An authentic carnival in the 52nd edition of the Cervantino International Festival (FIC) which is characterized by the festive, carnivalesque profile of its programming, particularly by the presence of the country and state Guests of Honor, Brazil and Oaxaca. That is what the presentation this Thursday night of the Argentine band Los Auténticos Decadentes becomes, one of the most outstanding performances of the “Fiesta del Espíritu”.
Putting together a party is a job and for him there are few with the tremendous credentials that the 12 members of the Buenos Aires band carry with them, with multiple vocalists, multi-instrumentalists, who perform shows, who move on stage, who dress in all colors and with all the extravagance possible, because life is a carnival and you have to spread it.
They offer just over 90 minutes of show. Los Auténticos on the stage of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas. But they are enough to make everyone present dance. Because only in this way can the 13 degrees Celsius that reach this icy splendor of a World Heritage city be overcome.
The Authentic Decadents
“We are as we are / decadent, this is how we are / like an earthquake, eye of a storm / that alters your mind, keeps you alert / the foam of some, the celebration of others.”
That role, “We are Decadent”is one of the first in the repertoire of the band formed in 1986 and owner of a collection of hymns that have consolidated a horde of fans throughout Latin America. And it is noticeable among the audience that not only fills the stands of the Alhóndiga but in all those who stand on the side street of the stage and do not stop singing, raising their hands and swaying to the rhythm of all the rhythms that this band has to offer. offer not only ska, but punk, folk, cumbia, ballads, rock, reggae, batucada. Because there is everything in their 13 full-length albums.
They also raffle titles like “Los Piratas”, “Amor”, “Murguero” and “Taiwan Teddy Bear”, a cool thing that makes everyone romantic, or in his case nostalgic, in the voice of Gustavo Parisi. And there is also a chance to pay tribute to Mexican music with two legendary covers: “Golpes en el corazón”, original by Los Tigres del Norte, and “Oro”, by the group Bronco.
They also raffle off “Vení Raquel” and the cumbion titled “Amor,” as well as obvious statements about the work and bohemian life of an artist, such as “I don’t care about money” and “Money is not everything.” But, of course, the peak moment is when they raffle off “Loco (your way of being)”, a good song to dedicate:
“You came to me, you drank my glass / you smiled at me like that, swimming in your dementia / I didn’t know what to do, I tried to kiss you / you slapped me and you started crying.”
It’s not your first time Guanajuatobut his first time at the International Cervantino Festival, a dream come true.
“We are very happy to be here, seriously, at this very broad cultural festival, which brings artists from all over the world. For us it is a very great pleasure,” declares Gustavo Parisi before continuing with this carnival in which the public also gives their hearts, with children and adults alike.
Playlist for weddings and exercise
Abraham wears a shirt or, as Argentines say, a shirt from the South American country’s team, like many other attendees. He spent his time jumping, screaming, dancing throughout the entire concert. The vast majority of the songs are known.
“I have been a fan for many years, about 25 years, more or less. I look young, but I’m already 42,” he laughs and adds: “I’m from León, Guanajuato, but I’ve already lived here in the capital for my wife, for nine years. In León we have seen them (Los Auténticos) a lot of times, and today we couldn’t miss them in Guanajuato capital.”
This band’s concerts, says this red-blooded fan, “never disappoint, they always bring the quality to the top.”
The Authentic Decadents turned on the Cervantino
He reports that in February 2017, The Authentic Decadents a few months after having won La Gaviota de Plata and La Gaviota de Oro, the two highest recognitions for a musical performance at the Viña del Mar Festival, in front of one of the most demanding audiences in the world – not for nothing do they call him “El monster”–, were presented at the León Fair, and, he says: “the quality of the show was the same as in Viña del Mar. Where these guys stand, they are excellent at their jobs. That’s why it’s always worth seeing them.”
He comes with his wife and two little ones, brothers, a girl and a boy, who also couldn’t stop dancing to the different rhythms offered by the Argentine band.
“As it is very motivating music, even though there are nostalgic songs, which can even be sad, with the beat they have, they make it very festive. “My children love ‘Pendeviejo’, because in Argentina ‘pendejo’ means child, it’s good for them because they have permission to say that word when they hear the song.”
This song says: “I want to be an asshole / even if I get old / that never goes out / what I carry inside / I want to be an asshole / feel that everything is new again / open my heart / with a gray hair in the wind” .
And Abraham adds with a smile from ear to ear: “I like to run and I usually do it with the most moving songs of Los Auténticos.” And, as advice, share a couple of songs to add to the runners’ playlist:
“For example, this one they sang at the end, ‘And the band continues’ – from the 2014 album of the same name – which is already a classic. Also that of ‘El Murguero’. Even when my wife and I got married, that was one of our songs, with that we invited people to stop and dance.”
The theme of “El Murguero” says, among its verses: “The troupe is coming / well known throughout the world / touring the neighborhoods / with the joy of the murgueros / arrives with this rhythm / very popular murga rhythm / and that many years ago / we baptized it tu-ta tu-ta.”
What has been said, what they put together The Authentic Decadents It’s quite a carnival in the spirit festival”.
