Fresno

A Brazilian emo pop/rock group originating from Porto Alegre, Fresno came together in 1999 when schoolmates Leandro "Nego" Pereira on vocals, Lucas "Paraiba" Silveira on guitars, Gutavo "Vavo" Mantovani on guitars, and Pedro "Cuper" Cupertino on drums decided to form a band. Bassist Bruno "Lezo" Teixeira came aboard shortly afterward, completing the initial five-piece lineup. Their debut recording, the 2001 demo EP O Acaso do Erro, launched their studio output yet also prompted Pereira’s departure, after which Silveira assumed lead vocal duties. The band issued its first full-length effort, Quarto dos Livros, in 2003 and quickly followed it with 2004’s O Rio a Cidade a Arvore. Once the third album, Ciano, appeared, Bruno "Lezo" Teixeira exited, leading the group to bring in Rodrigo Tavares, formerly of Abril, on bass. Fresno then delivered the concert recording MTV Ao Vivio and received the Best New Artist honor at the MTV Brazil Awards in 2007. The next year saw the release of their fourth studio album, Redenção, which marked the final appearance of drummer Pedro Cupertino; he was succeeded by Rodrigo "Bell" Ruschell.