The Condon Clú returns, the unbridled party that launched the careers of Los Piojos, Bersuit and Las Pelotas at the end of the 1990s

Today he is a myth, a legend. But from 1991 to 1997, the Condom Clu It was one of the most emblematic and uncontrolled festivals of the Capital, organized at will and in an itinerant way, with its main venues in Federation of boxes AND Club Estrella de Maldonado.

It was there countercultural meeting point for an entire generation who knew that there he would find good music, erotic performances from the Buenos Aires underground and a rock recital of groups still on the rise like Los Piojos, Bersuit Vergarabat, Los Auténticos Decadentes, Memphis la Blusera and the duo Pappo Juanse.

Without social networks or the Internet, diffusion occurred through word of mouth, with leaflets and essential notices in the Yes Supplement. These were the times before the first prevention campaigns against AIDS and the fact of distributing condoms was a real novelty, not without controversy in a still very conservative society.

This Friday 1 Marchthe Condon Clú party will be held C Artistic media complex, in Chacarita, with all the elements that made it legendary. There will be fairies, destinies and goodbyes, good rock music and a show by Ritual 87, a tribute band to Los Piojos which includes original members such as Micky Rodríguez, Dani Buira and Chucky de Ipola.

Relaxed and rocker

This return of the Condon Clú has the same organizers as in the 90s, Marcia Amoroso and Jorge Pizarrowho at that time came from political activism, started producing these parties and then worked in cultural management and gang production.

“In the 90s – remembers Marcia – there was no relaxed space, no mask, where you could come dressed in any way, where that rebellious and rock feeling came together. It was a traveling rock club.”

-Was it your idea to give back or did it happen “at the request of the public”?

Gear: -It was at the request of the public and the people of the C Art Media Complex. We had been offered several times to host a party again, but we were more dedicated to something else.

It basically started from a couple of Facebook groups that suggested we do a tribute party, and that gave us the idea to come back. Here at Complejo Media there was a lot of enthusiasm and it is the dream place.

Jorge: -Also, they have the equipment fully assembled. Previously we had to transport everything in vans, from stages to platforms. I don’t think there was even a soundcheck at that time, just a checklist! .

Today there are parties of many musical genres, such as tropical, electronic or trap music parties, but there is no such thing as a rock party with recitals.

-What can be recreated from 90s parties?

Jorge: -It is essential to know how to mix the combo of rock, eroticism and party. That recipe remains and is updated with the 2024 seasonings.

Gear: -It is still a challenge, a great challenge, especially in the erotic part, because fortunately now there is an important phase of deconstruction and an important feminism installed in young people. On the other hand, there is the level of visual availability of the digital age.

We used to prepare everything ten minutes before going on stage. The dancers were friends of someone who knew us and there was never a casting. Now we appeal to the artistic aspect rather than spontaneity.

Jorge: -Eroticism is always triggered by images, sensations or circumstances that vary over time. With the party what we look for is that the erotic charge is present in the intention. We report and try to generate the context so that this is the party.

-Before Tinder there were Condon Clú parties!

Gear: -It would be a great slogan. We will use it for you.

It’s not a rock festival but a party

-Are Ritual 87 the main band or the only band of the evening?

Jorge: -We’ve always had the pattern of only one band per party. After all, the success formula of Condon Clú at the time also had something to do with it, because at that time you went to Cemento and had to wait from 12pm to 3am, when the band started. We said we would have a party first, then the band show and a party after.

Gear: -It’s not a festival. It’s a party with a band. This is the big difference. The band is an important part, but it’s a part. If it continues like this, which is what we want, we want there to be more and more emerging bands, not just consolidated ones, to recover that spirit that Condón Clú had.

Anecdotes

Gear: -I believe that the best anecdotes are those from the changing rooms, some more erasable than others, seen in perspective.

I remember the dressing rooms at Ferro, one of the biggest parties we had, with Los Auténticos Decadentes. We were given changing rooms in the changing rooms which were downstairs, where we had all the staff and the Decadents separated only by a screen. Once the party was over, we all continued until 11-12 the next day, partying over there.

Jorge: -I fondly remember the Las Pelotas shows with Alejandro Sokol, who was a great guy, but there were seasons where he was half Mormon and the dressing room had to be spotless. Other times he was more libertine and the locker room changed completely. So you had to ask in advance which Sokol is coming today?