Mystic Warriors @ Fringe
Music that attempts to fuse traditional and contemporary forms always draws some trepidation. Sometimes it works. After all, one of this year's best shows combined Indian classical music with electronic grooves. Many times, however, the results are just schmaltzy dreck, devoid of any emotion or integrity.
Last night's performance by the Mystic Warriors fell somewhere in between these two extremes. While the musicianship was first rate and the melodies and rhythms were haunting, there were moments of synthesized emptiness that took away the band's sincere attempt to bring traditional South American music into the 21st century.
Mystic Warriors, led by Andres and Marco Mallea, specializes in music that comes from the Aymara culture of the Andes. Their sound is built around the pan flute and several traditional wind instruments, which included the charango, a lute-like instrument (the electric incarnation was featured last night), a variety of drums ranging from traditional animal skin instruments, congas, and a modern drum set. The group also featured electric bass and synthesized string sounds.
The sparsely attended show, called An Enchanted Evening in the Andes, began with a thunderous drum beat as each of the eight members in the band had a drum in hand as colorfully dressed dancers took the stage. Sporting what can only described as platform sandals with spurs, the dancers' costumes also included colorful fabrics, headresses, and sparkling ornaments. One member of the troupe even wore a mask bearing an old man's face and death's head skull tied around his waist. There didn't seem to be any narrative to their dancing, and the symbolism behind the costumes was a mystery, but the entire presentation was most definitely eye-catching. The visual was only aided by the surroundings of the GALA Hispanic Theatre, a venue worth checking out for those who have never paid a visit.
The band itself was most successful when it played traditional melodies. Songs like "El Condor Pasa" and traditional melodies from the highlands of Bolivia or Chile were mesmerizing, working very well with the more modern beats provided by the drums, percussion, and bass. Thankfully, the grooves did not bring in backbeats in an effort to "funk-ify" the music. Rather, the drummers incorporated samba and other rhythms that also have Latin American roots.
The band was less successful in its contemporary material, which lacked a real edge. Particularly during early songs in the second set of the two hour show, the material seemed more suited for PBS than the Fringe Festival. Then again, that may not be a bad thing because the largely middle-aged audience responded positively to this material. At times, the volume level seemed a bit much for the size of the venue, and while the melodies were always the crystal clear, the number of drummers created some muddiness in the low end. Despite these shortcomings, this is a band worth seeing because when the music works, it's a colorful sound created by skilled musicians playing instruments we don't get to hear everyday.
Mystic Warriors will perform tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the GALA Hispanic Theatre as part of The Capital Fringe Festival. Tickets are $25.