By Santiago Rivas @rivas_santiago Photo by Simona Malaika @simonamalaika
It was actually half a day; My responsibilities on the Caracol Radio program "Dos y Punto" (which, by the way, you should all be listening to Monday through Friday at 2:00 pm) prevented me from arriving early to see everything I wanted: 2 Minutos, Catfish, Acid Yesit, and so on. The end of the afternoon and evening remained, and I had to hurry. And hurry I did, of course. It's a shame that so many good bands overlapped, but at the same time, it's a privilege to be able to say that you missed Santa Cecilia because you were watching Los Tres, or that you missed a bit of Los Makenzy because you were watching Ismael Allende. It's a fortune, and it should be seen as such., But there was still a lot I was missing.
The first thing I saw was the Rococo Pantheon. By the time they came out to perform, the main stage was packed. Absolutely full. I don't particularly like them, but live they have an unusual power. They are incredibly talented, and they performed all sorts of live shows, like switching from cumbia to ska to Mexican cumbia, or singing every single song. Their performance was so powerful that you could hear the applause at the end of each song all the way to the back of the park. My respects.
Then I went to see Kanaku and El Tigre, one of the bands I had marked on my calendar. I got halfway through, and I was infinitely grateful to have seen them at Estéreo Picnic., because yesterday's presentation was very weak. Not bad, because they're very good, but they did lack energy. This doesn't mean they should have done punk versions of their songs, or brought in guest artists, or done anything different from their usual act. It simply means that with big stages come big responsibilities, no matter how big the audience is. It's just my opinion, but I feel like they were a little lacking in substance.
A quick stop at the food court, and then we continue the marathon: Ismael Ayende calls his music "Andean Psycho-surf," and they fully deliver on that promise. I prefer their heavier songs, when they lean less towards psychedelia and more towards surf, but overall they're fantastic, and they deserved a great audience, like the one they had. Their performance on the ECO stage this Monday at the festival was beautiful. Captivating, really. People looked at them in bewilderment, because it's easy to lose track of time when listening to them. They make music like a journey to who-knows-what. Nothing feels out of place. They use subtle percussion and guitar riffs with some long, drawn-out soundscapes. They create dense compositions, but they don't feel heavy or tiresome. On the contrary, the sweetness that their two singers (she and he) bring to their voices reminds us that we're in the presence of someone we can trust. Hopefully, we'll continue to see them on increasingly packed, increasingly larger stages.
The Makenzys are ready for the top. They have a commercial, melodic, and very warm sound. I believe them. Right now, they're everyone's darlings, but they're strong enough to withstand the blow of losing that status when the next generation of prodigies arrives. It's difficult to fill the void they were in, right before the two special guests. Those bands usually get all sorts of insults shouted at them because people are impatient to see "the big names." But they're big names too, and it showed, the three of them rocking the main stage like it was nothing. Its bluesy, classic sound is authentic, and that's what matters.. I think that's their most important quality, and it comes through in everything they do. They're fluid on stage; they don't overcomplicate things, nor do they try to be more. cool that's what they are. They're some guys from Bogotá who have the last name of a coastal striker from Junior and they play classic rock, because they feel like it. And they do it very well.
It's a shame, at least for me, that the best groups had to cross paths like that. I can't be the only one who thinks so, but For the organizers, it must be a relief to be able to split the audience into two or three parts., so as not to have to face the entire crowd on a single platform. I say this because I only had time to listen to four songs by Los Espíritus, from Argentina. They combine three guitars, which they shamelessly interweave with effects and chords to create a hypnotic sound that had everyone in the press area going wild. They blend their drums with a percussion line for an even more psychedelic effect, and their songs are structured to include sections of pure instrumental bliss. A marvel. Hopefully they'll stay for a week, so we can see them play somewhere else. I left because I heard giant footsteps.
I find it very difficult to describe what Los Tres, from Chile, represent to me. When I first heard them, it was only 1994. I haven't stopped loving them since then, when I was twelve years old. I feel like they're one of the very few bands that makes immortal music. It doesn't matter how many fans they have, or how many views they get on YouTube. For me it is clear that no one who liked this group has been able to forget it. They don't sound like they're suffering, and yet their lyrics pierce you to the core; choose whichever one you like. They have soul, and a sense of humor, and they put all their talent into every song. It doesn't matter if it sounds like rock and roll (The Guarantee), like a singer-songwriter song (Let yourself fall) or as Latin American rock of the 90s (Jump). They are excellent musicians and they are versatile, Because although their foundation is classic rock and roll, what matters about them isn't the genre, but the eloquence, the soul. That's how it was in the nineties, and there are days when you really miss bands like that being born, or at least aspiring to that.
I really like The Three. And tonight, while they were performing for the first time in Colombia (I could hardly believe it), We simply confirmed, despite the sound issues (what's the deal with the sound on the Plaza stage?), that this is a truly great band. We hope they keep writing songs like this, more and more. And playing them live. The bass (Titae Lindl) and guitars were perfectly clear, and Álvaro Henríquez's voice sounded like another instrument, both melancholic and sweet. They took the time to play, and paid homage to the tribute that Café Tacvba has been paying them for years., turning their Let yourself fall In their version, with the dancing and everything. Then, in the middle of I have swept away the sun, They put in a piece of Boss of bosses, by Los Tigres del Norte, just like that. If it were up to me, this concert would have lasted three hours. Since it didn't (say NO to exploitation, musician from Concepción), I went to continue the show with a fan who's in love with Los Tres.
Mon Laferte is a phenomenon in many ways. Let's go in order of appearance. The most basic is her beauty; but much more than that, the gigantic angel she displays when she stands on a stage, her charisma, which surpasses everyone else. She has a beautiful voice, to continue with the list, and a stage presence that would disarm even the most skeptical person. Her instrumentation is impeccable to the point where she plays pop, but she ranges from ska to jazz, French chanson, rock, Chilean music, Mexican music—anything that suits her style. Offstage, she's also a phenomenon. In just over a year, she's become a favorite with audiences, despite hardly any radio airplay and without major record labels or big names paying her much attention. She had never been to Colombia before., And he was stunned when he heard the entire audience, including many in the press, singing his song in unison. Complete love, very much in keeping with the title.
You can tell from a mile away when someone puts love into their work. Fortunately, The soul remains a superior force, which neither monopolies, nor broadcasters, nor payola, nor machismo, nor anything else, can stop. When it's captured on a recording, digital or analog, or when you see it emerging from a stage, the soul transcends any barrier. You have to have timing, Yes, and persistence; you have to be stubborn about what you love, because the music industry is a harsh business full of traps., But with Mon Laferte, it seems there is hope for independent music.
That was, officially, my closing of Rock al Parque. Unofficially, I had the opportunity to see a couple of songs at the end of Draco Rosa's presentation., closing the main stage and the entire festival. People were very happy, except for those who were left without their favorite song being played, as often happens, or those who wondered if the abrupt departure and the end of the concert was due once again to a sound failure, a problem that Draco finds so difficult to manage. (But seriously, what the hell is going on with the sound on the main stage?).
Whatever the reason, this was a very good Rock al Parque festival. There are things to improve, as always., But this year's festival was actually a great opportunity to enjoy the music, and use it as an excuse to tear down those useless walls that separate us, thanks to the pleasure that comes with a good weekend, full of concerts. And since we're talking about walls, Please tear down that filthy castle they built on the main stage.
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