Abraskadabra

Abraskadabra
OriginCuritiba, Paraná, Brazil
GenresSka punk
Years active2003–present
MembersRafael "Buga" Ribas
Eduardo "Du"
Thiago "Trosso" de Sá Jorge
Rodrigo "Japa" Kawata
Eduardo "Maka" Cimbalista
João Paulo "JP" Branco
Augusto "Mamão"
Past membersGuilherme Lepca
Websiteabraskadabra.com

Abraskadabra is a Brazilian ska punk band from Curitiba, Paraná, influenced by hardcore and by third wave ska,[1][2][3] adding Brazilian elements to their sound, as well. The band also normally does "DIY" tours.[4]

History

Foundation and first album (2003–2014)

The band was formed in 2003 by high school[2][5] friends who liked both punk and ska and wanted to play something different from what punk bands would do back then.[6] The name was suggested by a friend and it follows a tendency observed by them in which ska bands would add the word "ska" to their names. Through a local label that also owned a store, the members could get to know bands such as NOFX, Pennywise, Bad Religion, No Fun at All, Millencolin, Goldfinger, Less Than Jake and Voodoo Glowskulls.

Guitarist and vocalist Du believes the fact that Curitiba is a cold city with much more concrete than green areas makes the band sound less "beach-ish" than other ska punk acts.[6] The members were able to produce the different sound they were looking for after they found some brass left by the school's marching band.

After nine years, in which they released twelve songs in three different demo tapes[6] and underwent several line-up changes,[7] Abraskadabra released their first album, Grandma Nancy's Old School Garden, in 2012, containing songs written during these nine first years. In the following year, they released their first video, "Sing 'til the End" and, in 2014, they toured the United States for the first time.

Welcome and international fame (2014–2019)

In 2016, their cover of "Not Your Savior", by No Use for a Name, was featured on the documentary A Fat Wreck, about Fat Wreck Chords.[6]

In December 2017, they released a video for the song "Heavy Hitters", which would later be part of their second album, Welcome.[8] The album was released on 20 February of the following year[6] and it was recorded in 14 days in a rented house, with all production, recording, mixing, etc. handled by the members themselves.[5] Soon after the release, they were mentioned by then Less Than Jake member Vinnie Fiorello as one of his favorite new ska punk acts.[9]

After Welcome's release and a second US tour, they hired a PR agency that allowed them to be covered by the international press and, consequently, they secured some other foreign tours, including one in the United Kingdom and another one in Japan.[2][10]

Make Yourself at Home: 2020–present

On 24 September 2021, the band released its third studio album, Make Yourself at Home. Remotely recorded due to the limitations brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic (a method with which they were already familiarized due to vocalist/saxophonist Thiago living in London), the album produced the single "Do We Need a Sign?".[11]

Members

  • Rafael "Buga" Ribas – guitar and vocals
  • Eduardo "Du" – guitar and vocals
  • Thiago "Trosso" de Sá Jorge – saxophone, vocals and keyboards
  • Rodrigo "Japa" Kawata – bass
  • Eduardo "Maka" Cimbalista – drums
  • João Paulo "JP" Branco – trumpet, vocals[6]
  • Augusto "Mamão" – trombone

Sources:[1][3][6][7]

Former member

  • Guilherme Lepca – trombone[7]

Discography

General source:[1][3]

Demos

  • 2 Demos (2004/2005)

EPs

  • Mago (2003)[7]
  • Destroying Your Mother on the Bed (2008)
  • Fun as in Fungus (2014)
  • Welcome to the B Side (2018)

Studio albums

  • Grandma Nancy's Old School Garden (2012)
  • Welcome (2018)[12]
  • Make Yourself at Home (2021)

Singles

References

  1. ^ a b c "Home". Band's official website. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Ottewill, Jim (29 March 2019). "How to be an international success with Abraskadabra". The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Lilge, Cassio (18 April 2018). "Abraskadabra traz festa skacore para Pelotas". e-cult (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  4. ^ Ventura, Leslie (2 July 2020). "A&E With shows off indefinitely, local musicians reflect on some favorite tour moments". Las Vegas Weekly (in Portuguese). Greenspun Media Group. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Brungardt, Leah (25 June 2018). "An Interview With the Brazilian SKA-Punk Band, ABRASKADABRA!". All Access Music. All Access Music Group. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Patti, Mike (2 March 2018). "Interview: Abraskadabra". The Pier Magazine. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Anubis, Marcos (22 June 2013). "Abraskadabra, banda curitibana de skacore lança clipe da música "Sing 'til the end"". Cwb Live (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. ^ Aiex, Tony (5 December 2017). "Como é bom matar as saudades do ska-core no novo clipe do Abraskadabra!". Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos! (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ Fiorella, Vinnie (29 March 2018). "LESS THAN JAKE // Vinnie's Fav Five Up & Coming Punk Ska Bands". Hysteria Magazine. Hysteria Media PTY Ltd. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  10. ^ Costa, Eduardo da (20 December 2019). "ENTREVISTA: Falamos com o Abraskadabra, que toca em São Paulo neste sábado". Minuto Indie (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  11. ^ Chioccarello, Rafael (20 August 2021). "Abraskadabra abre os caminhos para apresentar "Make yourself at home"". Hits Perdidos. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  12. ^ Mercado, Alejandro (14 March 2018). "Abraskadabra retorna sem rodeios em 'Welcome'". A Escotilha (in Portuguese). Retrieved 11 September 2020.