Ozomatli, Cracked Latin @ Irving Plaza 2.3.11

Ozomatli (Photos & word by Chris Gersbeck)

Cracked Latin

More Photos Here

Last night’s Ozomatli show at Irving Plazawas a reminder of how seamlessly the genres of salsa and rock go hand in hand, when done with the right amount of energy and talent. Of course those aren’t the only genres mastered by the long running Los Angeles group. There were also hints of funk, hip-hop and reggae throughout the night, particularly during a medley of covers that included Junior Murvin’s dub classic “Police and Thieves”. Energizing the crowd from the moment they set foot on stage, Ozomatli have certainly maintained a devoted following throughout the years; fans were well aware of newer songs off of their 2010 album Fire Away and were excited to hear older tracks from their debut and 2001’s Embrace the Chaos. The ten piece all-star salsa group Cracked Latin opened the show as the crowd at Irving Plaza began filling the large 1,200 capacity venue. A fitting opener, Cracked Latin played originals and covers, the highlight of their set being a rendition of the Rolling Stones’ “Let’s Spend the Night Together”. Though the large band barely had enough room to fit on stage, it didn’t stop the group from moving their entire set, and that energy bled into the audience to pave the way for a night of dancing. - Chris Gersbeck