Supersonico Fest brings 17 artists to Hollywood Palladium for sizzling all-day music event

Mala Rodríguez

This year’s Supersonico was beyond a festival. It felt more like the organizers themselves (Nacional Records) had coined it: a cultural happening. The Hollywood Palladium served as the grounds for this year’s event where some 17 artists performed. Supersonico was an exciting eight-hour event where acts in the indie-alt-Latin music scene all came together to showcase their music for the viewing and listening pleasure of about 8,000 fans.

Two stages were set to alternate from one wing to the other. The west stage located on a balcony a bit far from the audience had 20 minute sets while the main stage had 45 minute sets. It is quite daring to arrange 17 artists in an eight-hour show and keep the attention on point. But the event organizers manages to pull it off seamlessly while keeping the energy high.

On the balcony, we would have liked to have seen more from the heavy spiced up booty bass of Los Angeles’ Calentura, and Miami’s worldly fusions by Mr Pauer. And we could have don’t without the pretentious (and overly trendy) “cholo goth” duo Prayers (the devil shout outs are so past due in the 90’s … bro).

Chilean Alex Anwandter rocked that balcony like no other while Argentina’s, Chancha via Circuito brought organic postmodern Cumbia sounds. Peru’s, Dengue Dengue Dengue killed it with their short tropical bass set. Latin America was definitely reppin’ hard.

Alex Anwandter

Moving on to the main stage we were stoked to see angelinos Chicano Batman who have especially been amazing fans everywhere this past year with their sensational musicianship and enticing brand of psychedelic soul.

Mariachi El Bronx served good doses of LA punk mariachi madness. Ximena Sariñana and Hello Seahorse had a wide range of followers that went batty with their performances. Kinky also had a a huge roster of fans trying to mosh or and pogo around with excitement.

While all performers put on unique and thrilling sets, the major highlights of the night were timeless veterans Mala Rodríguez and Aterciopelados. Spanish hiphop queen La Mala — forever hot and fierce — did an excellent job of working the stage like the strong female MC that she is. South American rockers Atercoipelados evoked nostalgia with classics “Baracunatana”, “Florecita Rockera” and more.

Overall, it was a dynamic roster of Latin artists and an event that was very well put together; however, we missed the festival feel that we got in 2014 at the Shrine. Supersonic Festival organizer, Nacional Records is already cooking up something hot for 2016. We look forward to the experience.

Photography and Words: Farah Sosa

Andrea Echeverri from Aterciopelados