I had the good fortune to catch two live shows by Firefriend at the 2019 Fuzzclub festival in Eindhoven. Both shows were eye-opening sets. The small room at the hot Stroomhuis introduced me to the raw sound that lies somewhere between the Velvets and Sonic Youth. Then, the late 2AM set at the Effenaar solidified them as a band that would have a special place in the hearts of myself and many others who were there for the experience. Rcknrll captures that live sound and spirit perfectly. Recorded in August 2022, the band tears through 9 top tracks. Focusing mainly on heavier tracks here, the trio is in top form with loads of grit and angst, representing some of the despair they experience and witness in their home city of São Paulo, Brazil. The highlight for me will always be “Surface to Air,” as Julia Grassetti sings, “Save Your soul, I can take you down.” There is something about that line that resonates for me. The sound is quite raw, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I was hoping for an announcement of a US tour this year, but that might be tough to put together.
If you are a fan of any of their releases, do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Pound a few beers and crank this one up to 11. While you’re at it, you can still help out the band and grab a copy of the limited edition book. It’s a quick read but well worth it just for the lyrics.
Available from Little Cloud Records (USA), Cardinal Fuzz (UK), Firefriend (Brazil)
