What’s got deeper roots than trad punk? How about ancestral punk? Los Cogelones – a quintet of brothers wearing face paint, feathers, and jewelry along with sleeveless leather and biker boots – perform a strain of experimental punk informed by their Mexica (Aztec) heritage. The band hails from Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, or Neza, an area east of Mexico City sitting in the drained bed of Lake Texcoco with a dense population that’s been historically marginalized.
Beginning with anarcho-punk interests, Los Cogelones later strengthened their musical identities with the rebellion and resistance of their cultural heritage – incorporating its traditional instruments, language, and dress. 2020’s full-length debut, Hijos del Sol, with distorted guitars, driving bass, Aztec rhythms, and gritty, impassioned singing, gained Los Cogelones an international fan base. An ensuing KEXP performance video showcased their striking live show, where a pounding huéhuetl drum, resonating tlapitzalli flutes, and declarations in the Nahuatl language magnify the spirited release of punk rock.
Following a tour in Spain, Los Cogelones now hit a 10-day run of U.S. shows, two of them being in Austin.