Stuff You Gotta Watch: Meio Metro De Pedra
How hard was it to release a rock’n’roll record in 1960s Portugal? First, you had to make sure none of your band members were about to be shipped off to war. Second, instruments were so expensive (or simply unavailable), you often could only play hand-me-downs. Third, you needed to find a label that was keen on releasing anything other than folk, classical music, or fado. And if you actually made it that far, you were required to send lyrics and other materials to the police, running the risk of having the whole thing censored. Against all odds, the Portuguese garage underground managed to produce an admirable catalog—thanks to the stubborn engagement of a handful of musicians, producers, DJs, promoters, and other key players.
Meio Metro De Pedra was conceived in a similar way. The debut documentary of Key Tonic director Eduardo Morais was independently funded, relying on the director’s tireless dedication and intense research to tell a story that begins in the late 1950s with “Portuguese Elvis” Joaquim Costa and goes until the late 2000s, when Morais wrapped up pre-production.
Narrated by A Boy Named Sue, Meio Metro De Pedra explains how the fever of rock’n’roll first invaded the country, with influences, records, and musicians coming from overseas territories. The documentary then travels through the following five decades, becoming all the more compelling when it details the numerous struggles endured by the bands. More often than not, the interviewed musicians—Daniel Bacelar, Madalena Iglésias, Victor Gomes, Adolfo Luxúria Canibal, Suspiria Franklyn, and many others—humbly dismiss it all with a shrug. As they relive the history of rock ‘n’ roll in Portugal, you rarely hear anything other than passion in their voices.
Review by Ana Leorne. Check out the full archive of the Stuff You Gotta Watch column.