Tuonela Magazine had the chance to venture into the depths of Mexico City to witness VOLA‘s first show on Mexican soil. How does a Danish/Swedish progressive outlet fare in one of the world’s largest cities? Mexico City, otherwise known for its chaotic yet colorful and lively nature, welcomed VOLA at the venue Supremo, situated in quite an interesting spot in the city, on April 4th, 2024. NEXUS joined them in opening the concert to what seemed to be close to a full house.
It is well-known within the broader spectrum of the metal and alternative community that among all the countries in the world one could choose to attend a concert, the cultural region of Latin America is one of the most interesting hubs to either visit or play a live show as an artist. The Latin American societies, with their openness and down-to-earth attitude, offer any visitor a heartwarming welcome. They appreciate visitors from all over the world, especially those who have a long way home or have very different traditions than their own. Although their wholesome attitude precedes them, the uniqueness of each culture in this region must be acknowledged. Every country from Mexico to Argentina, and everything in between, offers special factors characteristic of their traditions, like food and music, that couldn’t truly be compared to one another. Nevertheless, most of these cultures do share a collectivist sense of belonging and connecting to one another, and they are wise in the ways in which they extend such commodities to people curious about them.
We started the day early in the afternoon by getting acquainted with the surroundings of the venue Supremo, situated in Mexico City, specifically in the municipality of “Colonia Doctores.” While it’s true that “Colonia Doctores” is known among Mexicans as a place to be careful in, it also borders on one of the most touristic spots of the entire city called “Colonia Roma,” where you might sometimes even feel like you’re walking through a picturesque European city.
We can theorize on whether that’s a good or bad thing, as it may fuel negative processes like gentrification. This clash of cultures in a small space of a few hundred meters is also one reason why Mexico City is so appealing.
However, in the case of VOLA, we can say that a Danish/Swedish progressive outlet can only enrich the multifaceted environment that Mexico and its fanbase offer. VOLA had informed Mexican followers about their intentions to organize a meet & greet via their Patreon page. To immerse ourselves in their very first concert on Mexican soil, we joined the meeting right before the show. Through this experience, it became clear to us how dedicated the Mexican fandom can be. We believe you will agree with us that this reputation extends to other areas beyond Progressive Metal and Rock. We had the chance to talk to some of the people in line and found ourselves with a diverse crowd, some admitting to listening mostly to different music than what VOLA typically fits into.
We found avid fans and musicians of “Son,” which finds its origins in Cuba but fuses African and Spanish styles, making it actually similar to progressive rock/metal in many ways, at least in its multifaceted nature. We also encountered followers, and even musicians, of classical music who found their appreciation for prog in bands like VOLA. We believe all of these facets serve as a testament to the approachability of progressive music, and of course, of VOLA‘s music. The attendees also spoke about the lack of interest most bigger booking agencies in Mexico have had in the past in engaging more progressive or alternative music compared to other bigger genres and sub-genres in the modern metal spheres worldwide. Thus, making it hard to catch their favorite bands live, and if they do, they often have to travel throughout the country to Mexico City to attend better concerts.
We wonder to what extent we in Europe are “spoiled” when it comes to the vast variety of concerts around us. Perhaps it’s the thorough planning it takes for some of VOLA‘s followers to attend their favorite band’s gig or the fact that these followers seldom get the chance to do so. It could very well be attributed to the greatness of VOLA‘s music in this specific example. Most likely, it’s a mixture of all the above. While we could open a lengthy discussion about what exactly makes the Mexican fanbase show such devotion, the simple fact remains: it is one of the most dedicated ones globally. This is one of the reasons why these regions will remain favorites for some artists to play at and for some globe-trotters to attend a gig when given the chance. The attendees even brought some self-made memorabilia to share among each other and as gifts for the band.
After the meet and greet, supporters were allowed to stay in the venue, which helped some of them secure the few spots available in the front row. The venue, Supremo, can best be described as a solid establishment, situated in what formerly seemed to be a long “patio” connecting two old buildings on the right and left, with a ceiling connecting them that appeared to have been constructed later to serve as a concert hall.
The stage is located at the other end of the hall, past the entry. To be honest, it wasn’t well-ventilated, considering the high temperatures that had been sweeping through the city in the previous weeks, consistently reaching at least 30°C. Therefore, staying hydrated throughout the evening was a must. Whether with the peculiar transformation beer undergoes on Mexican soil called “Michelada” (beer with chili powder, lemon juice, and salt), or with the readily available soda, which costs the equivalent of €2 for a little over half a liter.
The evening finally kicked off with the Mexican progressive/alternative quintet NEXUS, one of the few progressive bands Mexico has to offer, while the more classic subgenres of heavy metal have broader diffusion throughout the country. It’s interesting that frontman Jorge Vargas sometimes mixes languages, between Spanish and English, throughout the compositions. Heavy on the guitar work and fast-paced for the most part, they offer an alternative to the otherwise more “classic” scene in the country. While some compositions feel live as though the ideas could’ve been compressed into shorter pieces, other songs such as “I’ve Always Let You Down” sounded truly like a breath of fresh air.
The time had come for the long-awaited headliner to hit the stage. When it comes to anticipation, a Mexican crowd sure knows how to show it. From all sorts of whistling to the loud calling of “VOLA“ throughout the hall, the attendees made sure the band knew they were impatiently waiting for them. Frontman Asger Mygind entered the stage to start an acapella version of “Vertigo”; for a short moment his words were distinguishable from the loud excitement of the crowd until the first notes of the next song “Alien Shivers” were played.
What we thought was loud, they topped as soon as the first chorus was sung. Without much thought, VOLA continued their task of truly igniting the spirits of the crowd, to which the audience constantly reciprocated by loudly and effortlessly singing every single word of their lyrics. After a couple of captivating hits like “Stray The Skies” and “Ruby Pool,” the question was raised if the crowd was ready for something new, to which they quickly and loudly answered without hesitation: “Paper Wolf.”
Even the slower songs like “Freak” saw the crowd singing at the top of their lungs, to which the band seemed more than pleased to experience. Now, let’s take into consideration, VOLA is a band known for their passionate and energetic performances, so if you wonder if there is any more energy behind their already hectic shows, the answer is surprisingly yes. While the nature of their music is dreamier and tends to provoke the feeling of sweeping you off your feet, it is important to mention how a dream can become highly energetic, specifically when the turnout of said dream is under your control. While reminiscing about this evening, we can compare the experience to that of lucid dreaming.
Neither the otherwise barely ventilated location nor the physical effort it had already taken to scream and jump to the music seemed to have any negative effect on the band or the crowd, allowing VOLA and the attendees to seemingly become one in motion. This showed us the depth of emotionality music carries within and the universality of vivid and heartfelt compositions such as “24-Light-Years” and “Smartfriend.” If anything, the effort only seemed to further energize every single soul in the hall. Right before “Straight Lines,” singer Asger Mygind mentioned the next song would be the last, and I have to admit I truly believed it. Never throughout the entire song did it occur to me that an encore might follow. After they left the stage, the crowd roared in disbelief, and you can probably imagine how loud they became while trying to convince the band to come back and play a little longer.
After a hearty unison scream of “olé olé olé olé, VOLA, VOLA,” from the crowd, the Danish/Swedish quartet re-entered the stage to play a couple more songs, closing with “Inside Your Fur.” The crowd packed out their cell phones and lighters to illuminate the otherwise dark Supremo, painting a vivid image for the band, one that they will hopefully remember and might even want to come back to in the future if given the chance. We wholeheartedly hope that the progressive/alternative scene in Mexico becomes everything the followers wish for; they surely deserve it.
Article and photos by Michelle R.
