With eight accomplished musicians from Argentina and Uruguay, and a sound rooted in tango traditions, Bajofondo lays out a visual and aural feast. Led by Oscar and Grammy winner Gustavo Santaolalla, the group mashes up traditional candombe sounds and other forms with electronica to produce a mix that's hypnotic and danceable.
With bandoneon and violin joining keyboards, guitars and drums, Bajofondo crafts deep grooves that feel laid-back on its four albums, yet radiate infectious energy on stage. In front of about 10,000 people — and framed by a beautiful sunset at Austin, Texas' Auditorium Shores during SXSW — the band grimaced, jumped up and down and otherwise danced while performing a career-spanning set.
Playing to a crowd assembled mostly to see the headlining Mexican rock band Cafe Tacvba, Bajofondo initially elicited only polite applause. But as the sun went down and bystanders became fans, that applause gave way to full-throated screams for "Mas!"
Here, you can watch Bajofondo perform "Duro y Parejo," then listen to the band's complete set from SXSW.
Credits
Producer: Saidah Blount, Felix Contreras, Jasmine Garsd; Editor: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo; Audio Engineer: Metro Mobile, Suraya Mohamed; Videographers: Christopher Farber, A.J. Wilhelm; Special Thanks to: Auditorium Shores, South By Southwest; Executive Producers: Anya Grundmann, Keith Jenkins
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