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 Entertainment | April 2007 
Molotov Back With New Songs
 Perla Trevizo - El Paso Times
| | Molotov (El Paso Times) |
Fans can't seem to get enough of Molotov, as the controversial Mexican rock and hip-hop band makes its fourth El Paso appearance in two years Tuesday at Club 101.
Joe Dorgan, owner of Club 101, said he's excited to be hosting the Mexican band.
"They're a little bit controversial and I just love their energy and their show," he said.
Dorgan said the concert will probably sell out.
For 12 years, Molotov has pulled off the difficult balancing act of being both popular and socially relevant - combining risqué and aggressive lyrics with a political consciousness that tackles immigration, corruption and other issues.
"They're not a young band, but they still manage to attract a lot of people (when they perform)," said José Ojeda, a student at El Paso Community College. "I really like their originality, the fact that they don't try to imitate anyone."
In an interview last year with El Paso y Más, lead singer Paco Ayala said that through their music, the group has always tried to express the pain of the people.
"People who would criticize us would only pay attention to the bad words in our lyrics, but they wouldn't listen to the true message of our music, one that is like a protest, the voice of our people," he said.
Some of the group's more political lyrics are in "Dame el Poder," which talks about police extortion and abuse of power within the government; "Frijolero," which is about the racism that exists on both sides of the border; and "Voto Latino," which encourages the Hispanic vote in the United States.
"Since I've known Molotov, they've always done a great job in expressing themselves and what they believe in," El Pasoan Joel Quintana said. "They have very witty, smart and edgy lyrics and have evolved to a better rhythm in their music."
The two-time Latin Grammy-winning band was formed in 1995 in Mexico City, when two friends, Tito Fuentes (guitar) and Micky "Fled" Huidobro (bass), got together and started playing. By 1996, Randy "El Gringo Loco" Ebright and Paco Ayala had joined the group.
According to its Web site, Molotov became a phenomenon in underground clubs in Mexico City before it gained national exposure with their first album, 1997's "ÀDónde Jugarán las Niñas?"
The record - whose title is a parody of supergroup Maná's "ÀDónde Jugarán los Niños?" - not only catapulted the group into the pop charts, but it also began their long history of controversy and problems with censorship.
In Mexico, many stores refused to sell the album because its cover depicted a woman dressed in a school uniform, sitting in a car with her underwear down to her knees. The record also took on Mexico's most powerful media conglomerate in "Que no te Haga Bobo Jacobo," which limited Molotov's radio and television exposure.
But it was a song using a derogatory term for "homosexual" as its title that gave the group its biggest headache, getting them sued by a gay pride association in Spain and sparking protests by gay groups in Germany.
Their producer, Gustavo Santaolalla, explained in an interview with the Spanish-language rock and roll magazine "Retile" that the word was not used in any way to attack the homosexual community and that it was used to refer to someone as a "loser" or a "jerk."
Regarding some of the lyrics that can be considered sexist, Santaolalla said the songs are all made with humor and aimed at the Hispanic-macho mentality.
The group has found critical and commercial success in the United States, with several of their albums going platinum and their songs featured in films and video games.
Although there have been recent rumors of a possible break-up, Molotov continues to do what it does best - crafting a political message you can bang your head to.
Perla Trevizo may be reached at ptrevizo@elpasotimes.com; 546-6354. |
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