Turning up only a week or so ago in this fair, mountain-enclosed city (and arriving bang on Independence Day celebrations) meant being made privy to a lot of Cueca. A Traditional type of Chilean music; Cueca is a mix of both Flamenco and Morris Dancing. From the sheer amount of Cueca being churned out – regardless of it´s capacity for fun – it did make it harder and harder to imagine any other genres existing within Santiago´s four mountainous walls. But alas, there is far more than what meets the initially impatient eye. This weekend saw the return of firm favourites Picnic Kibun in Cine Arte; a pretty little place that shows art flicks and has a hip dance floor upstairs.

Up first were Niña con Frenillos; a four piece of sisters doing it for themselves. It might have worked out better though if someone had done it for them. In all fairness, the bassist and drummer did wail from time to time, but it was never going to help an outfit who essentially looked like a bunch of super-feminists on their mission for justice via the means of awkward shouting and sloppy punk guitar.

After leaving the crowd slightly stunned with mediocrity (one drunk even felt the need to shout out “You´re shit!”), Niña con Frenillos exited the stage and made way for headliners Picnic Kibun. Hailing from Chile and the USA, Picnic Kibun incorporate funk grooves with large helpings of Electro all cut with a frenzy of Breakbeats.

Kicking off with beat-laden tracks like Mawashite and Nalgas Rock, the multi-influenced band throw in one dirty bass line after another, forcing you to uproot and dance the entire evening away. Using textbook filthy Techno and stop-start melodies, Picnic Kibun slow their audience down with sexy, smooth numbers before jump-starting them again and again with thumping rhythms, all the while, Harvey Jones hurling his lyrics out for all to hear.

The whole place quickly got hopping with Jones leaning over from centre stage, mic in hand, grinning playfully as he delivered his message to the crowd with Drop Your Panties. No one did, although one guy did get thrown out. Official reason: he was too drunk. Unofficial reason: Picnic Kibun are so tight together, they really can make you drop your panties.

Posted In Live Reviews, Oct 02 2009. Words - Rich