Every year I end up at Bumbershoot, I'm presented with an opportunity to see one or two bands. This year I got lucky and had the chance to see a Mexican Hip-Hop act, Control Machete, and Brazilian electro-samba princess, Bebel Gilberto. It's always interesting seeing some of my favorite international acts deal with a Seattle crowd. Being a musician in a fourth year local Latin band, I know it's hard to connect with local audiences. I'm successful at it most days, but if my lyrics were in English, and I was playing a more recognizable music - perhaps indie-rock - "connection" would not be as much of an issue. It's not like Seattleites are hard to handle for being rowdy, but lets just say Latin music doesn't draw a very vocal crowd. It takes a lot to move us, and the bar is raised a little higher if you don't speak English. That's the atmosphere I discovered at the Control Machete show.

However, you can't help but be infected by deep melancholic beats laced lightly with traditional Cuban, Mariachi, and crackly Mexican radio samples; the interplay and energy between front men Toy and Chapa kept the crowd moving and kept the audience interested most of the time. Yet, the sound issues that plagued this show and the absence of demonically expressive vocals from past front man Fermin IV made the experience seem flat. Don't get me wrong - I love this band. The show definitely had its moments, but I feel that I would have just as soon listened to their self-titled album. Next time you are in a local record store, give it a listen and you'll see what I mean.

After Control Machete, I rushed over to McCaw Hall to catch some of the Bebel Gilberto performance. Bebel is the daughter of famous Brazilian singer and songwriters, Astrud and Gil Gilberto, so I had high expectations for this show. Bebel and her band's performance was brilliant, and I was not disappointed. She seemed at home on stage as she shimmied and pranced in front of a world-class ensemble. The renovated Opera House that is now McCaw Hall was just the right blend of sound and warm lighting that made for a surprisingly intimate feel for such a large venue. Every beautifully hybridized electro-samba piece was flawlessly performed and left me completely satisfied. At the end of the night, she promised the crowd she would return to Seattle. If she does, do not miss her performance! All in all it was a good day at Bumbershoot, and a great day for the spread of modern international music.

Marcelo E. Quinonez Is an active musician up and down the west coast with his band Cuchata. He is also a working film composer and producer.