PELADA SAY FAREWELL WITHOUT ONCE FORSAKING WHO THEY WERE
Montreal's very own return for one last final performance, right where it all started
The frigid cold air of Montreal’s incoming winter was quickly eclipsed by the body heat that filled La Sala Rossa, the venue for Pelada’s final ever performance as a duo. The sold out venue was filled to the brim with fans, both old and new, who gathered to witness Pelada, Chris Vargas and Tobias Rochman, rip the stage apart. With Tobias set up with all his sound equipment and ready to go, Chris appeared on stage adorned in all red and mic in hand. They were ready to put on an unforgettable show.
Tobias’ live modulation was incredible to witness and listen to. His production style is volcanic in its fury and power, it erupts all around the room and intoxicates the audience with its ruthlessness. The crowd swallowed by the tectonic thumpings that lay foundation to the club-like baseline, we were at the mercy of his musical wizardry. He contorted the studio sound of songs such as A Mí Me Juzgan Por Ser Mujer and Habla Tu Verdad into murky, near unrecognisable synthesised improvisations. His technical prowess was on full display throughout the night, as he silently worked at the back of the stage.
This was anchored by front person Chris Vargas, whose voice still sounds as venomous as when they first started. Abrasive, confrontational, and wild. They shout and rap with blazing fire in Spanish, instructing the audience to dance freely. They attacked the beats head on with punk-like lyricism acting as a percussive element to the production. As with their studio work, Pelada’s natural chemistry exudes on stage. They have been on the road nonstop, bringing their energy to the masses extensively throughout North America and Europe, oscillating between DIY underground rave scenes and more traditional on stage performances.
With the announcement of Pelada’s last run of shows before officially separating, it’s clear that they had every intention to inject as much ferocity as they could into their final moments with long time fans and new discoverers. But it all had to come to a close where it all started, at a late night show at La Sala Rossa, Montreal. The birthplace of Pelada and so, the only place to lay the duo’s legacy to rest. In between songs, Chris would pause to take a second to soak in the audience, the memories, and the history of their final performance. They spoke of their journey and how the fight doesn’t end tonight, how they still had records to sell, and that they’ve been going at this nonstop for ten years and it was thanks to us, the fans. It felt like a privilege to be in the room that night, to see a duo confidently bow out, knowing that they crushed it without once forsaking who they were.
By Marcel H.
