Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane Debuts in Mexico with Mariachi Gama 1000

Mike Patton brought Mondo Cane — his project covering Italian pop songs from the ’50s and ’60s — to Mexico for the first time Thursday (Oct. 1).

For the encore at Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, Patton shifted to Mexican music, singing in Spanish on “La Llorona,” the traditional Mexican song associated with Chavela Vargas; “Luz de Luna,” Álvaro Carrillo’s song popularized by Javier Solís; and Juan Gabriel’s “Hasta Que Te Conocí.” During “Retrovertigo,” a Mr. Bungle song, Mariachi Gama 1000 joined Patton onstage midway through, then remained for “Luz de Luna” and “Hasta Que Te Conocí.” The Juan Gabriel cover was particularly notable because the late Mexican pop icon gave a series of famous concerts at Bellas Artes in 1990, while Mariachi Gama 1000 had a longstanding association with him.

Tonight, Mondo Cane plays Guanajuato as part of the 54th Festival Internacional Cervantino. Watch footage from Thursday below.

_Originally reported by [Stereogum](https://stereogum.com/2513514/mike-patton-performs-with-mariachi-gama-1000-for-mondo-canes-mexico-debut/news/)._