was based in the late-'60s, Os Mutantes' fresh presentation rendered the music timeless.

"We hadn't put out a record in 26 or 27 years," Dias said while introducing a song from the 2009 album Haih Or Amortecedor.

While the band may be touring behind that project, their primary focus was on vintage favorites including the still-astonishing "Bat Macumba" and the florid "Panis Et Circenses."

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[in the dark again]

Thank you for the review, thanks for educating me, and thank you for making me regret missing something special. Could we get a "pre" view next time? I hate missing stuff that I don't know about. Maybe more "heads up" articles. This is a great blog, not knocking the great job you do -just educate me in advance also! We trust those of you in the know.

[just a lucky guy]

"Something special" is an understatement. I agree with you that there should have been more advance publicity about os Mutantes.
When you check out their tour cities, you'll get even more steamed that you didn't hear about them in advance.
Dallas Austin Houston NewOrleans Atlanta WashingtonDC Philaddelphia NewYorkCity Boston Montreal Toronto BowlingGreenOH Chicago Minneapolis
....Lawrence.?
Denver Vancouver Seattle
PortlandOR SanFrancisco LosAngeles

If I hadn't been wandering the streets of Lawrence on a Sunday evening looking for something to do, I would have missed them too.

Youtube has a pretty good selection of their music videos, but... You should have seen them up close. Seeing their wardrobe alone was worth the meager entrance fee of $20

Just to rub it in, I also got a freshly pressed -vinyl- album, LP, that is.

[Bubba]

I've heard of OS MUTANTES. How many showed up? Hope they return to the area. Wish RITA LEE would get back with them - even if that's possible. Sounds like a fun show.

[pendletonheights]

So, no word on Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti?

[trdedektiflik]

thank you