“I grew up listening to tapes of The Pogues in school,” says Los Chicos vocalist Rafa Suñén. “I had to hide from the teachers because some of them wouldn’t let you use the Walkman at school. I vividly remember The Pogues tape and also a Bad Religion tape being daily companions when I was 12. The Replacements came later on, but all of them are very important to us and they are on our top list of all time bands.
“They do come up in our songs, but most of the times without much thought,” he continues. “The Pogues does come with an intention, because you can go and try to write something with those arrangements. Bad Religion and other melodic bands I notice it more [later]. I listen to a lot of bands with very pop melodies, from Bad Religion to Elton John, so I can get a melody different from the typical garage rock thing.”
Los Chicos are known advocates of the good times – that is, cranking the stereo and drinking like there’s no tomorrow. But in spite of this reputation, they’re not hedonistic madmen. It’s no secret that Spain has been battered around by economic instability in recent years. With economic instability comes social unrest. Los Chicos haven’t turned a blind eye to these issues.
“These last few years have been really ugly and makes you want to say something,” says Suñén. “We come from punk and we have opinions and act in that way, but we really wanted to make a point while having a lot of fun doing it – and not ruin anybody’s party by writing newspaper lyrics about the International Monetary Fund. We wanted to say that we are often asleep with what’s going on, that sometimes you get robbed by the ones above, and you have to be aware. But also that the only thing you have when this happens is the things you enjoy, like music, or a live gig, or your friends.”
Los Chicos have just landed on Australian soil for the third time. In the Age of Stupidity is now two years old and work on a follow-up LP is well underway. Nevertheless, the band have no issues conjuring the fearless, brash energy these songs depend upon.
“We were really happy with the result of the record and we love playing them live,” Suñén says. “The thing with Los Chicos is, I don’t know how, but it doesn’t get boring by one bit, ever. There are some [albums] that I am more proud of than others, but I still think every album we have done has something fresh anytime you play it.”
Over the years, the members of Los Chicos have frequently voiced their admiration for several Australian bands, such as Radio Birdman, The Johnnys and The Celibate Rifles. The fact, they’ve had the opportunity to come Down Under at all, let alone three times, inspires words of disbelief in Suñén.
“That first visit was like a dream come true,” he says. “When we were preparing the trip we were thinking, ‘Man, this is actually happening.’ That tour went so well, we actually couldn’t wait to go there again. We did and it went even better, so we really are looking forward to make our third bombing.”
Los Chicos’ current tour includes three Melbourne gigs, plus a visit to the Boogie Festival. Let’s face it, Melbourne’s long been a mecca for loud and filthy rock’n’roll music and Suñén and co. haven’t failed to notice the number of quality bands, good venues and non-stop supply of gigs that give life to our fair city.
“We freaked out the first time we went there,” he says. “Just one day in the city and we got Spencer P Jones playing for free at a pub. Then we had the chance to play with so many amazing bands everyday and the people that came to the gigs were such a nice bunch of people that we became friends with a lot of them. Also, the city has some of the best venues in the world, like the holy Tote, The Old Bar, and I fondly remember our last show at Yah Yahs. And in every one of them they have great sound guys too, so it’s always a pleasure to be invited there.”
Los Chicos are Madrid natives and continue to perform regularly in their hometown. The city’s punk rock armoury mightn’t be equivalent to what we’ve got here, but Los Chicos aren’t the only beer-drenched punks in town.
“When we started we shared some kind of scene with amazing bands like Aerobitch, Muletrain, Rojo Omega, Ginferno, Rhino Wrestlers, Suckin Dicks, Fumestones and many more,” Suñén says. “Some of them are still around and many are not. But at the moment the city is experiencing a good bunch of bands again, like the Government, Fabuloso Combo Espectro, Terrier, Peluquería Canina, Jygüer, Sudor, Cal, Giganto. It goes in cycles and right now there’s more interest in guitars again, thank God.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
