Hernandez, Jaguares Balance Passion With Gutsy Presence

“Today is our day,” proclaimed singer Saul Hernandez early in Jaguares’ concert on Saturday at the Greek Theatre. “Let’s work until we die to destroy certain laws that destroy humanity. And remember that the best revenge is survival.”

Hernandez went on to send scathing messages to the lawmakers behind Prop. 187, while two video screens showed footage of police beating undocumented immigrants. Before and after that moment, the former Caifanes leader and his new band delivered the year’s best rock en espan~ol show.

Hernandez has never been a great singer, but he became Mexico’s biggest rock hero thanks to a unique timbre, a moving delivery, poetry of devastating darkness and a rare talent for writing hymn-like songs--the same recipe he used in Jaguares’ debut album “El equilibrio del jaguar” (produced by illustrious American producer Don Was).

But if Jaguares doesn’t stray too much musically from the Caifanes formula, the group’s attitude couldn’t be more different. For once, a Saul Hernandez show wasn’t a pretentious affair that focused on technique and “deep” moods rather than guts. Perhaps it was the presence of seasoned Mexican musicians Jose Manuel Aguilera on guitar (providing Jaguares with most of its edge) and Federico Fong on bass, but Jaguares showed a new version of the same old Hernandez: This time, he and his co-workers looked happy, renewed and only interested in having fun in this new era.