Ever hear the cliche “I’m never washing this hand again” after someone shakes hand a celebrity or hot girl? Well, that’s pretty much how I felt with regard to my ears after hearing Os Mutantes live. They were such a fantastic live show unlike any I’ve ever seen that the last thing I wanted to do was listen to any music that would pale in comparison.

While waiting for Os Mutantes to take the stage, I slowly realized there was a strong Brazilian contingent in the crowd. The tipsy, middle-aged woman next to me claimed to know lead singer Sergio Dias “from Brazil” and frequently yelled to the band in Portuguese. It would have been annoying if it wasn’t so passionate and, well, completely warranted. They were the most awesome band I’d seen in a long while; and if tipsy, middle-aged Brazilian women can’t freak out over their performances, who can?

The set started off with “Tecnicolor” and I immediately knew that they were as great as I remembered them being from the few songs I heard when they played Pitchfork in 2006. Though they’d had a few decades of hiatus, they somehow reassembled into one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen — made only more impressive by the fact that Sergio is 58.

But the real winner of the night was new female vocalist Bia Mendes, who not only managed to take command of a stage full of musical legends, but share it with her bandmates in a way that would make you think she had been playing with them all her life. She was charming, a great singing and a delight to have on stage.

There were a boatload of fantastic songs (“A Minha Menina” appeared early, followed by “Baby”) and just as many kind words from the band. Sergio shared his great thanks that, after the band broke up, fans continued to spread their music without the support of a record label or anything. He told us “we are here because of you.” I didn’t feel like the band owed me anything — quite the opposite, actually — but his gratitude towards Os Mutantes’ fans was endearing.

And, of course, the music was top notch. Sergio played fairly complicated guitar parts while singing some beautiful harmonies with his bandmates. The new songs were fantastic, too. The three tracks off the new album fit in seamlessly with the ones I’ve loved for years. Of course, hearing old favorites like “Bat Macumba” and “Panis et Circenses” to close didn’t hurt either. For the double-song encore I put away my camera and danced and sang like I haven’t in years. Thanks, Os Mutantes.

Setlist and more photos after the break.

Setlist:

1. “Tecnicolor”
2. “El Justiciero”
3. “A Minha Menina”
4. “Baby”
5. “Querida Querida”
6. “Teclar”
7. “2000 E Agarrum”
8. “Baghdad Blues”
9. “Jardim Eletrico”
10. “Neurociencia Do Amor”
11. “Anagrama”
12. “Top Top”
13. “Balada do Louco”
14. ?
15. “Bat Macumba”
16. “Panis et Circenses”