It’s been more than a decade since these boys first caught your attention with their stick-it-to-the-Man lyrics, but Molotov brought it last Sunday night at the Fillmore. New York City was their final stop in a tour across the country to celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the notorious 1998 album ¿A Donde Jugaran Las Niñas?
Just a year ago, the Mexican group visited NYC to promote their last release titled Eternamiente. In case you missed it, the guys crafted their own break up as a joke but then released a compilation of their individual musical projects. Eternamiente is a more intimate album, but stays true to their playful style, while ranging across different genres. The works of Micky Huido and Paco Ayala sound darker and heavier in their metal, while Tito Fuentes creates more funk and Randy Ebright flexes his rap skills.
On stage, however, the group didn’t hesitate to play the anthems that probably made all of us instant fans. A crowd of black t-shirts and jeans, and a few luchadores filled up the Fillmore and kept security busy all night. Even before they hit the stage without an opening act, chants of “Culero” were already ringing. They finally opened the show with “Que No Te Hagas Bobo Jacobo” from their first album. Once they got the crowd riled up, they played more of the album’s infamous sing-a-longs, including “Chinga Tu Madre” and “Matate Tete.” Before breaking into “Gimme Tha Power”, they gave a special shout-out to the powers at be of the Distrito Federal.
The moshpit went especially crazy during “El Marziano” from 2004’s Con Todo Respeto – a clever covers album of rock and punk songs originally in English. The moshers slowed their pace when Ebright (aka Gringo Loco) took the front stage for “Frijolero” off Dance, Dense, and Denso (2003). Everyone sang in unison as green, white and red lights beamed on stage. Years after the band’s only gringo member penned this powerful song, it still holds much relevance for the band’s largely immigrant following in the U.S.
Our favorite numbers of the night were the anthem “Amateur” – a cover of Falco’s “Rock Me Amadeus” and “No Deje Que” written by Micky on Eternamiente. Whereas the band once stood out for its political cries, they seem more tame and focused on simply making good music. They closed the show by asking if any girls wanted to dance on stage. Half of all the chaparritas in the audience were quick to flood the stage and dance to “Rastaman-Dita” off their Apocalypshit (1999), while the men continued moshing.
We love the new Molotov age of electro-infused music, but it was refreshing to listen to some hard rockanrol – and rap courtesy of Ebright. When not on the drums, he was on the mic, embracing Spanglish, as you can hear in “Guacala Que Rico.” If you are heading to Coachella in April, definitely check Molotov out!