Every time I attend a Ferro Gaita show, I always leave believing it was the best I have seen. Perhaps it’s just the enormous adrenaline rush that swirls within me. Then, I keep on thinking about other great concerts, other great artists, and still, I don’t doubt myself simply because Ferro Gaita never gives you time to catch a breath. It is intense, groovy, and always worth the money spent.
This past Friday (May 15th), Ferro Gaita debuted at Stone Mountain Arts Center, a prestigious concert venue nestled in the shadows of the White Mountains in Brownfield, Maine, where the likes of Robert Cray, Lucinda Williams, Bela Fleck, The Indigo Girls, and Mavis Staples have graced the stage. All I can say is that I was there to witness something incredible, something unprecedented, something I am sure the band, the audience and certainly myself will never forget…at least until the next show.
Ferro Gaita pulled into the SMAC for a sold-out show at precisely 9 p.m. This was understandably a big jump into the unknown for them, maybe a bit nervous but confident. The concert goers were told to bring their dancing shoes but most did not keep them on for a very long time. The night got off to a flying start. As frontman Eduino wagged his dreadlocks from side to side and pounded on his accordion, the crowd’s reaction to the music was more amazement than anything else. However, it only took two songs for the audience to get really “into it.” It looked like it was going to be a late night.
As usual, they showed enthusiasm on stage, playing their instruments with exultant force, and singing with passion. Ferro Gaita was locked in right away, drawing heavily on tracks from the newly released “Cidade Velha” and some other corners of its catalogue (Bem di Fora, Xô Pelada, Bandera Liberdadi, Rei di Tabanka, and Kabalo, etc...) During the show, someone pointed out to me that the band is very cohesive and that there is “no instrumental hierarchy.” It’s so true that Jorge’s drums were as appealing, strong as Eduino’s screaming accordion; Bino’s Ferrinho, Manel di Tilina’s percussions, Pito’s cowbell/Buzio, and Adão’s bass lines all took their turn to shine.
From Funana, Batuku, to Tabanka, Ferro Gaita slowly spilled their music style onto the dance floor and no one was about to slip. Almost half of the balcony emptied pretty quickly and the crowded room was soon steaming, people jumping, people smiling, people enjoying the band and a style of music they had never heard about. It was great to see these people enjoy music, our kind of music. The question before the show was “Were they ready for this?” It soon became: How long will the audience keep up with the band’s intensity? Well, for 50 minutes they did more than that.
After a 20-minute recess, Ferro Gaita came back on stage with the same enthusiasm and desire. They also showed their ability to surprise when they serenaded a member of the audience with their own rendition of “Happy Birthday” (in Portuguese). This for me was the highlight of the evening simply became it was improvised, spontaneous. The rest of the night, the crowd responded the same way, still energetic, still ready to dance. After the night’s last song, the band was brought back for an encore. From expressive grins on their faces, it was very obvious that Ferro Gaita enjoyed the opportunity to play in a different venue in front of appreciative people.
This was a magnificent night, mainly because of the royal treatment we (the band and Sodade crew) received from the people at Stone Mountain Arts Center. The owner, Carol Noonan, who is a national recording artist and singer songwriter, and her outstanding staff did everything in the power to make this a comfortable, appeasing show, stay.
For me, the treat was spending time with the band during the trip from Pawtucket, RI, and in the Green Room, which is an amazing place to be. Despite riding nearly 4 hours in a van and performing on stage for about two hours, the guys remained gracious, funny, and accommodating as they answered all my questions tirelessly. Let’s hope that Ferro Gaita has opened another door for other Capeverdean artists. It is a tough ROAD to follow, but Stone Mountain Arts Center is literally out of this world.
