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Los Van Van concert review, by Herve Hurier;
It was with high expectations than Los Van Van, 2 years after their last concert in the UK came back to celebrate their 40th anniversary. They have been warmely received by few thousand dancers in the Roundhouse (Camden).
This concert was part of their Eurotour 2009 to introduce their new album Arrasando, album which in a pure Van Van style is looking like one of their famous album back few years ago, Chapeando.
 The group started playing at 10PM sharp with “Arrasando”, the song which gave the name to the album. As the atmosphere was warming up and the dancers trying to find a bit of place to move their ladies, the group please the whole public with their successful songs like “Despues de todo”, “Anda Y Quiereme”, and in the same tine introduced us to their new tunes like “Tu con lo tuyo yo con lo mio”, “Si no te quieres tu quien te va a querer”, “La rumba no esta completa”, and so on.
The group really rocked the place with a great timba or more accurately Songo, a cardiac beat salsa with afrocuban roots, the venue was full, which was not totally the case for Oscar De Leon last year in the same place and Cuban music lovers have, I guess, been all more than happy of this concert.
In overall the show was good, we have even seen the well known Lazaro Lopez going on stage for a rumba show and a bit later the famous Janet Fuentes came to join the group for a reggaeton session well appreciated by everybody. The group stoped playing after 2h15 live music before being called back by the audience eager to keep on dancing on their rhythm. By coming back on stage, the group played a last song, “Esto te pone la cabeza mala” before definitely going.
End of the night was ensured by DJ Javier de la Maquina and Dr Jim who played their best Cuban tracks till 1.00AM, at which time everybody has been asked to go out.
Small critics, some people said that they would have liked to see Mayito Rivera more present on the stage, as in the past concert and albums, with more freedom to improvise and express himself, apparently he has been much more present in the concert done in Denmark and in France few weeks later.
We are delighted to learn that Van Van will grace another time a London stage, this will take place in June at Barbican Hall (details below)
Los Van Van + Yoruba Andabo
A steaming night of Cuban dance music from two of its hottest bands
28 June 2009 / 19:30
Barbican Hall
Tickets: £10 / 15 / 20.
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