Exército Delirante! Planta e Raiz gathers thousands of 'soldiers' at Audio for its new show!

August 5 was marked by celebration. Planta e Raiz, with nearly 20 years on the road and an endless list of hits, released its newest work titled "Exército Delirante". The album, released shortly after the acclaimed EP "Segue em Frente", portrays the struggle of working people and compares their harsh daily routine to a war, yet despite the hardships they keep their heads held high and stay positive. The cold São Paulo night was no match for the internal temperature at Audio, which drew an excellent crowd to celebrate another important step in the band's history.

LET THE SOLDIERS COME

After a DJ set by Zambol, who warmed up the crowd well for the arrival of the "army", the lights went out... and as everyone watched for the first movements on stage, Fernando Anitelli, the mind behind Teatro Mágico and artistic director of Planta's show, appeared behind everyone delivering a poetic introduction to what was to come. The band took the stage wearing outfits matching the album cover illustration, wielding instruments shaped like weapons — in the best M-16 style of the legendary Peter Tosh — complete with laser sights. The opening song could be no other: "Exército Delirante". The hit that marked an era in the mid-2000s, "Com Certeza", came next, and the venue went wild.

MUSIC AND ART

The band blended various hits from different eras with songs from the new album, such as "Ela", "Tô Feliz" and "Bons Ventos". The show's dynamics and vibe were indescribable, as besides the songs pounding through the venue's powerful sound system, Fernando Anitelli's poetic interventions gave a magical tone to the experience. At one point in the show, vocalist Zeider thanked everyone for coming and raised a white flag. He then took it off the pole, grabbed a pen and passed it to the audience with a request: Write messages of love, positive messages, write what you're feeling..." The idea was for the flag to circulate through the crowd and return. A few songs later, including the brand new "Filho do Leão" — one of the album's best — the flag came back with incredible messages. Love, family and positivity were the main themes, showing the band had achieved the essential of a performance: connection with its audience.

PERALTA and ANITELLI

The hit "Hoje o dia Amanheceu" preceded the appearance of singer Marina Peralta with the new "Jah me Liberta" and then her own success, "Só Agradece", firing up the Audio crowd. After the explosive "Aquele Lugar", another intervention by Anitelli, this time poetic/musical. The song "Flores no Meu Jardim", written by Zeider and Anitelli and featured on the double album "Bora Viver De Sol a Sol", was sung by them with just voice and guitar. Of course the audience joined everything into one vibe and one voice.

LEGEND ON STAGE

The new song "Selva de Concreto", "Um novo Amanhecer" and the hit "Pique Natty Dread" introduced another high point of the night. None other than 'professor' Edson Gomes, a true living legend of national reggae. The master had barely stepped on stage when something interesting happened. The keyboardist let slip a couple of notes, and instantly the audience not only guessed but sang out before the song had even started: "And I walk upon the earth, and I live under the sun... And my, my rooOOOts... I sway, I sway, I swaaaay!" - It gave you chills! When the hit "Árvore" actually began, Audio shook. The Planta e Raiz boys heaped praise on the great Edson Gomes, who then delivered another classic: "Guerreiros do Terceiro Mundo". Planta e Raiz returned to close the fantastic night with "Tô no Barato" and "Gueto do Universo", plus an encore of "Com Certeza", ending on a high note the first of several shows promoting this new and unmissable album.