I just got back from a week at the very rockin’ 14th Goiania Noise Festival in Goiania, Brazil’s unofficial indie music capital in the center of the country. Local label Monstro Records‘ baby turned teenager that provides a comprehensive look at what’s going on in this small but vibrant scene. The highlights were the Black Lips, Black Mekon and Helmet — seriously, I wonder why I never caught on to the latter before and I’m still recovering from self-inflicted whiplash from all that head banging — but I was amped to find out what Brazil’s underground groups have up their record sleeves.

Of the 45 bands, the ones that stuck with me most were Marcelo Camelo’s (of Los Hermanos fame) decidedly low-key rock, Holger’s pogo-inspiring rhythms, festival founder and Monstro labelhead Fabricio Nobre’s MQN. The sensational Instituto show, which united about a dozen members from some big names in Brazilian music from hip-hop to MPB (Nacao Zumbi and Funk Como Le Gusta) played samba/funk/hip-hop-tinged songs from the seminal Tim Maia.

Watching the thousands-strong audience at 3 a.m. singing along to the words from up in the balcony gave me the chills. Thanks to Fabricio and his team for their wonderful hospitality and an event that I’m looking forward to hitting again next year!