The line at Club de Ville Thursday was a testament to the growth of Latin music in Austin. People patiently waited for their ID to be checked, their hand to be stamped, and then walked into the club to wait around some more.
When Colombian band Bomba Estéreo took the stage, people cheered and the dancing instantly began. Having performed at both South by Southwest and Pachanga Fest 2010, Bomba Estéreo is no stranger to the warm Austin reception. They went through their set with infectious heat and rhythm, the crowd dancing along to hits like “Feelin’” and “La Boquilla.” Bomba Estéreo frontwoman Liliana Saumet never fails to get people moving like wild teens on acid, and Thursday was no exception. The members of Bomba Estéreo all have fantastic chemistry onstage, and it seemed they quickly burned through their set. Saumet jumped and shook around the stage, ending with what has to be their biggest hit, the dynamic, fun-filled “Fuego.”
As people waited for Bostich+Fussible, the crowd seemed to triple in size. Some waited outside the club, listening in, and others went as far as to sneak in through the gate to watch the band perform. Their 2008 album, Tijuana Sound Machine, was extremely successful, even getting them a Grammy nod for Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. Playing onstage, they proved why. The musical masterminds behind the Nortec Collective project, Ramón Amezcua and Pepe Mogt, have an impressively unique style. From start to finish, the band went through their distinctive mixes of electro/norteño. People at the back of the large crowd stood on chairs to get a good look at the band, who with horns and tubas still moved around to the beats of their music. Behind the band, a large screen projected pictures of children and cities, vintage cars and disco balls.
When the band was done, the crowd cheered for an encore, the shouts of “Otra!” filling the club. Bostich+Fussible responded to their Latino audience, with a personal rendition of “Canta y No Llores.” The crowd didn’t have a single minute to take a breath or take a break—they danced the night away, and Bostich+Fussible’s music took over Red River, the music at the surrounding venues totally inaudible. The night turned into a real party, a truly great night for Latin music.
(Bomba Estéreo & Nortec Collective performed at Club de Ville in Austin on April 28, 2011. Live photos by Kristie Bocanegra.)
