The bar tends to be raised pretty high when you mix unique and deep sounds together,. Not only do you have to live up to multiple genre expectations, but you want to carve out a new path. The Animeros are doing just that. the of Mauro Lopez (guitar), Nicolas Sánchez (bass), and Nick Tozzo (percussion) are creating the incredibly unique blend of psychedelic soul and cumbia for a throwback sound that feels impressively fresh. Last night at the Black Keys' more intimate Chicago stop at the Vic Theatre, the Animeros rounded out their sound with David Thacker and Pablo E. Ranlett-López for a thrilling opening set that laid the groundwork for an amazing night.
While the Animeros have an EP out, most of the setlist pulled from recent singles off their forthcoming full length album ¡Qué Bárbaro!, which drops on August 28th from Dan Auerbach's label Easy Eye Sound. Right off that bat those are some great signs as Auerbach, who also serves as the album's producer, has great ear for new bands. Within seconds of stepping on stage you could tell their vibe, while entirely different for that of the Black Keys, was perfect for the night.
The five members of the live version of the band stationed themselves at their respective instruments and let loose. There was seemingly no stopping them from getting the growing crowd dancing along to their groovy Latin lined songs. The first half of the set certainly got the crowd acclimated to the vibe as the coastal, almost surfy "Cumbia Menchaca" (off their EP) rhythmically raised everyone's spirits and the more soulful "Gózalo" kept everyone on that high.
Every passing track kept promising to be even more danceable and fun wand they never disappointed. "Danza de Los Saguaros" and "Mambo Mambo" certainly felt the most dance of the middle of set and "Terlingua" before things reaching their boiling point with “Ponchote de Ritmo” which for my money had the deepest grooves of the night.
The Animeros's set was as tad over 30 minutes and was pure bliss. Honestly I and the rest of the Vic Theatre got completely lost in their soulful sound. If you had told me they played for an hour I would have said that's fair too short. Their is something so addicting to their songs and you could see it as the Vic crowd was completely enamored with them. The Animeros' final songs "La Camita" (with its short and simple vibe) and "Chicha De La Rosa" did exactly what they needed to do: left the crowd wanting more.
All photos by Julian Ramirez.
