This past weekend, Pasadena was converted into a musical paradise. With various musical acts from various genres participating in its Make Music Pasadena Music Festival, the city was the place to enjoy an eclectic program of live musical entertainment. What drew me out to the show, I must admit, was Las Cafeteras.
Performing at the Eclectic Stage in the Playhouse District, the jarocho sounds of the LA native band was what closed the activities for that stage, following a performance by indie rock/electronic band Tanlines.
As Las Cafeteras prepped their gear on stage, some Tanlines fans lingered behind, curious about what the next band would present. Most of them, however, trickled out of the area in search of other music, leaving behind a noticeable gap in the audience. But that space was quickly filled with the groups Las Cafeteras fans that found their way to the stage, also by passer by’s that were intrigued by the first riffs and “mic check, check” coming from the stage.
Las Cafeteras began playing soon after. Within seconds the audience was full again. There were people of all ages and lifestyles in the crowd, all enjoying the music of this young talent. But of course they were. With an intriguing blend of hip-hop and rock & roll,with the style of music from Veracruz, Mexico, Las Cafeteras produces the type of music you can dance and sing along to at all hours of the day and night.
The band supports its beats and rhythms with lyrics that speak of the issues that affect them: immigrant rights, equality for the gay community and living conditions of the poor, among them. “Trajabador Trajabadora” and “Its Movement Time” are prime examples of how the band uses music as a tool to provoke thought and create change.
The Eclectic Stage in the Playhouse District couldn’t have closed in a better way. I can only hope that the audience left home with plenty of food for thought and with enough energy to get home to do something about it.
