POP MUSIC REVIEW : Bad Street Boys Sounds Empty

The Bad Street Boys, which made its West Coast debut Thursday at the Club Riviera in Eagle Rock, has earned the enmity of salsa traditionalists for its English language versions of pop standards. But the New York-based group’s 40-minute opening set never came close to striking sparks.

Unlike the Miami Sound Machine, the Bad Street Boys hasn’t traded in the identifiable salsa rhythm for a contemporary dance music sound. The nine-piece ensemble’s quartet of percussionists locked into the rhythm anchored by conguero David Lugo, J. R. De Jesus’ electric keyboards defined the central melodies and brassy trombone solos competently fleshed out the arrangements.

The weak link was vocalist Larry Belford, who didn’t remotely display the vocal finesse required to attempt melodic pop standards like “I Wish You Love” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Belford tossed the songs off like some soulless lounge singer going through the motions and his campy affectations pushed the Bad Street Boys perilously close to the novelty zone.

If the idea of interpreting hoary American pop standards rates as a controversial step in salsa circles, it makes a non-salsa aficionado ponder how genuinely radical a break with tradition Ruben Blades’ politicized, contemporary approach must have been. The Bad Street Boys are scheduled to perform Sunday at Club Visage in Montebello.