Picks and Pans Review: 5 Things You Need to Know About ... Aventura

>• Fresh off four shows at Madison Square Garden, the Dominican-American group is riding high.

THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE “KINGS OF BACHATA.”

Bachata is a rhythmic form of music from the Dominican Republic. “The lyrics are mainly sad,” explains frontman Anthony “Romeo” Santos (second from left), 28. “I try to write lyrics that are not as depressing.”

THEY ALL SHARE THE NAME SANTOS.

The group also consists of Romeo’s cousin Henry Santos Jeter (left), plus guitarist Lenny Santos (second from right) and his bassist brother Max Santos. “But Henry and I aren’t related to them,” explains Romeo.

ROMEO LIVES UP TO HIS NICKNAME.

“I’m very romantic, very poetic,” he says. “And I try to shake my butt.”

THEY HAVE SOME RABID FEMALE FANS.

“In Ecuador, I went back to the hotel; I’m lying in bed and I hear giggles,” recalls Romeo. “In the closet were two girls. I ended up giving them autographs. I was already in my drawers, so I wasn’t gonna do pictures!”

THESE BRONX BOYS LOVE THE YANKEES.

“The Yankees hats are never missing,” says Romeo. “We’re always walking with them.”

Updated by Lesley Messer