Go Graal Blues Band - Go Graal Blues Band (2022)

The Go Graal Blues Band was a Portuguese blues rock group formed in 1975 that, contrary to what was usual at the time, sang only in English.
The Go Graal Blues Band makes its appearance in 1975, integrating João Allain (guitar), Artur Paes (bass), Zito (drums), Tony Sousa (guitar) and José Carlos Cordeiro (vocals) and defined themselves as a group that dedicated himself to playing and singing the blues. After several experiences, the formation stabilizes with Paulo Gonzo (vocals and harmonica), João Allain (lead guitar), Raúl Barrigas dos Anjos (drums), Augusto Mayer (harmonic), António Ferro (bass), João Esteves (guitar) and José Carlos Lamb (lead voice).
In 1979, they signed a contract with Imavox and released, later that year, Go Graal Blues Band, their first LP, in which the group totally assumed a posture dedicated to electric blues, notorious in themes such as “Baby, I Wanna…”, “The Fault Is Her Own” and “The Last One”. That year Tó Andrade joins as bassist. On the 22nd of September, at the invitation of José Nuno Martins, they perform the first concert with laser beams at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia. This concert was broadcast live by RTP 1 and is in the RTP archives.
In 1980 they released the single “They Send Me Away”, presenting a more rock sound, very close to the style of Dr. Feelgood. The presenter of the program Rock In Stock, Luís Filipe Barros, produces the single “Lay Down”, which reached the top of the Top in Rock In Stock.
In 1982, the band's second LP, "White Traffic", was released. Of the original line-up, only Paulo Gonzo and João Allain remain. The bass is in charge of Fernando Delaere and the drums by Hippo Birdie. This LP includes themes like “N'Roll”, “Lonely” and “Guetto Drunk”. The group's musical evolution is notorious and success is measured not so much by record sales, but by the number of shows.
Internal disagreements over the authorship of the themes lead to the departure of Delaere and Birdie who go to Roxigénio and new members are recruited. Mário Pereira (Márito) joins the drums and Henrique Leite is in charge of the bass. The Mini-LP “Blackmail” is released, where you can listen to blues/rock themes such as “Champagne All Night”, “Love Fashion” and “Midnight Killer”.
In 1984, the Máxi-Single Dirty Brown City was released with themes such as “Dirty Brown City”, “Fast Flirt” and “Wild Beat Blues”. That year, Tó Andrade returned to bass, at the invitation of João Allain.
In 1987, the band's last album was released, “So Down Train”, with a more mature sound but far from the success of other eras. The latest album by Go Graal brings us themes like “They Don't Give A Damn”, “A Little Bit” or “City Lights”.
After the release of this LP, Paulo Gonzo left the band to launch a solo career. He is replaced by João Melo, and the band consists of João Melo, João Allain, Tó Andrade, Leonel Cardoso (sax), Fernando Costa (keys) and Chico Cardoso (drums). After about six months, Mário Pereira returns to the drums and the 1st singer José Carlos Cordeiro.
Due to the commercial failure of the LP “So Down Train”, which was reflected in the decrease in the number of shows, the group took the decision to dissolve, leading, in 1989, to the extinction of one of the most outstanding blues/rock groups. in Portugal.
They had a career full of shows, including the first part of the show by The Shirts in Lagos, the 1st part of Jan Akkerman at the Dramatic de Cascais, the 1st part of the Blues Band at the Coliseu and a memorable concert at the Lisbon Coliseum as headliner.
Unfortunately, so far, none of the Go Graal Blues Band albums have been reissued on CD.