Go to any concert and you’re bound to find the type of person who is gung-ho about the band. Her arms are flailing and her eyes are closed as she rocks out listening to the music. As an outsider looking in, you wonder what really is going on in her head and how enthralled she must be. You’re jealous because it must be pretty spectacular in there. The music moves that person to such a degree that her body can’t keep up with the rhythms and you wish it did the same for you. Now, the really spectacular shows will make a convert out of everyone in the audience. The Indie Music Showcase at the Mercury Lounge for the Latin Alternative Music Conference did just that.

It started with Forro in the Dark, a Brazilian band, whose rhythmic bongo beats paired with classic Brazilian flutes warmed up the crowd. A group of six Latin American men playing their bongos and guitars is sure to liven up anyone, especially given that they tend to goof and parade onstage while playing their instruments. Back in 2006, these guys played with David Byrne at Joe’s Pub for their record release party for their CD “Bonfires of Sao Joao.” Byrne actually sings on the record. Their ethnic beats combined with contemporary electric guitars and synchronized chanting makes for a new kind of country-esque Brazilian pop. Musicians who enjoy what they do and are good at it? That’s what really gets a crowd going.

The next act was Pilar Diaz. A cute Chilean brunette who hails from Los Angeles, Diaz was decked out in a menswear-inspired outfit complete with a white button-up and tie and a flapper-era hat. Diaz whipped out her ukulele and proceeded to rock out hardcore. One may not think that rocking out on a ukulele is possible, but Diaz managed to get the whole crowd in a tizzy. Everyone wanted to stand next to her, to feel her presence. She spouted out lyrics like an extreme feminist (“Tengo una pena, tengo venganza” which translates to “I have a penis, I have vengeance”) but despite this, her presence was ladylike. From her appearance to her music, Diaz walked the line between masculine and feminine, leaving the audience wanting more.

The crowd was rewarded with Zigmat. Straight out of Brooklyn, Zigmat is a relatively new group who sounds like the Talking Heads but looks more like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Monica, the lead singer, started singing in a high falsetto and immediately went into a robot dance. She mixed her vocals (sung in Spanglish) with synthesizer sounds and messed up her pouffy afro between songs. As she did her thing onstage, the other members went on playing their instruments with concentration. This mix of the inane with serious intent really resonated with the audience. The rock-type ballads they were churning out naturally moved many people but it was their eclectic presence that really took it home. Though they were obviously new to the game (earlier this year, they won the Best New Artist Award from EN Música, a co-sponsor of the Indie Music Showcase), they pulled it off like more experienced acts such as Forro in the Dark and Pilar Diaz.

Ending the night, and ending it well, was Afrobeta from Miami. Cuci Amador, the lead singer, came onstage in a faux blonde afro and then proceeded to jump and thrash about. Halfway through the set, she ripped off her wig and whipped her long brunette hair around in a purely heavy-metal way while the keyboardist, Tony Smurphio, rocked along by thrashing his authentic afro, also in a style reminiscent of heavy metal. Their sound, however, was more Latin-infused techno with a sprinkle of get-yourself-out-on-the-dance-floor. Afrobeta channeled the 70’s with their disco wear and keyboard vibes but kept it contemporary with Cuci’s techno vocals and house beats. It was purely energetic from her presence onstage to the emanating reverberations issuing from the speakers.

In one night, I had seen a range of different musical acts who varied greatly amongst themselves, from their appearances to their musical genres. I wasn’t born in the 70’s, but groups with a Latin flair like the legendary Machito or Tito Puente still resonate with me. I’m also not fluent in Spanish, but that didn’t deter me—or other members of the audience—from enjoying the Indie Music Showcase, because the music transcended words.

Leah Riley is an avid world-traveler. She finds herself going to the far reaches of the earth, most recently to New Zealand, Australia, Greece, India and Costa Rica. Leah has a passion for all things music and fashion and currently contributes to several fashion and music magazines.

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