LandingPad Buenos Aires

Rock music has its fans and its critics: too simple, too popular, too inebriated. One of Argentina’s greatest comedians of the moment takes on Argentine Rock, mixing both criticism and commendation, which makes for a truly educational experience.

The show, Peter Capusotto y sus videos, created and hosted by Diego Capusotto, gained instant popularity for its comedic sketches and satirical music videos. Markedly non-commercial, the show has remained untainted by its popularity and has kept its place on the public station Canal 7 after a move from the cable channel Rock & Pop TV. It’s now a beloved YouTube staple. The format and production is simple and no topic or phenomenon in the rock world is safe: that guy struggling to learn a Rolling Stones riff, self-help ads to learn shitty English covers, the relationship between the police and the hippy, parental outrage over the disastrous effects of rock music, and of course, the most well-known rock stars in Argentina.

Capusotto has transformed the typical Argentine rock star into one great caricature, “Pomelo.” The ultimate rebel who emanates all that is sacred and ridiculous at rock. Take a look at Pomelo’s launching of his first album “Rock, rock, rock, nenas, y más rock.”

The success of Pomelo, who would rise to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone, hit at a time when one of Argentina’s icons of rock was experiencing a period of instability, exhibiting outrageous behavior. Charly García, a consistent figure in Argentine rock since 1972, became notorious for cutting shows violently short over problems with the sound system or a member of the backstage crew. Although some musicians have chosen to deny García’s resemblance to Pomelo, Capusotto’s’s inspiration is all too clear.

But Capusotto’s parodies are not limited to the outlandish misbehaviors of Argentine rock icons like García. Generally considered a more sociable Dylan-like character in Argentina, León Gieco is one of the most beloved musicians among rockers and folk singers alike. His social consciousness has brought him to center stage during many protests, demonstrations and fundraisers. Currently Geico is campaigning for his new movie, Mundo alas, which documents a group of musicians with different abilities, including one aspiring musician without arms to whom Gieco gave his own harmonic stand and harmonica.

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