Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, the Latin musical revolution that's here to stay

Life is full of coincidences. Or is it destiny? The story of Ca7riel (Catriel Guerreiro, 31) and Paco Amoroso (Ulises Guerriero, 31) goes way back. They met in public school in Argentina after their teacher repeatedly confused them about their last names. They also went to music classes together; Catriel played guitar, Ulises the violin. In 2011, they formed the band (quartet) Astor y las Flores de Marte , which explored Argentine rock with a strong funk influence. They released a five-song EP in 2017 and split up. They began their solo careers, both recorded sessions with Bizarrap , and eventually reunited. Last night at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, we were able to experience the chemistry of their shared project; each playing their part, they created a total spectacle for this Baño María 2025 Tour.

In 2024, the revolution arrived. A Tiny Desk recorded by NPR Music, broadcast in October 2024, garnered 7 million views in its first week; they're currently nearing 36 million. In November 2024, they toured Spain, with six dates on the peninsula, filling the 900-seat But venue in Madrid, among others. Last night, they brought together more than 17,000 people who fit into the Movistar Arena . In just six months, they've gone from a medium-sized venue to a large venue. They've released several singles since 2018, the album 'Baño María' (2024) and, in March of this year, 'Papota', which includes four new songs and the five songs from the Tiny Desk.

Given what we enjoyed last night, we can only surrender to their live performance and the immanence of their approach. Their concerts are crazy, pure enjoyment . Before starting at 9:25 p.m., we saw two giant, deflated effigies of Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso. The concert begins with a video featuring a "muscled" character, very much like a video game, who encourages us to inflate the effigies so the artists can emerge. The large images inflate, and their nine musicians ( keyboardist, bassist, drummer, percussionist, three horn players, and two backing vocalists ) appear. Immediately afterward, a fantasy of fiery flashes serves as the entrance for the duo dressed as bodybuilders in inflated cream and gold bomber jackets. They climb into a large container of papota, the Argentinian word for steroids and energy food for muscle-heads. Pause and stop. And the duo stands still for a few brief minutes. They sit down and uncork a historic concert with ' Dumbai ', urban trap with R&B elegance.

In the first songs, " Baby Gangsta ," where a more contemporary and addictive hip-hop flows, or "Mi diosa" with the freshness and high tension of hot Latin rhythms, the vocal weight falls on Paco Amoroso. But little by little Ca7riel moves from the choruses to take the lead , picking up the electric guitar and showing off his vocal power. Then he seduces the most sensual funk in "Impostor," with a lot of sarcasm and irony in his lyrics about his success and musical abilities. They don't need to test them; they have presence, and they squeeze their voices to the maximum with personality and uniqueness. The cameras look for wide and medium shots, but they give a lot of play to close-ups, and they know they have magnetism, they exploit it to the fullest. They carry the magic of their character.

The temperature rises, and the audience chants their lyrics nonstop. And little by little, they begin to dance. The great thing about the duo is that music runs through their veins. They're open-minded about mixing trap, rap, funk, and hyperfunk. Ca7riel at one point dons a Michael Jackson-esque hat . At times, I'm reminded of Prince's creative outpouring, but this is a broader mix. So broad that it's disconcerting, or simply compels you to let yourself go. Bizarre: there's a pause during which "Gonna Make Me Sweet" by the 90s dance band C&C Music Factory plays. But nothing disconcerts; everything fits, it fits into their concept. That's how free and open it is.

With ' Re Forro ' they descend from the heights of 'Papota' to move across the front of the stage. In a crossover of funk with cool Latin music. And then the party, or the popular rave, breaks loose. ' La que puede, puede ' breaks the urban mold, in a transition between slowed-down kuduro and favela funk. And all this with the audacity of lyrics that speak of power, of being, of living, of enjoying, of experimenting, of drugs and sex. Pheromones soar through the venue. ' Supersónico ' turns out to be frenetic hyperfunk.

Ca7riel shows off his dancing, now topless in ' McFly '. ' Púzcoa ' is a mega-funk brutality that, along with ' Todo el día ', breaks the mold, and almost breaks the hips. This was the flow, wasn't it? Paco Amoroso reappears, also topless, for a final stretch of pure sweat and dancing, for example with the Fernet combination of ' Cono hielo '.

At one point, they thank the audience for their enthusiasm and presence, ask for applause for their musicians, and thank their mothers for everything that's happening to them, "thanks to them we're here." The credit also lies in their top-notch professionalism. This performance has it all: stage power, a great band, great sound, connection, and enjoyment . With such an ideal and original formula, nothing will fail. The hashtag Tetas serves as a guide to the final stretch. They close out their concert with their hit " El Único ," a duel between two men for the same lover. On upcoming tours, they'll be filling stadiums.

The audience left the venue with a noticeable surge of energy. We left with the feeling that this is what Spanish music had to be: a good mix, original, flavorful, danceable, fun, and joyful. And above all, without any prejudice, allowing urban and roots music to embrace each other for the listener's celebration. Crossing the boundaries of genres. Degenerating? No, turning to Latin roots or the power of funk, and the contemporary magnetism of urban music. What a blast, listen. We welcome the music of the future . Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso are the necessary Latin musical revolution that's here to stay.