Rifles Don’t Sing, Guitars Don’t Kill…

Thirty years have passed since the Guatemalan cult rock band Alux Nahual released their first single and brought their music to Costa Rica. Loaded with Mayan philosophy and Central America’s social issues, they have not performed in the country for 12 years.

“Alux Nahual” is a Mayan-Quiche phrase meaning a mystic dwarf ’s spirit. The band is considered by many as a pioneer for generating a Latin rock sound. However, their style is surprinsingly characterized by the incorporation of classical instruments like the cello and the flute in their rock tunes, ballads and folk songs.

Around 2,000 fans came to Alux Nahual’s show last weekend at TorreGekoConvention Center in Heredia. Age was not a big deal.

The band unites a wide range of ages between 20 and 50. Parents even came with their children.

“Alto al Fuego” was the first tune that night. A song born amid civil wars in Central America in the ’80s, its lyrics call for a ceasefire during the tumultuous times.

Song after song, fans didn’t stop jumping, dancing and singing; Alux’s singer said, “This concert is the result of the Central American union,” then the national saxophone quartet Son Sax played with them on stage “Fiesta Privada.” Alux met again with friends. The night ended.