November 7, 2024

Los Chicos & Ratso – Whammy Bar: November 6, 2024

Madrid-based act Los Chicos, formed in 2000, play a genre busting sangria like concoction of punk, 50s style rock n roll and a touch of blues. Visitors (and favourites of many) in Australia, tonight’s show, a first in Aotearoa, came on a midweek night, just ahead of a busy concert weekend in Tamaki Makaurau. Yes! There are going to be Unrestful movements tonight, making it a raucous Wednesday night at Whammy bar.

Doors open 8pm and Ratso don’t invade the stage until well after 9pm, it’s gonna be a late one (for a midweek show) And while the Ratso bassists’ (no trend) t-shirt exclaims ‘too many humans’, tonight’s show is a much more modest affair, but for a midweek affair, it”s tolerable.

Ratso

Ratso, a stranger to my lug holes for a while, creates controlled audio chaos onstage as energy and shtick come hither revving up the crowd. Signature mighty sounding twin guitars are upfront, as twin vocalists (sometimes triple) challenge, and drums and bass keep the rhythm grounded.

Musical genres are again being synthesized, punk, proto-punk, glam, and classic metal riffs (think early AC/DC & Thin Lizzy) populate the anthems, as band provocator/exciter John Baker is in the face of the audience and band members alike. Zeal and ardour populates the room, unrelenting, coming in three waves during a nine song set. No, ‘NO to RATSO’ signs are handed out tonight, but the show ends with a stage invasion, orchestrated, a spectacle, a final act of dramaturgy.

Los Chicos

25 years in, with eight albums under their belt (including their latest Never Is Too Much) Los Chicos are perceptibly excited to be onstage in Aotearoa. Vocalist Rafa Suñén towers over his band mates, slick in comparison, in his bright red shirt, full blown hair and big buckled belt.
Immediately, after introducing themselves, they are from Madrid, they explode with impassioned, raucous, soaring energy. Vigorous onstage, Suñén is already climbing his stage monitors, and grappling the (low sitting) roof. The audience are responsive, forthcoming, joyous, while most were likely not knowledgeable of their songs, they are enamoured by the ‘fun’ and energy being shared.

In a 15-song plus set congested with garage punk and frenetic compositions, Suñén is the focal point, whipping the crowd into theatrics, at one stage bent over backwards forming a tunnel that audience members traversed through. His antics whip the audience into interactive frenzies, mirroring the performance art of others, the likes of Iggy Pop and Dave Vanian.

Los Chicos self-describe their music as parties au-go-go, and it is easy to see why the Australians have adopted the band as almost one of their own, with the Aussie high-energy signature that resound throughout their music. Last night a small, but well rounded audience received a serious dose of classic, and meticulously delivered dose garage rock, countryfied vibe and rock n roll as f**k!

Simon Coffey

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Den O’Keeffe:

Los Chicos: