{ FEBRUARY 9, 7 p.m. Henry B. Mello Center for the Performing Arts, 250 E. Beach St., Watsonville. $12. Details: www.snazzyproductions.com. }

By WALLACE BAINE

The Mexican rock band Los Jaguares doesn’t often use opening acts. The Jaguares’ fan base is notoriously hard on whatever luckless band takes the stage as a warm-up act to their heroes.

On the surface, Eugene Rodriguez and his band Los Cenzontles looked like ripe fodder for the Jaguares crowd. After all, Los Cenzontles played corridos, rancheras and other song forms of Mexican tradition, not something this crowd would have much interest in. Imagine Pete Seeger opening for Nine Inch Nails.

But Rodriguez found himself and his band in the position of opening for Los Jaguares at the Fillmore in San Francisco. And he was more than a little wary.

“These kids were rock and rollers. They were not activists. They were not folklorists…