La musica es amor
11.08.2003
The outdoor festival sponsored by Paceña (a Bolivian beer company) is off to a great start. Some of the best Latin American indie rock perform for three days. The show actually started on time (8pm), so we missed Octavia (La Paz indie rock giants). Stephen, Maria, Berushka, & I were in line to enter the Mariscal Braun stadium for most of Octavia's set.
But we got to see Aterciopelados (Colombia). Wow. Something like a cross between The Black Heart Procession & trance pop. Thousands of people cheering and singing along to bittersweet songs played to a joyful beat. The lights and video backgrounds were also amazing. And I had my trusty digital camera w/ me (so you can see how close I was to the stage!).
And then came Gustavo Cerati (Argentina). The ex Soda Stereo guitarist/vocalist has developed a cult following. Not that he doesn't deserve it; Soda Stereo was The Pixies of Latin America (and roughly contemporaries), and Cerati's a rock guitar god.
Only minutes after Aterciopelados played their encore, the crowd was chanting "¡Cerati! ¡Cerati!". voices rising and falling in unison, demanding the legend's appearance. By the time he took the stage, the crowd was in a frenzy.
Cerati's new style includes a lot of future pop elements (you can also hear a Joy Division influence), which makes for a very danceable rock. And when the crowd started chanting "¡Soda! ¡Soda!", he was kind enough to play three of his former band's songs, updated of course. I also appreciated the use of an iBook on stage (plugged into one of the Moogs).
Oh, yeah, it was a great show. We left after 1am, though another Bolivian band (Los Tocayos, not that good) took the stage. I think it was best to end on Cerati's mind-blowing performance. So we headed out for late night coffee at Café Ciudad, where we chatted and watched drunk people fall asleep at their tables.
I probably won't go to tonight's performance (too tired). But I'm thinking of going Tuesday night; La Ley (Chile) & Libido (Peru) perform, along w/ another Octavia set.
Posted by Miguel at 02:04 PM
Comments
Sounds like a great time. Too bad you missed Octavia, I've actually heard good things about them before...and oddly not from you ;)
Take care Miguel.
-Josh
Posted by: Josh at November 8, 2003 04:23 PM
Oh, I've seen Octavia before (and hopefully again). And, yes, they're good.
Posted by: miguel at November 8, 2003 04:39 PM
Go see La Ley! They are awesome! bring back CDs.
Posted by: Andres at November 9, 2003 07:58 PM
libido...guau...no te lo pierdas...son asombrosos
Posted by: juan at December 25, 2003 09:58 PM