By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Known for their cinematic instrumental songs, the American post-rock group Explosions in the Sky will perform live at Circo Voador in Lapa on Thursday, November 19th. Formed in 1999 in Austin, Texas, the group’s works have been featured in multiple television shows and films and they have released six studio albums, to date.
Their debut album How Strange, Innocence was released in 2000 and the band is currently touring in celebration of the album’s fifteenth anniversary.
Featuring drummer Chris Hrasky, guitarist Munaf Rayani, guitarist Mark Smith and guitarist and bassist Michael James, Explosions in the Sky was last in Rio Janeiro for a live performance at Circo Voador in May of 2013.
They will return to the same venue on the 19th thanks to the help of fans and Queremos, a Rio de Janeiro-based crowdfunding project that connects bands, their fans, and venues that might have otherwise been overlooked during tours.
Originally known as Breaker Morant, it is said that the band chose the name Explosions in the Sky, after they left their first live recording session and outside found there was an ongoing fireworks display in the night sky.
The group followed their 2000 debut How Strange, Innocence, with Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever in 2001. In 2003 they released The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place , followed by The Rescue in 2005 and All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone in 2007. Their latest release, 2011’s Take Care, Take Care, Take Care was their highest charting album,to date, in the United States, reaching number sixteen on the charts.
While it has been four years since the group has released a new studio album, they have remained busy, releasing works as part of compilations,touring, and providing soundtracks. Well-known for writing their electric guitar and drum instrumentals with narratives and story arcs as their foundations, it’s no surprise that the band has helped to score multiple films including their most recent work on the 2014 film “Manglehorn.”
Praised for creating expansive soundscapes during live performances and known for their songs’ exuberant climaxes, Thursday’s show promises to be an experience not to be missed by rock and instrumental music fans in Rio de Janeiro. Gates at Circo Voador will open at 10PM.
Who: Explosions in the Sky
When: Thursday, November 19th, 10PM
Where: Circo Voador, Rua dos Arcos s/n, Lapa
Entrance: R$100 – R$200