Rock in Rio: Pedro Mariano persuades Rio

ROCK CITY, 11:05 p.m. — It was up to Pedro Mariano to finish the night at the Brazil Tent, which had previously featured hot sets by Ivo Meirelles and Vinny. Aware that the locals would lack connection to his ballads, the singer picked a groove-driven repertoire and it paid off. Except for Voz no Ouvido, the greatest hit from his last CD, the rest of the set list surprised the audience, which seemed to be giving off a generally bored vibration while coming in. But soon they joined Mariano’s trip as he did Pepeu Gomes’ Fazendo Música, Jogando Bola and Tim Maia’s Viver É Bom Demais. As an homage to Max de Castro, who will be performing on the same stage on Saturday, Elis Regina’s son presented a version of Bom Dia. The crowd asked for more.