Conjunto Primavera, Banda Machos, and Grupo Montéz de Durango

As one of the leading groups in the conjuto genre of music, the Mexican band Conjunto Primavera have been nominated for multiple Latin Grammy Awards, as well as gaining many other prestigious titles over the last 30 years. Although the line-up has changed considerable since their formation back in the 70s, seeing them perform recently, it was as if they were the same band that they were back in the day. Every single musician was incredibly talented, and if anything, the new members brought something refreshing and new to their sound.
I wasn’t sure how they’d chose a set list as their catalogue of music is so fast from over the years, but they managed to pick a great selection. Although the majority of the tracks they played were from the past decade, they also revisited works such as Demasiado Tarde, and Y Otra Vez.. Juan Antonio’s vocals are as strong as they have ever been, and he was able to belt and hold all of the notes just like he used to on the recordings. Each band member had the chance to perform a solo and showcased their talent wonderfully.
They were also great at getting everyone in the audience to sing along with their music. It’s so well known, especially the older material, that they didn’t struggle with this at all. After every song they received a standing ovation, and in many songs, the crowd were stood up throughout. It was a magical showcase of genuine talent.

You see the photo of Banda Machos up by the top of this page? Yeah, those uniforms weren’t just for one ill-informed early photo shoot. Everything that the Villa Corona based Banda orchestra does as a band comes with all thirteen members dressed a lot like that, and you know what? They pull it off. Cos Banda Machos are as close as a Banda orchestra are ever going to get to being a heavy metal band. Trust me on this; it’s more than a little awesome. Their show can equal most other Banda concerts in technical ability, being as it is a celebration of traditional Mexican music done almost entirely on brass instruments. However the first sign that Banda Machos are a little less inhibited than most is the presence of a drum kit and a bass guitarist in their line-up. Most have little more than a snare drum for a rhythm section but it means that a Banda Machos show has a much higher emphasis on rhythm and dancing than most, which is always a good thing. The other thing that sets them apart is how much of a show it is, there’s so much life, so much joy in every moment. From the stage set up, to the lights, to the way that every member of the thirteen-piece orchestra is active onstage. It’s as much a spectacle as anything else, and it’s one not equalled by many artists playing at their level. So see it now, and remember it forever. Highly recommended.