POP MUSIC REVIEW : Los Cadillacs: Honoring Its Rock Roots

Argentina’s Los Fabulosos Cadillacs can experiment with ska, reggae, Tex-Mex, salsa and Honduran punta all it wants--no matter how good the results, it will always be a rock band at heart.

The fun but edgy attitude was again on show Thursday at the Palace, despite a gym-like sound that almost spoiled what was the group’s best local appearance so far.

Concentrating on songs from “El Leon” (“The Lion”), its sixth and best album, the nine-piece combo also included its major past hits and even a stirring, unrecorded version of the Clash’s “Guns of Brixton,” with horns adding a forceful salsa touch to the punk classic.

Honoring its roots, the band brought record producer--and one of Argentine rock’s pioneers--Gustavo Santaolalla on stage to play electric guitar for a couple of reggaes, while saxophonist Sergio Rotman playfully got on his knees and offered obeisance to the man who greatly influenced LFC and many other Argentine rockers.

Though not known as a political band, the Cadillacs made several pointed references during the show. “Gallo Rojo” (“Red Rooster”) was dedicated to the late revolutionary hero Che Guevara, and the band also played Ruben Blades’ “Desaparecidos” (“The Disappeared”), which deals with the more than 90,000 reported cases of missing Latin Americans, the victims of right-wing dictatorships.

This show should solidify LFC’s position as one of the most exciting and serious bands of the diverse world of rock en espanol .