Last night I went to Rata Blanca's Chicago show in thier short US tour. To start things off...they have been on my list of bands I figured I would never see live. I was shocked when I came across that they were going to be in Chicago playing...and 2 blocks from my apartment too. How could I pass this up. It was a strange line up. In Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom, this promotion company puts these Hispanic Rock shows on a few times a year there. They mix genre's and from what I have heard...the place is packed everytime. This time around it was....Pro-Fec-Cia, a death metal act, Tex-Tex, some band I couldnt read their logo, Rata Blanca and Liran' Roll. I had a little bit of fear about going due to me being the only Gringo in the place. Chicago does have lots of hispanic gangs and interacial violence so I didnt know what to expect. I went anyway because I wanted to see Rata Blanca.
We got there and it wasnt that crowded yet. None of the bands had merchandise for sale. This was a huge disappointment since I wanted to get Rata Blanca's newest disc and the DVD they have out. There was this one vendor there who had all this tradtional metal, power metal and mexican rock CD's and any power metal shirts by tons of different bands. Plus jewelry and patches and stuff. Since I dont speak spanish I had a hard time getting prices and stuff. He had some things that looked good but I passed. Everyone had on Mago De Oz and Rata Blanca shirts....as many different ones than at an Iron Maiden concert. It was very strange to see this.
Pro-fec-cia were up first. Standard death metal. It was odd. The crowd was mixed with metal heads, young teen girls, dance club types, older people, little kids (ages 2 - 8) and just your regular music fans. I am not sure if it was a cultural thing but each band everyone watched and supported and got into...unlike many shows here in the states. The singer for Pro-fec-cia was very entertaining. They bought out a violin player for the final few songs and it was a nice mix to things. Every guy in the place was hooting and hollaring at her.
Now this is where it got real strange. They had this DJ guy in the side of the stage and he was real energetic. He was playing stuff like mago De Oz and other upbeat ska and metal stuff. All spanish stuff. Now the place started filling up to about 1,000. About 300 of those people started this huge circle pit where they were just dancing and singing along. No one being an ass and running into people or hurting anyone. Just 300 people just dancing around this monsterous circle singing along. There was one band played who I dont know but they were amazing sounding...folky powermetal. Not Mago De oz though. It was odd to see everyone know Mago De Oz songs and to see the scope of thier popularity in the hispanic community.
This band Tex-Tex was up next. Kind of alternatice indie rock stuff. They also had a violin player. People were going nuts for them. The circle pit was now bigger and one even started in the back of the club. Also it seemed like everyone was smoking the wacky tobacky. It was funny. In the pit a few guys had thier and 3 year olds on thier shoulders dancing around the pit too. Not one person was being out of hand.
Now the place filled up to at least close to 2,000. This other band came out. They were 3 guys in cowboy outfits and played kind of Alt-Country with a little bit of Power Pop tossed in. The place cound stand still the whole time. It was insane. Not a single person was standing still. Everyone was either in the huge circle pits....yeah...pits...there was like 3 now. Or off in thier own little group just dancing around and singing along. I actually enjoyed this band. Not my usual thing but live they knew how to work the crowd and keep everyone moving.
Finally after a longer wait between bands...Rata Blacna were up. People were still keeping the circle pit going and the chanting for Rata. Seemed like they had some trouble with set up for them. They finally hit the stage and the sound was kinda hazy at first for the first song. It must have been a newer song since not too many people were going nuts. By the second song the sound kicked in nice and clear and they played some older stuff. People now started going crazy again. Adrian Barilari's voice is amazing live as much as it is on disc. He is able to hit all the high notes and reach the power that he does on disc. It is funny, he is a very short guy and the guitarist is really tall so when they stood by each other it was a funny site. I am not sure of the full set list due to me only have like 4 of thier disc and I dont speak or read spanish. I did recognize like 3 or 4 songs out of the 10 or so they played. thier set was full of energy and they were really having fun.
They played lots of thier upbeat faster stuff and a few slower ballad type songs. It was nice...they didnt spend a lot of time talking between songs...they just would play them one after another. They really had the crowd going and before we knew it...they were done. I guess the old saying goes....always leave them wanting more. After they played we took off. Being late and tired and not really knowing too much about the headliner...it was time for a late dinner.
I cant say enough that anyone in the New York area...they are playing thier next. I think like 2 or 3 shows. You must go to this show. Amazing. Any fans of classic metal or power metal. You will not be disappointed. One of the better shows I have seen in a long time. I would give Rata Blanca's performance a 4.5 out of 5. Wish I knew more of thier stuff before the show.
We got there and it wasnt that crowded yet. None of the bands had merchandise for sale. This was a huge disappointment since I wanted to get Rata Blanca's newest disc and the DVD they have out. There was this one vendor there who had all this tradtional metal, power metal and mexican rock CD's and any power metal shirts by tons of different bands. Plus jewelry and patches and stuff. Since I dont speak spanish I had a hard time getting prices and stuff. He had some things that looked good but I passed. Everyone had on Mago De Oz and Rata Blanca shirts....as many different ones than at an Iron Maiden concert. It was very strange to see this.
Pro-fec-cia were up first. Standard death metal. It was odd. The crowd was mixed with metal heads, young teen girls, dance club types, older people, little kids (ages 2 - 8) and just your regular music fans. I am not sure if it was a cultural thing but each band everyone watched and supported and got into...unlike many shows here in the states. The singer for Pro-fec-cia was very entertaining. They bought out a violin player for the final few songs and it was a nice mix to things. Every guy in the place was hooting and hollaring at her.
Now this is where it got real strange. They had this DJ guy in the side of the stage and he was real energetic. He was playing stuff like mago De Oz and other upbeat ska and metal stuff. All spanish stuff. Now the place started filling up to about 1,000. About 300 of those people started this huge circle pit where they were just dancing and singing along. No one being an ass and running into people or hurting anyone. Just 300 people just dancing around this monsterous circle singing along. There was one band played who I dont know but they were amazing sounding...folky powermetal. Not Mago De oz though. It was odd to see everyone know Mago De Oz songs and to see the scope of thier popularity in the hispanic community.
This band Tex-Tex was up next. Kind of alternatice indie rock stuff. They also had a violin player. People were going nuts for them. The circle pit was now bigger and one even started in the back of the club. Also it seemed like everyone was smoking the wacky tobacky. It was funny. In the pit a few guys had thier and 3 year olds on thier shoulders dancing around the pit too. Not one person was being out of hand.
Now the place filled up to at least close to 2,000. This other band came out. They were 3 guys in cowboy outfits and played kind of Alt-Country with a little bit of Power Pop tossed in. The place cound stand still the whole time. It was insane. Not a single person was standing still. Everyone was either in the huge circle pits....yeah...pits...there was like 3 now. Or off in thier own little group just dancing around and singing along. I actually enjoyed this band. Not my usual thing but live they knew how to work the crowd and keep everyone moving.
Finally after a longer wait between bands...Rata Blacna were up. People were still keeping the circle pit going and the chanting for Rata. Seemed like they had some trouble with set up for them. They finally hit the stage and the sound was kinda hazy at first for the first song. It must have been a newer song since not too many people were going nuts. By the second song the sound kicked in nice and clear and they played some older stuff. People now started going crazy again. Adrian Barilari's voice is amazing live as much as it is on disc. He is able to hit all the high notes and reach the power that he does on disc. It is funny, he is a very short guy and the guitarist is really tall so when they stood by each other it was a funny site. I am not sure of the full set list due to me only have like 4 of thier disc and I dont speak or read spanish. I did recognize like 3 or 4 songs out of the 10 or so they played. thier set was full of energy and they were really having fun.
They played lots of thier upbeat faster stuff and a few slower ballad type songs. It was nice...they didnt spend a lot of time talking between songs...they just would play them one after another. They really had the crowd going and before we knew it...they were done. I guess the old saying goes....always leave them wanting more. After they played we took off. Being late and tired and not really knowing too much about the headliner...it was time for a late dinner.
I cant say enough that anyone in the New York area...they are playing thier next. I think like 2 or 3 shows. You must go to this show. Amazing. Any fans of classic metal or power metal. You will not be disappointed. One of the better shows I have seen in a long time. I would give Rata Blanca's performance a 4.5 out of 5. Wish I knew more of thier stuff before the show.
