Awesome Shows
Hello all!
Shame on me! I’ve disappeared for yonks this time around! I promise I’ll try not to let it drag so bad next time, I’ve been having some crazy busy months here.
So, let’s get cracking on the news update on Argentina’s rockin’ scene.
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First of all, I’ve been down to see some great shows in town. Back in April we had the chance to catch up with Argentinean Pop Hero Gustavo Cerati. He used to front Soda Stereo, they were THE Argentinean pop band who made it big in Latin America and South of the US back in the late 80s, so he’s still worshipped in countries like Bolivia, Chile, Mexico and Colombia. Soda Stereo’s 15-year-long career earned the label of “Sodamania”, they split up in ’97, and since then Cerati had pursued a solo career. His latest album “Siempre es hoy” (It’s always today) released last year spawned several hit singles, and he toured Argentina on the back of the album for the 1st time in 3 years.
This concert took place in a huge basketball court in Cordoba city, with a cool 3-D bubble-like backdrop and mellow lighting. They played most of the new album -5th solo album, by the way- plus some new almost unrecognisable versions of Soda Stereo’s biggest hits to the delight of the audience who, like myself, were around their late 20s-early 30s and for a moment there…we felt 15 all over again!. New fans however couldn’t complain since he included most of the outstanding tracks of his solo records. He also invited local rappers Locotes to, well, rap on a bit of a song. Apparently he invites local rappers in every town the tour takes him to, as a way of getting closer to new scene we think. Head down to Gustavo’s website to check out some vids and songs if you feel curious.
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In our own HYPERSTATIC camp we got some big news. Remember last time I talked about our summer fest show back in Feb? Well, right after that we had a major line-up change, with Charlie (bass) and Ariel (guitar) leaving the band to focus on their own musical projects: Sullivan and Enhola respectively. Of course we knew about this since last year, but they both wanted to play until the fest date coz that was the line-up that won the right to play there, after all!
So from March onwards we’ve played with our 2 newest rockin’ members: Jorge on guitar /bvs from the band Mandril and Pablo on bass who used to be a bandmate of mine back in mid 90s. They both have brought a much more intense rockier weight and sound to the band, which is what we were after, and the new band’s sound has earned us on the press the nickname of the Local Foo Fighters – no kidding!
That said, let me tell you about our 2003 gig highlights so far! On July 8th we played for the 2nd year in a row at the Cine Club Municipal (arty cinema/theatre) as part of the series of unplugged concerts that happen every Tue night. It went so well! We had guests from our friends Enhola and also our ex bandmembers. We included some new songs, revamped oldies and played a couple of covers like Say it ain’t so from Weezer.
That same week on Sat 12th July, we were the special guests at Enhola’s new album launch at Torre del Rio Bar, which is a cool club in an old water tower facing the river. Enhola’s new CD is called Planea, and yours truly handled the album artwork duties, which you can check out at their website. The guys have gone all retro 70s rock on this one, ditching entirely the electronica influence and dodgy samplers, replacing them by lotsa Hammond and old Moog sounds, taking them closer to Supergrass and Ride. The room was packed that night, and both me and Jorge guested on guitar with Enhola rocking out the venue.
Also in July (it was a hectic month!) we played at a radio show’s anniversary party in my fave venue Casa Babylon. “Si Supieras” is the radio show where I got my “new music” segment every Thursday night. The show was turning 3 years old and celebrating it big by inviting Francisco Bochaton from BA and melancholic metallers Cabezones from the city of Santa Fe, who were also launching their 3rd album in town, called Eclipse (Sol). I’ve never seen Babylon so crowded! Over 600 people turned up to the party.
Cabezones had been touring Mexico the whole of last year so their local fans were eager to catch up on their new stuff, which sounds more melodic yet stronger and more personal than their previous, more derivative material. Singer Cesar Andino owns the stage with little effort, black-clad and with his hair just dyed blonde and wearing lots of black eyeliner, he sung so in tune on top of the wall of noise built by guitarist Esteban that one could only wonder if their mixer was a genius to make such a huge contrast happen so easily. Great band, great show.
In August 2nd, and for the 1st time in Argentina we had Mexican band Molotov touring the country. They formed in Mexico city in ’95, have 4 albums and have just released Dance and Dense Denso, which has earned them 4 nominations on the upcoming 4th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. Molotov has toured with Deftones, Quicksand and on the Warped Tour, They are currently touring Latin America, but will return for more US dates in November (NY, Houston, Miami etc).
Now, what’s all the fuss about, you ask? Well, for starters they are 3 parts Mexican, one part American. While gringo drummer Randy Ebright brings the cross-culture vibe and language to the mix. his Mexican partners Micky Huidobro and Paco Ayala both play bass AT the same time (imagine the sub-lows in their rehearsal space) and guitarist Tito Fuentes gives the whole thing the Latin groove and furious riffs it needs. On top of this, all 4 band members sing! Well, rap mostly. You could easily be forgiven for taking Molotov as another rap-funk-metal band, but hey, they throw so many elements into the mix it’s actually hard to label them.
The show was 100% fun, let’s make it clear from the start. Their lyrics are hilarious, with topics ranging mostly from politics to sex to chicks to dealers and pimps to sex again, and more protest against the Mexican government, all with such a great taste for rhyming funny and smart words it makes you want to translate their songs to your English-speaking friends so they can have a laugh too. Luckily they have some songs sung in English as well by Randy, who steps out of his drumkit to rap and dance around onstage while Paco plays drums. Definitely a band worth checking out if you’re up for a having a real fun blast at a rock show…you know, instead of bumping into yet another shoe-gazing depressed bunch of nu-metal kids sponsored by a skate brand singing about their twisted childhood…is anybody else SICK to their stomach by them!???!?!?! Please someone tell that chick in Evanescence we are not buying…
OK kids, time for me to go. I’ll try to come back before the end of the year! Sorry again for slacking on my updates!
Y’ll take care and will catch ya soon.
xxxxxxKari
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