Jaguares performs in full voice

Even though lead singer's vocals were hampered by recent throat surgery, the Mexican band thrilled its faithful at Gibson Amphitheatre.

By CINDY CARCAMO
The Orange County Register

The thousands who packed the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal CityWalk on Saturday to listen to one of Mexico's leading rock bands didn't care that its lead singer sounded a tad different.

Jaguares front man Saúl Hernández, who underwent throat surgery a couple of weeks ago, seemed to struggle vocally throughout the nearly three-hour show but his performance was nothing short of stellar.

And the roaring crowds were there to prove it.
It was Hernández's first show since doctors found a benign growth in his vocal chord area.
The band, known for its dark and moody ballads, pleased the audience with classics such as "Detras de los Cerros" ("Behind the Hills") and "El Milagro" ("The Miracle') from its first album.
The band started the concert wearing spiky black wigs -- a wink to early '80s rock and the band's earlier incarnation as "Caifanes."

Hernández's voice wavered sometimes but his passion didn't. He even returned for a couple encores after much pleading from his fans.
In between sets, Hernández spoke of what he called injustices in Darfur and Juarez, Mexico.
"This goes to all the innocent girls 13 years and above who have brutally disappeared," Hernández said of the hundreds of women who have vanished or found dead in the Juarez. "In reality we need fewer machos and more men."

But Hernández didn't completely steal the show. Each of his five fellow band members had his turn to shine during solo vignettes. One of the highlights was special guest performer Jimmy Z's hard-playing harmonica solo during "Te Lo Pido Porfavor" ("I ask you, Please") from the "Primer Instinto" ("First Instinct") album.

Perhaps the best part of the show came near the end when Jaguares excited the crowd with "Afuera" ("Outside") and "Negra Tomasa" ("Tomasa, the Black Girl") which even incited dancing in the aisles.