THE PUNK FACTORY

    Here you will find some memories of concerts we have been to.
     NOTE We're sorry if your favourite band's gig wasn't well described below, but if it is not between the genres we like here we will not talk about them to avoid bad interpretations of their live work. Thank you.

THE UNSEEN
+ X-CONS + ALISON BENTLEY
Porto-Rio, Porto / 3 Apr 09 / 22h

     First of all let me just say that once again I got disappointed with the crowd, or the lack of it... Some people say that we never have cool shows or great Punk bands here and when they come no one go see them! It’s just sad that a band like The Unseen get such a small audience!
    The show kicked out with ALISON BENTLEY, which gave a pretty energic show, with a crazy performance by the lead singer. That might be the trade mark of the band, concerts! It was the first I saw them and although it’s not a kind of music/concert I enjoy, it was pretty cool to get to know them live!
    Next band on stage was X-CONS, a well known band by the Punk Factory and the gig was better than what I was expecting! They’re pretty good in studio but live the record gets another power! The band gave a very good performance, very connected with each other and a good interaction with the crowd. This had already allowed the band to open for Strike Anywhere and now The Unseen. One of the best projects of national Punk-Hardcore. Pride of the Free works very well live.
    As headliner we had THE UNSEEN... speechless! The first word goes to the simpathy of every band member, mostly Mark (because I talked to him more than the others, they’re all great and humble guys). The show started with the intro from Internal Salvation and some of the played songs are from that album too, like Right Before Your Eyes or Break Away, which got an amazing answer from the audience, as well as Scream Out! The interaction with the crowd was amazing, the coolest I have ever seen! The band came back for an encore and ended the show with Rolling Stones’ Paint it Black, which sounds much better this way! To finish this I just have left to say that this band is even more better live and I’m fucking happy I can say that now!
    A word of appreciation to the organization who did a great job, thank you from the bottom of the heart!

Miguel Abreu

MORE THAN A THOUSAND
+ ONE HUNDRED STEPS + BLIND CHARGE + ELEVEN MILES APPART
Porto-Rio, Porto / 7 Mar 09 / 21h

     Once again, More Than a Thousand took some time to tour the country and show the fans that they care about! This mini-tour was like a warmimg to the followinf recording process in USA. The only negative point of this show was the number of people, I was expecting much more with a bil like this one, but anyway, great show!
    The concert started a bit late, with ELEVEN MILES APPART, a young band full of energy! Starting a gig is never easy, the crowd is still warming, but they did a good job, good communication and always calling by the audience. The melody mixed with the agressive of the tunes works very good live. A good start of night and a band to keep in mind!
     The next in line was BLIND CHARGE, and to be honest, we did not watch the full set because we don't really like the kind of sound they play, but still, the band had a good time judging by the audience reaction, taking the chance to promote their new EP!
     The last band before the headliner was ONE HUNDRED STEPS and it was one of the reasons I went to this show. With their new album "Human Clouds" as a back support, the performance of the band was perfect, nothing to point out as negative, a great show, a great answer by the crowd that was starting and intensive moshpit and crowdsurfing, "Jesus where's the rest of her" and "Coma" remembered us the first EP and the song was sung in one voice only! "The living fog hides your home" and "Hate the sin, love the sinner", new tracks, worked perfectly live and the crowd loved it, couldn't be any other way!
     Final act - MORE THAN A THOUSAND. One of the best portuguese bands, period. We had the chance to talk to Ricardo before the show, which was a great pleasure to meet, told us that they were all kinda sick and not in the mood to kick ass but if we did not knew that we would never realize! This guys are simply great live, Vasco's stage presence is something great, the band performance is beyond awesome! The new song "Black Hearts" was already sung by everyone, as well as all the other tunes! Great great show, couldn't miss some classics like "Walking on the devil's trail"! The tracks from Vol III: Mar are also a positive point, great stuff, but we're already used to that, "The waves will come" is simply fantastic live! Congratulations to them (aswell as all the other bands), and all the best luck in the States!

Miguel Abreu

TARA PERDIDA
Cinema Batalha, Porto / 27 Feb 09 / 22h  

     After a 2008 full of success, TARA PERDIDA scheduled two indoor gigs as a celebration among the tribe, and they couldn't did better...
     The venue was filling in until the hour of the gig as the same time that we were geting excited. At last, ten minutes later, Tara Perida entered the stage with the crowd eurphoric waiting for them, a deserved reception which the band thanked many times.
     With the sounding of the first chords the crowd exploded and the moshpit sets fire as the same time as the crowd surfers get in action. The fans were missing a show like this for a long time, that was clear as water to see. Going through almost fifteen years of Punk, a the night was small to hear all the desired songs, but still himns like "Quanto Mais Eu Grito" ou "Batata Frita" foram entoados em uníssono, as well as some songs from "Nada a Esconder", the latest album, mainly "Sentimento Ingénuo". For the final of the show was a surprise, the band played an acoustic set of three songs, being very well received by the fans. The concert ended with "Desalinhado" e "Nasci Hoje", himns that made the walls almost fall down and on the top of that was Riba's stage dive, showing the union of the band with the crowd.
     Talking about the band, they're really great, pure energy! João Ribas is a living legend and a real general that command the troops from the stage; Ruka is pure Punk Rock, energy from the first to the last note; Jaime and Rodrigo with a impressive class, sobriety and presence; finally, Ganso, having this man playing right in from of me was simple fantastic, a emotion he put out is something amazing! Tara Perdida are the flag of portuguese Punk Rock, raised up high! We miss them from the moment they walked of stage...

Miguel Abreu

AUGUST BURNS RED
+ FOR THE GLORY + BEFORE THE TORN + ECHIDNA
Porto-Rio, Porto / 07 Nov 08 / 21h

     Beside we arived at the venue a little bit late, we still caught the last track by ECHIDNA, pretty energic!
     Following them were BEFORE THE TORN, with their Metal/Hardcore very powerfull and contagious, although the crowd was still warming... We have to say that Guilherme and Bruno's stage presence was fucking brutal, but the band as a whole was great, the perfect one to open to the following two. They played 2 new songs from the upcoming debut album to be released soon. A very strong performance that shows that the band's achievements are real because they worked for it, and the future seems bright!
     Next was Portugal's finnest Hardcore, FOR THE GLORY... What can we say? We already know how they play, what they do, but the truth is that every show they put a little more of them into it, it was my second time and I was expecting a energic show, but after it I realized it was way more than what I was waiting to get! With their set based on "Survival Of The Fittest", the last album released by the band, and the crowd was on fire, Survival Of The Fittest and You Fail Me blew everyone out! Pure Hardcore. It must be said that Ricardo is THE frontman ahah and Sergio's performance is damn good aswell.
     As headline we had AUGUST BURNS RED, on of the better bands of the Deathcore breed, with their album "Messengers"! What an awesome gig they put, the crow was already tired but still kicking and screming with this guys! Their show was pure energy from the first to the last note. Songs lite Vital Signs and Up Against The Ropes were fucking moshpit anthems. Jake is a hell of a singer and great great frontman, he lead the show until the very last scream and everyone followed him. I had the oportunity to talk to Jake at the end of the gig and he was really tired but happy to give such an awesome show, and we were happy to see them in their first time in Portugal! Great show after all, from the first to the last band! :)

Miguel Abreu