Romeo 'Honored' By Lady Gaga Comparisons

NEW YORK — There's been an array of homegrown talent, from Rev. Run of Run-DMC to Marc Anthony to Jay-Z, who could make the claim that Madison Square Garden is their house. Rev. Run even made a song about it back in the day.

But Dominican Bachata group Aventura — all raised in the Bronx — are making a case of their own right now. The quartet is currently in the midst of a four-show run at the Garden, selling out each date and leading local tabloids to laud their feat, particularly over another Gotham act, Lady Gaga, who recently had a successful four-show run at the smaller Radio City Music Hall.

So what do the guys of Aventura think of the lofty praise?
"It's definitely an honor to be compared to artists like Marc Anthony and mainstream artists like Lady Gaga that are out and have done big stuff in New York City," Aventura frontman Anthony "Romeo" Santos told MTV News. "I hate it when they make it a competition though, because it's really totally different worlds. She's doing big things and if I wouldn't have had four concerts I would have probably been at one of her [dates] just enjoying her show."

The collective is touring in support of their fifth album, The Last, which has already spawned four hit singles, from the Akon-assisted "All Up 2 You" to current chart-topper "Dile al Amor." "Dile al Amor" is their fourth song to top the Latin charts.

"It's really overwhelming what's happening right now in Aventura's career," Romeo said. "We don't take anything for granted. I think that it's been a long journey, but we got motivated to keep going and never be satisfied with the status that we're in at the moment."

On Monday and Tuesday (February 1 and 2) the group will complete the New York City leg of their tour. According to Romeo, he and the other three Aventura members (Lenny Santos, Henry Santos Jeter and Max Santos) are looking forward to closing out the run with more surprises. They've been joined by Anthony, Akon and fellow Latin artists Wisin Y Yandel on stage so far.

"We try to make sure that everyone that's present leaves feeling like it was worth it," he said. "And with four nights at the Garden, I feel like we're halfway through and everyone has actually — from what I hear, the comments — left with their money's worth, 'cause we've given [the audience] what they expect but then we also brought some surprises, like Marc Anthony, Akon and Wisin Y Yandel."

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