Panteon Rococo, Inspector, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, and stop on green

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.

Founded by core members Gabriel Fernandez Capello (vocalist) and Flavio Cianciarulo (bassist), the pair subsequently invited saxist Segio Rotman, drummer Fernando Ricciardi, and keyboardist Mario Siperman to the complete the lineup. Since their formation in 1983 Los Fabulosos Cadillacs have proved a seminal and inspiring group whose eclectic output is the result of influences drawn from jazz, ska, rock, and traditional Latin music. In 1986 the group issued their debut album “Bares y Fondas”, which proved as thematically far-removed from their more recent albums as it is possible.

The albums “Yo Te Avisé” (1987), “El Ritmo Mundial” (1988), “El Satanico Dr. Cadiallac” (1989), and “Volumen 5” (1990) were released as Los Fabulosos Cadillacs were still finding their stride; developing their interests and live performance skills. It wasn’t until the release of the transitional album “El León” in 1992, with its Caribbean, calypso and salsa influences that the band’s progressive and unique sound came to the fore. Featuring guest appearances from Mick Jones and Blondie’s Debbie Harry, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs’s 1995 album “Rey Azucar” marked their most successful album to date. Rooted in ska and reggae however also adopting salsa and punk themes, the record catapulted the group to the upper-echelons of Argentina’s music hierarchy and earned multi-platinum certification.

The band followed the album with their most successful single to date “Matador”, which appeared on the greatest-hits compilation “Vasos Vacíos” in 1995. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs has also became known as an energetic and alluring live performances across Latin America and the U.S., giving a notable show in Anaheim, California. A pair of albums followed in the late millennium “Fabulosos Calavera” and “La Marcha del Golazo Silitario”, after which Los Fabulosos Cadillacs took a six-year hiatus. In April 2008 the band returned to record new material, which surfaced a year later as the studio album “La Luz del Ritmo”.