'DEF CON DOS' PLAYED ‘16 TONELADAS’ (EXCLUSIVE REPORT) • 24/7 Valencia

Christmas is for spending time with friends and family, indulging a little more than usual, partying and letting our hair down. All of the previous mentioned boxes were ticked last week when ‘Def Con Dos’ touched down in Valencia to perform at ‘16 Toneladas’. As a band more commonly known for headline festival slots and large venues – a night of music intensity was guaranteed in the snug surroundings of ‘16 Toneladas’!

I might be a little biased, because the band have become friends of mine over the last couple of years – but you cannot ignore the fact that they are still one of Spain’s best Hip Hop / Rap Metal bands.

Formed in 1988 by Cesar Strawberry (frontman of the band) they are Spain’s answer to the Beastie Boys. Hard guitar riffs (Alberto Marin), looped samples, deep bass lines (J. Al Andalusia) and funky hard drums (Kiki Tornado), fused with the voices of Cesar Strawberry, Sagan Ummo and Samuel Barranco make for an unforgettable sound.

Their songs focus on Spanish folklore, Pop culture, Politics, news and current affairs – often offensive, always complex and with plenty of humour thrown in. For all of you Masterchef fans out there – you might recognise Alberto Marín, who was in the last series and won many people’s affection with his down-to-earth and honest approach.

So, back to the concert – tickets sold out months ago and ‘16 Toneladas’ was a heaving mass of partygoers, eagerly waiting for the band to take the stage. When they did, the club erupted!

The next 90 minutes flew by in a blur of back-to-back Def Con Dos classics with crowd surfing, beer spraying and hardcore partying at its finest! Mara Gilbert from Strawberry Hardcore made a guest appearance for ‘A.M.V’ and ‘Ellas Denunciaron) El Did De La Bestia’ from the movie of the same title is always a crowd pleaser – in fact every song that the band played pleased the crowd!

I hung out with band afterwards and what makes them special for me is that they are super nice, down-to-earth and genuinely cool people. There are no offstage egos in Def Con Dos – just a mutual respect for each other and a band I am proud to not only have photographed a lot, but one who have become friends.