We point you now to an underground party in New York City called Nacotheque. In case you're not familiar, the word naco is a pejorative word often used in Mexican Spanish to describe bad-mannered and poorly educated people. (Kind of equivalent to the American "white trash.") But now, Mexican hipsters have reclaimed the word and altered its meaning. It's become an affectionate way to refer to each other or to exclaim that something is cool. As in,"Que onda, naco?" (What's up, naco?) or, "Que naco 'look' te traes." (Awesome look, man.)

In American culture, ironic, hipster douchebaggery is yawnsville, but it's actually kinda fun to see it in a Latino context. Especially from someone who's willing to don a Juan Diego tilma for his party posters. Which is exactly what the young naco from Mexico City named Marcelo Cunning (pictured at right in said tilma) did after he came to New York and organized the Nacotheque scene. Cunning, (and we highly suspect that's a stage name), is easy on the eyes and, like most hipsters, fond of playing dress up. (Check out his MySpace page for another image of him wearing a white robe and thorny crown.) He organizes the parties along with fellow naca Amy Lulita. Both act as 'DJeis'.

The party happens every other Saturday in the basement of a bar called Fontanas in the Lower East Side of New York City and is inundated by hipsters, both Anglo and Spanish speaking, from both sides of the East River. The music is an eclectic mesh of "Spanish-language, nouveau-eighties electropop, vintage rock, and cumbia." Including remixes from the Spanish transvestite singer La Prohibida and the techno-ranchera Mexican band Kinky.

We can't wait until this scene is tired enough for us to make fun of it. Until then, enjoy.

Nacotheque
Fontanas (in the basement)
105 Eldridge St. (between Broome and Grand St)

[Nacotheque Home Page]
[Marcelo Cunning Personal Page]