Mexico City antics from Molotov

Some think of rock en espanol group Molotov as a fun, raucous act, blessed with a subversive sense of humor and plenty of irreverence. Others regard the Mexico City quartet and its deafening sonic attack as the devil incarnate.

Both sides are probably right.

Molotov’s performance in front of a surprisingly small audience Tuesday at the Grove of Anaheim was an eye-opening experience.

On the plus side, Molotov has perfected an easily identifiable sound that at its funky best is hard to resist.

And just as the creepy guitar riffs and twin-bass cacophony brings it all dangerously close to self-parody, Molotov saves the day with inventive rhymes that oscillate between absurd grotesquerie and incisive social commentary.

On the minus side, the group’s antics do tend to grow a bit tiring. And Molotov’s latest album, “Dance and Dense Denso,” falls short of the sheer brilliance of its classic debut album, “Donde Jugaran Las Ninas?”

“Dance” has its share of trademark moments, such as the racially charged, cumbia-tinged “Frijolero” and the dark “No Me Da Mi Navidad,” a hilarious take on the egocentric complacency that follows rock stardom.

Ignoring the low turnout, the band delivered a hefty, two-hour set, and even invited some female fans onstage. The resulting scene, however, was far from decadent. Like Molotov’s music, it was mischievous and good-humored, openly silly, even a little naive.