Bonde do Role @ Favela

Photo and video were stolen from Gema Gema TV (see more of them here)

So I went to Rio de Janeiro this weekend. While there I had my first favela experience and I have to say I was blown away by the beauty of it. Bonde do Role were recording a samba DVD about trannies on the top of favela Tavares Bastos and invited some friends to be part of the laje (the top of a favela house, like a brick roof) party in which they had an amazing churrasco (what Brazilians call their barbecue).

As guests, Bonde do Role invited some of the members of Copacabana Club and the amazingly fun producer João Brasil (Brazil's answer for Girl Talk) who had two other band members with him playing  - plus the two horrific trannies.

The party, as you already expect, was much more about the fun of it than the actual music - although you might've liked it if you are into samba or Brazilian joke songs about trannies. It will be definitely a once in a life-time experience sort of thing which you might be part when the DVD comes out or you catch it on TV. Meanwhile check a quick video of their new samba single 'Sarita' and download the demo version of the track below.

Butchers do Role

Photograph by Marcelo Elídio

When Bonde do Role first emerged was really exciting. The baile funk beats seen through their eyes was not only refreshing, but also really enjoyable. Then their live set saw the crowed go mental in a way that'a rarely seen. Unfortunately the trio couldn't handle the tension of touring, and the main singer left the band.

Some months later, the boys decided to pick up some new singers via an MTV reality show and I couldn't be less impressed. But with some improved gigs and cool DJ sets, they were slowly luring me  back into liking them again. Until one day (actually, it was a drunken night) I heard two of their new singles and  was totally sold. "Bitch I'll take your boyfriend / Bitch I'll take your man" spits adorable half Brazilian half Kiwi Laura Taylor alongside an electro beat that Bonde do Role has never produced before. Meanwhile on the other single, the original baile funk Bonde do Role vibe is kept alive with the ferocious Ana Bernadino, in a less punk - although wilder - way.

If the world is (still) ready for them, they finally seem to be ready again for the world. But what about the release dates? "We thought the first album was really rushed - it was just a bunch of different ideas thrown together on one release... for this new one (we still don't have a proper name for it, suggestions?), we might be taking it slow, but it will come out the way we want it to be out and hopefully by the end of July it'll all done", confides the producer/ DJ Gorky to us. Let's all hope that the alcohol didn't lie to me!

Check some pictures of the band playing last weekend at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, taken by Marcelo Elídio, as well as some of their new remixes - including a R.I.P. remix for Gameboy/Gamegirl.

GALLERY

Gorky, the shining star

Welcome to our IM//A\\PARTY - The Synth Pop Edition galleries! The line-up was graced with Bag Raiders, Luciano from The Twelves, Boss in Drama and Pomada from Funhell. Not one, but SIX of the best party photographers in São Paulo also represented and here are our favourite shots from each.

This is IM//A\\PARTY as seen through the lense of Onassis.

GALLERY