Graforreia Xilarmônica

Graforreia Xilarmônica is a Brazilian Prêmio Açorianos-winning rock group from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Famous for their humorous, unpretentious lyrics and for their sonority influenced by 1960s-era bands, the Jovem Guarda movement and traditional gaúcho music, they amassed a strong cult following throughout the 1980s and 1990s which lasts to the present day.

Graforreia Xilarmônica
The band in 2013. From left to right: Frank Jorge, Marcelo and Alexandre Birck, and Carlo Pianta
The band in 2013. From left to right: Frank Jorge, Marcelo and Alexandre Birck, and Carlo Pianta
Background information
OriginPorto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
GenresRock, folk rock, comedy rock, pop rock, psychedelic rock
Years active
  • 1987–2000
  • 2005–present
LabelsBanguela Records, Zoon Records
MembersCarlo Pianta
Alexandre Birck
Marcelo Birck
Frank Jorge

History

Graforreia Xilarmônica was founded in 1987 by Carlo Pianta, brothers Alexandre and Marcelo Birck, and Frank Jorge. All four had previous experiences with music: Pianta was a founding member of experimental rock group DeFalla, and the Birck brothers, alongside Jorge (who was also a founding member of Os Cascavelletes), played alongside future TNT guitarist Tchê Gomes in the short-lived project Prisão de Ventre during the early 1980s.[1][2] (Only one year after the founding of Graforreia Xilarmônica, the Birck brothers had already founded a side project named Aristóteles de Ananias Jr.) According to the band members, their unusual name (very roughly translated to English as "Xylophone[-like] Graphorrhea) was chosen after looking for random words at a dictionary.

In 1988 they released the demo tape Com Amor, Muito Carinho, a massive underground hit which spawned some of their most memorable songs, such as "Empregada", "Amigo Punk", "Fúlvio Silas", "Dênis" and "Colégio Interno", which was included in the soundtrack of the film O Mentiroso, by Werner Schünemann.[3] Years later they signed with Carlos Eduardo Miranda's Banguela Records to release their first full-length album, Coisa de Louco II, in 1995, which was critically acclaimed and quickly sold out.[4] A follow-up, Chapinhas de Ouro, came out in 1998 through Zoon Records and awarded the band a Prêmio Açorianos for Best Album the following year.[5] Soon the band members got occupied with more personal projects though, and Graforreia Xilarmônica split up in early January 2000.

In 2005 the band announced a reunion, and have been playing around Brazil since then. In 2006 they released their first live album, Graforreia Xilarmônica ao Vivo, produced by Alexandre Kassin and Berna Ceppas and released through webzine Senhor F. In 2011 they played at the Morrostock festival in Sapiranga,[6] and celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2012 playing at the Lollapalooza in São Paulo. Later on they released through their Bandcamp page a special EP as a gift for their fans.[7]

The band had their songs "Nunca Diga" and "Eu" covered by alternative rock band Pato Fu. Wander Wildner, formerly a vocalist of Os Replicantes, covered the songs "Empregada" and "Amigo Punk".

Members
  • Frank Jorge – lead vocals, bass guitar (1987–present)
  • Carlo Pianta – electric guitar, additional vocals (1987–1989, 1992–present)
  • Alexandre Birck – drums (1987–present)
  • Marcelo Birck – electric guitar, additional vocals (1987–1990, 2001, 2011–2015)

Session musicians
  • Tasso Ferreira – electric guitar (1987)
  • Eduardo Christ – electric guitar, additional vocals (1996–2000)

Discography

Studio albums
Year Album
1995 Coisa de Louco II
  • Label: Banguela Records
  • Format: CD
1998 Chapinhas de Ouro
  • Label: Zoon Records
  • Format: CD

Extended plays
Year Album
2012 Graforreia Xilarmônica: 25 Anos
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Demos
Year Album
1988 Com Amor, Muito Carinho
1994 The Best of Graforreia Xilarmônica
  • Label: Self-releasead
  • Format: Cassette tape

Live albums
Year Album
2006 Graforreia Xilarmônica ao Vivo
  • Label: Senhor F
  • Format: CD

References
  1. Silvio Essinger (April 2, 2001). "Graforreia Xilarmônica: os desconhecidos pioneiros" (in Portuguese). Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  2. Fernando Rosa. "Prisão de Ventre, a pré-Graforreia Xilarmônica, ainda nos anos oitenta" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  3. Daniel Peccini (September 3, 1999). "Com Amor, Muito Carinho - Graforreia Xilarmônica" (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. Blog Disco Furado (December 27, 2012). "Graforreia Xilarmônica - Coisa de Louco II" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on December 29, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  5. Blog Disco Furado (December 27, 2012). "Graforreia Xilarmônica - Chapinhas de Ouro" (in Portuguese). Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  6. Edições anteriores - Morrostock (in Portuguese)
  7. Graforreia Xilarmônica: 25 Anos at Bandcamp
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