Panteon Rococo

Panteón Rococó are a band who formed during the aftermath of one of the most volatile periods of recent Mexican history, the Zapatista uprising of 1994. Fuelled by the bands shared outrage at the government’s treatment of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (an organisation the band supports to this day), the band debuted in 1995, playing live around the bars and rock clubs of Mexico City. By 1997, the band had generated some serious hype for themselves, and on the strength of their live performances they signed to Pepe Lobo Records. Soon afterwards, the band released their first E.P “Toloache pa' mi Negra” and on the strength of that record, signed to BMG Mexico in 1998.

Ever since then, the ten piece band have have remained one of the must see live-acts of the Latin American rock scene, and have built up a following all over Europe as well as in South America. They’ve toured with the likes of Manu Chao and have performed at festivals from their home town of Mexico City’s Vive Latino to Germany’s heavy metal spectacular Wacken Open Air. We need more bands this politically active, this esoteric, this all around unique more than ever, and the fortunate thing is that Pantéon Rococó look set to become a deeply influential band all over the world. Highly recommended.

Buenos Aires-based Los Auténticos Decadentes was formed in 1986 by vocalist Gustavo Parisi, guitar players Jorge Serrano, Gustavo Montecchia, and Diego Demarco, bass player Pablo Armesto, percussionists Gastón Bernardou, Martin Lorenzo, and Eduardo Trípodi, saxophonist Pablo Cabanchiek, trombonist Daniel Zimbello, trumpet player Guillermo Eijo, and drummer Martin Pajarola. Initially formed as a vehicle for fun and a means of playing at school parties, the band soon developed a local following due to their cross-genre, cross-generational appeal. The band’s debut album “El Milagro Argentino” arrived in 1989 spawning the single “Veni Raquel”, which introduced the group’s notorious ironic sense of humour.

Drawing influence from a number of genres including ska, rock, reggae, cumbia, and adopting the traditions of canzonetta, murga bands, and cantina songs, Los Auténticos Decadentes proved highly popular in Latin America for their pioneering style. In 1991 the band singed with BMG who issued the albums “Supersonico” in 1991, “Fiesta monstruo” in 1993, “Mi vida loca” in 1995, and “Cualquiera puede cantar” in 1997. Los Auténticos Decadentes had a string of hits across this period including “Siga el Baile”, “La Guitarra”, “Diosa”, and “El Gran Señor”, which culminated in a successful Latin American tour of Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Into the new millennium both Los Auténticos Decadentes’ discography and popularity grew, with the albums “Holy Trasnoche” (2000), “Sigue tu camino” (2003), “Club Atlético Decadente” (2006), and “Somos (En Vivo)” proving the band as a versatile powerhouse. The singles “Corazón”, “Loco (Tu Forma de Ser)”, “Entregá el Marrón”, and “El Murguero” later became staples of Argentine club life, cementing Los Auténticos Decadentes’ position as fun-loving, dance-inspiring troupe.