(image by Prometeo Lucero [aka Prom] via flickr)

Three weeks ago, nearly a thousand punks and metal heads took over the Plaza de Armas in Querétaro, central México, to rid the park of "emos." Outnumbered, the mob's victims could do little but huddle together and try to absorb the punches and taunts. Only a few days later, a similar confrontation took place a hundred miles away in Mexico City.

Mexicans, long accustomed to disturbing news of violent crime, were shocked by television coverage of the mass violence. Over the last few years, emo, a fashion and music style defined by androgynous make-up, angular haircuts, tight clothes and a pop-punk sound, has become popular with teens throughout México largely due to the spread of MySpace and the global appeal of such bands as My Chemical Romance and Dashboard Confessional. The wave has lifted Mexican groups like Pxndx (Panda), Insite and Avella Ink into the spotlight. But not everyone in this often traditional and sometimes machista society is keen on this gender and genre bending youth movement.

News reports cite homophobia as a likely factor in the attacks. Many anti-emo videos, blogs and bulletins contain slogans like "Movimiento Anti Emosexual" and "Emo is gay."

Some have blamed Telehit VJ Kristoff for provoking anti-emo sentiment with angry rants and emo-bashing sketches. (Telehit is owned by the powerful Mexican broadcaster Televisa.) After the attacks, Kristoff responded: "I may not agree with the emo philosophy, but I would die to defend their right to express themselves."

Last weekend, demonstrations were held in Mexico City and Tijuana in solidarity with the victims of the violent attacks, but tensions remain high. Few are certain as to what sparked the violence and whether there is yet more to come.

Emo band Avella Ink is probably smiling – on the inside. Not yet two years old, the Mexicali, Mexico band has already been signed to Soundgüich records (Allison, Pastilla) and opened for U.S. goth-pop band Evanescence in México. (Considering emo kids are being openly attacked in Mexico City, that's no insignificant accomplishment.)

Comprised of Mike (vocals), Alexo (bass), Daniel (guitar), Chino (drums) y Marx (guitar), Avella Ink has attracted a devoted following with songs like Corre El Riesgo, a textbook screamo track with chunky guitar riffs, haunting piano lines and throaty screaming and "Cenizas," an acoustic ballad with sweet melodies and sweeping strings.

Avella Ink is putting the finishing touches on its debut album and is scheduled to appear on the first ever Warped Tour México this summer.

See: myspace.com/avellaink

How do you say "emo" in Spanish? Insite. The six-piece Mexicali band is cut from the same cloth as emotional rockers Dashboard Confessional, Thrice and Thursday, but, like their northern counterpart Yellowcard, Insite has a not-so-secret weapon: a violinist.

Formed in 2000, Insite consists of pixie-haired Aree (Violin), Konrado (Vocals), Kar (Guitar), Miky (Bass), Johis (Drums) and Gabo (Guitar and vocals). Their debut album, Una Vida No Es Suficiente (One Life Is Not Enough), was released on Movic Records, the indie label that launched popular Monterrey emo-punk outfit Panda. According to Insite's management, Una Vida sold 5,000 copies in its first week, a number that jumped to 25,000 albums sold after the band's videos – the brooding Cielos Que Lloran and the Kill Bill-inspired Sola, which became a cliffhanger after they went over budget – hit Mexican airwaves.

The melancholy "chicalenses" plan on releasing Una Vida in the U.S. sometime in 2008 and, once they save a little cash, completing part two of their Quentin Tarantino-inspired video double-feature.

see: myspace.com/insite

División Minúscula is one of many rock bands south of the border mining the melodic punk veins. Alongside Allison, Panda, Motel, Delux and too many others to mention, División Minúscula are riding a mighty wave of emo en Español that is increasingly popular in Mexico and gradually making an impact on the U.S. Latin alternative scene.

The four members of División Minúscula, Javier Blake (singer-guitarist), Ricci Perez (guitarist), Kiko Blake (drummer) and Alex Luque (bassist), started the band in late 90’s, in the sleepy border-ish town of Matamoros, just south of Brownsville, Texas and better known for its drug lords than its rock bands. The band disbanded briefly when its members went off to college in Monterrey, a Mexican city known for its industry, wealth and prestigious university. Soon thereafter, the four-piece reunited to join that city’s burgeoning rock scene, eventually hooking up with Toy Hernandez, the man behind Control Machete, who signed them to his Sones del Mexside label.

The group's 2001 debut, Extrañando Casa (Missing Home), was well received, earning them the distinction of being "the first" Mexican band to play punk’s latter day, slap happy incarnation with Spanish language lyrics. Remarkably, a five-year hiatus ensued, as the members of División Minúscula went back to school to finish their degrees and, in cases, to help with family businesses. This year, the band reunited and released a new record to the instant delight of at least 50,000 fans – the number of non-pirated copies sold to date in a market paralyzed by piracy and file-sharing.

The celebrated new recording, Defecto Perfecto (Perfect Defect) is blessed with crystal clear production on par with anything Dashboard Confessional has ever done. Loud, punchy guitars stay crisp and sharp on well-rounded compositions like "Soundtrack" and Sismo which is currently making the rounds on Mexican "modern rock" radio stations. Notably, it's the well conveyed sincerity of the acoustic "Cada Martes" (Every Tuesday) and the slower "Me Tomé Una Pastilla" (I Took a Pill) which make the strongest impression upon repeated listening.

División Minúscula recently played an industry-friendly gig in Los Angeles and will return to the U.S. for a round of dates sometime in 2007.