Latin Alternative Music Hits NYC

The Latin American Music Conference was in NYC this month to show case and let loose a stampede of new up and coming Latin alternative bands making new waves in the music world today. With LAMC hosting its 8th year in the city, musicians and conference attendees from the U.S. and all over Latin America were in town networking by day and partying by night to stay in touch with the ever-growing Latin Alternative music scene.

Each year, the LAMC provides a place for talented Spanish- and English-speaking Latin artists in rock, funk, techno, and more to show off their skills in front of hundreds of journalists, music industry personnel, and concert goers around the city. Music venues like The Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom, Central Park's Summerstage, Prospect Park Bandshell, and SOBs were some of the stages bands performed on.

On the opening day of LAMC, Argentinian singer-songwriter Frederico Aubele opened up Summerstage with his smooth flowing acoustic sounds and light hip hop beats from his 2004 debut Gran Hotel Buenos Aires. The crowd was steadily filling up as Aubele took the stage with his live-show guest singer Natalia Clavier. Despite having such a calm and easy going performance, all Aubele needed to do to attract the audience was his talented guitar skills and mesmerizing voice. His forthcoming album, Panamericana, is due out in September this year. Definately a new artist to check out.

For a band that really packs a punch its Mexico City's Austin TV. This instrumental, mask-wearing group rocked the biggest crowd at The Mercury Lounge, sharing the stage with Upground, B-side Players, Austria, Bengala, and the main act, Liquits. These mysterious Mexicanos have toured with Incubus, Yo La Tengo, and John Cale from The Velvet Underground. To describe Austin TV's music is like picturing classical music on speed. Concert goers cheered and watched in awe as the group moved angrily around the small stage to encompass the emotion of their songs. What a way to brutalize their instruments.

The rest of the line-up ranged from the familiar mixtures of ska and latin-inspired percussions (Upground) to feel good latin funk and reggae (B-side Players). For Bengala, performing after Austin TV was a tough act to follow but they band from Mexico City were able to recapture the crowd with its steady guitar riffs and melodic vocals of lead singer Diego. Bengala was sure to take back some of the spotlight from the crazy Austin TV.

At the Prospect Park Bandshell, Venezuelan hip-hoppers Cuatro Poder opened up the stage followed by the fun-loving electionica trio, The Pinker Tones, who hyped up the crowd with their air guitar and choreographed dance moves for their Brooklyn fans. Zoé then took the stage, ending the night with the mellow-drama sounds of their keyboards and guitars.

LAMC's last show featured La Sista, Pacha Massive, and the famous Café Tacvba at Summerstage. For Angel Allende, 29, he was one of the very lucky Café Tacvba fans who just happened to be visitng NYC from his native Mexico City. Allende has been a long-time loyal fan since 1989, the year they were founded. Sure enough, the crowd was in for an amazing time when the band took the stage.

Sure enough, this year's LAMC was a time for music industry folks to network, party and rock out to some good tunes, familiar and new. Visit some of the links below or the official site of LAMC for more information on the bands that performed.