Aztlan Fest Proves a Study in Diversity and Sameness

The rock en espanol event Aztlan Fest is an ambitious enterprise, formed with the objective of celebrating Chicano culture’s contribution to the genre.

On Sunday in the parking lot of the Grand Olympic Auditorium in downtown L.A., more than 45 acts performed on three stages during the second year of the event. One of the stages was devoted to hip-hop, another to punk and metal, and the third to more mainstream rock fare.

Most of the featured groups are still struggling to gain prominence in the local rock en espanol circuit--a scene famous for the loyalty of its fans, but also one that lacks the kind of vision to turn Los Angeles into a Latin rock mecca along the lines of Mexico City or Buenos Aires.

Part of the problem is the striking similarity in the sound of the acts. The punky, brass-laden carnival feel of seminal Spanish group Mano Negra and the aggressive guitar attack of Rage Against the Machine are constant points of reference here.

Bands such as San Diego’s Emaue and the Bay Area’s Caradura were at their best whenever they distanced themselves from the cliches of hard-core and instead embraced the influence of their Latino roots.

In the case of Caradura, the occasional layers of trombone and trumpet gave an air of majestic richness to their brutal anthems. And Emaue sprinkled its guitar-punctuated rock with touches of accordion, recorded Mexican voices and a few cowbells.

Some groups did boast a distinctive element that separated them from the rest. The socially conscious Disenfranchised used the bouncy scratching of its DJ as a solo instrument. For the punk quintet Las 15 Letras, it was the instrumental tightness they have achieved after years of playing. Skalavera showed off a smart blend of heavy-metal drum patterns with happy ska riffs.

The absence of a major act to end Sunday’s festivities was a noticeable letdown. A band such as Maldita Vecindad, for instance, with its references to the complex realities of Mexico, would have taken the festival a step beyond the noble role of showcasing dozens of independent bands.