LOVE

The unique band Kinky infuses Latin rock into dance and electronic music to produce something that can’t be labelled.
by Marianne Moro
Kinky are an underground phenomenon.
That is, they’re not prominently featured in any
mainstream media, although they are a favorite
of many Latin and electronic music outlets. You
wouldn’t know this judging by the SRO crowd
at Avalon last Tuesday night.
To celebrate the unveiling of their new
album, Reina, this five-piece band pulled out
all the stops, including a DVD filming of the
show, a VIP after-party, and the traditional
“album release night” shebang. The capacity
crowd consisted of well-dressed multicultural
twenty-something’s and a smattering of older
folks.
For the new convert, Kinky might seem like
a milieu of all the current trends. Hailing from
Monterrey, Mexico, their sound embodies Latin
influences, dance, electronic music, even rock
and funk/rap. You can dance to it, but Kinky’s
music is not frothy or light, and the band has
significant energy and stage presence.
A little background on the band: their debut
album, Kinky, was produced by Chris Allison
of Coldplay fame. Not merely dance/electronic
music, the band has a cerebral side,
and the press often refers to them as
the “Mexican Talking Heads.” This
“rocktronica meets Latin rock meets
dance,” is not easily encapsulated in
a catchphrase. Kinky’s music doesn’t
belong to a single genre or sub-category.
But one
thing’s for sure,
while listening
to their music,
it ’s virtually
impossible to sit
still.
The three
original members—singer
Gilberto Cerezo,
keyboardist Ulises Lozano, and guitarist
Carlos Chairez—soon added drummer Omar
Gongora and bassist Cesar Pliego to complete
the lineup.
Kinky’s self-titled album hit the streets in
2002 when it garnered critical acclaim and a
cross-section of Latin and electronic music fans.
Almost instantly, their live shows were lauded as
vigorous spectacles. Their second album, Atlas,
was not as well-received, but their popularity
continued to grow.
At the Avalon release party, lead singer Gilberto
Cerezo’s boundless energy set the tone for
much of the show. Some of Kinky’s songs are
sung in Spanish, others in English. There’s no
language barrier here, as everyone in the crowd
responded equally, regardless of the song lyrics.
Cerezo’s onstage interplay with bassist Cesar
Pliego and guitarist Carlos Chairez was fun
to watch. Singers and guitarists ran spiritedly
back and forth on the stage while animated
visuals and clips of the performance played on
the screen behind them. Accordionist Ricky
Munos made an appearance for the beat-heavy
“¿A Dónde Van Los Muertos?” and there was
even a bit of “scratching” incorporated. To
call Kinky eclectic in their approach is an
understatement.
I was a bit apprehensive about watching
Kinky live, and wondered if they would rely on
pre-programmed drum loops and canned pop
synthesizers, or play a real rock show. Such is
the stigma of any band remotely or partially
labeled “electronic music.” Will the band just
stand there?
With Kinky,
this is not
true. There’s
nothing sterile
or phony
here, even
the sounds
emanating
from Omar
Refer to them as “underground”
if you must, but Kinky’s music is
far-reaching.
Gongora’s
d r u m k i t
were fiercely
buoyant
beats, and if there’s any Ashlee Simpson
bathos on the part of the vocalist, you’d
never know it.
The rock side of the band shone
brightest toward the end of the set with “Sister
Twisted,” a new song from Reina. Gilberto
also performed a soulful duet with 90’s rapper
Nefertti on “Lay Back.” Unlike some of their
peers, Kinky doesn’t require light, fog, or lavish
visuals to embellish their dance-oriented music.
The energy of the band’s performance alone is
enough to keep the audience riveted. P
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SEPTEMBER 15-21, 2006 ENTERTAINMENT TODAY