Cinco de Mayo…5th of May…what does this mean? To me, when I was a child, I just saw my family drinking margaritas and cervezas and having a good time on this date every year. I also thought this was Mexico’s Independence Day for many years, but it’s not. This date is actually important to the United States as well; and no, I’m not drinking right now. You see, Cinco de Mayo is the date when Mexican troops stormed and defeated Napoleon’s French invading army in the battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. Napoleon III and France wanted to invade and defeat Mexico so they could get to the vulnerable United States who was already weak from its own Civil War.
So now you say “Where does the music come into play?” Here is the best part. After Mexico defeated the French, many Mexican rancheros that fought in the war brought out their acoustic guitars and started singing and playing festive songs in a style that would later be known as Mariachi. For our clients on this holiday we’ve developed a Cinco de Mayo program that has a bit of everything that is festive from Mariachi, Rancheras, Cumbias, Salsa, Tejano, Banda and more with the likes of Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Gloria Estefan, Flaco Jimenez, Juan Gabriel, Vicente Fernandez and a few other surprises that’ll have them dancing on the tables. We hope that they and you will be taken to a place this Cinco de Mayo where you can let you hair down, pop open a cold one and say “Salud!” or drink one of your favorite tequilas and yell “Viva Mexico!”
Alex Espinosa – Associate Music Supervisor
PlayNetwork
Doing the tour thing from coast to coast in a van is a way of paying your dues in the music world of rock-n-roll. Everyone from Elvis to the Rolling Stones has done it and I’m sure countless of musicians will continue the tradition in the future. I remember in my early twenties riding along with a friend’s band doing the California stretch in a week playing in five towns and taking turns behind their trusted van only to stop for food, beer and the occasional bathroom stop (in my case, we used the old milk gallon trick). Paste magazine has posted an article where nine bands ranging from Maps & Atlases to Cursive tell their stories of the joy on touring in a VAN!!!
Alex Espinosa – Associate Music Supervisor
PlayNetwork
With SXSW happening but once a year, flocks of musicians and bands make their trek to Austin, Texas for the one-off chance of making an impact on the thousands in attendance. Once such act; La Vida Boheme who hails from Caracas, Venezuela made that impact at this year’s SXSW music festival two weeks ago. Being dubbed as the next big thing in the Rock En Espanol movement with influences ranging from 80’s punk to Electronic Dance music, La Vida Boheme tore through their set at The Parish dressed all in white with blue and green paint splattered all over them. Their latest release “Nuestra” on Nacional Records, received two Latin Grammy nominations for best rock album as well as one for best rock song for “Radio Capital”. Led by singer Henry D’Anthenay, these guys are making people take notice not only for their eclectic shows but also as a staying powerhouse in Latin music. NPR Music put out their “Possibly Life-Changing Music Discoveries from SXSW 2012” and La Vida Boheme made that list with flying colors, no pun intended.
Alex Espinosa – Associate Music Supervisor
PlayNetwork
Here’s a name to share with you: ‘Mati Zundel”. This artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina is on the ZZK label, who are starting to release intriguing new Latin releases that are based on Cumbia, Urbano and Electronica dub beats. With Mati’s new release titled “Amazonico Gravitante”, the elements he mixes are something that are not normal in the Latin world; he mixes Cumbia, Urbano, Electronica and Latin Folk to create an artisanal sound that will hopefully have other’s following in his steps.
Here’s a video of the new single “Señor Montecostes”…disfruta!
Alex Espinosa, Associate Music Supervisor
PlayNetwork
Every year around April, masses of music lovers from around the globe attend this 3-day festival which has grown immensely since its inception in 1999. With over 25,000 people attending the inaugural event that had headliners Beck and Rage Against The Machine, this festival is now a haven for the up and coming artist, established acts or the ever recurrence of bands reuniting for that one off show for the festival.
Indio, CA and its surrounding neighbors of Palm Desert and Palm Springs has always been a location where retirees go to and relax in their Bermuda shorts and black socks or play some leisurely golf. Since 1999 though, the Empire Polo Grounds, which is this huge oasis of irrigated lawn right smack in the middle of Indio has been the sight of the Coachella Music Festival (back then being called just Coachella).
With acts ranging from Roger Waters to Thievery Corporation, you’ll get everything here via the many music tents and stages situated all around the grounds. In one tent, you may get M.I.A. performing to a hip hop crowd and then in another tent, you may here a spoken word performance by the legendary Leonard Cohen. Since 2002 the festival had expanded from 2 days to 3 days with over 75,000 to 100,000 people attending each night and selling out quickly with last year’s event taking less than a week for all three days to sell out.. Because of this issue, 2012 will be the first year where the popular festival will be branching out over two weekends with the identical lineup. Bands like Radiohead and The Black Keys who are 2 of the 3 headliners this year will be taking advantage of this and tour the west coast to coincide with the festival.
Of the 13 years this event has taken place, I’ve been to 4 of them with the 2004 event being my favorite as Radiohead (again) as well as The Cure headlined along with the reunited Pixies and Kraftwerk. So, if you ever get the chance to attend this amazing festival once in your lifetime, I suggest you do. Oh yeah, you may have to endure the 100+ heat the desert gives you as well the occasional run in with a celebrity or two.
“At Last” is a song that will always remain buried in my memory as a song that not only makes me feel relaxed but also reminds me of my mother as I was growing up. You see, before I knew who the Stones or the Beatles were, I would hear this song play on my mother’s old Crosley record player during the holidays and always knew she was baking cookies.
Miss Peaches or better known as Etta James has that effect on people. Back in 2000 Rolling Stone Magazine ranked her #62 in their list of 100 greatest artist of all time. With her bluesy voice with a touch of gospel elements as well as her influence on so many singer/songwriters, she should be rated much better than #62. She was loved by many and worshiped by others and her voice will live on forever. Ms. Etta James passed away on January 20, 2012 at the tender age of 73.
Happy New Year world! We continue our look back at 2011 in music…
Alex Espinosa, our newest member on the Music Services team, gives us a look at his favorite albums from 2011 which includes a few Latin artists you may not have heard of. Disfruten!
The Black Keys – El Camino (Nonesuch)
For having just two members as their core, this blues rock band from Akron, Ohio put the crunch in dirty blues rock. Their seventh release titled “El Camino” was such a surprise to me from the start that I couldn’t wait until I heard every track. With the first single “Lonely Boy” that has this guitar riff and analog synth sound at the start; I immediately wanted more. El Camino delivers especially with my favorite on the album “Run Right Back”. This song has not only sex appeal but that dirty, kick the dirt type of sound that gives the Keys a swagger like the days of Bowie and T-Rex. Listen to “Run Right Back” here
Hello Seahorse – Lejos, No Tan Lejos (Nacional Records)
Mexico’s indie sensation, Hello Seahorse latest release titled “Lejos, No Tan Lejos” which translates to “Far, not that Far” is a record that creeps up on you with Denise Gutierrez hypnotic operatic voice and soft synth sounds. This follow up to their Latin Grammy nominated “Bestia” shows that Latin electronic music is on the rise. Listen to ‘Perla Blanca’
Radiohead – King of Lambs (TBD Records)
Thom York and gang keep on churning out hit album after hit album. Ever since I heard the first chords to “Creep” off their debut album “Pablo Honey”, I’ve been a fan and when they decided to experiment with electronic beats later in there career, I became even a bigger fan. With the “King of Lambs” being their eighth release, you would think that the hoopla on this band would die; not so!!! With songs like the haunting “Give up the Ghost” that has York looping his own voice, not once or twice but three times, keeps fans still amazed by this brilliant five piece from Oxfordshire, England. Listen to ‘Give Up the Ghost’
Bon Iver – Bon Iver (Jagjahuwar)
I’m not a huge fan of folk music but when a friend suggested I go with him to see this singer-songwriter Justin Vernon play live at a cemetery, I couldn’t resist. The performance which was to be a sunrise show at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles on a Sunday of all days had lumps and tears on almost everyone’s faces with his haunting voice. I was instantly captivated with everything Vernon and his band Bon Iver after witnessing this event. With Bon Ivers’ latest and self-titled release, you almost feel the heartache he feels with the lush sounds of his acoustic guitar. Every time I listen to “Holocene” it reminds me of that day in the cemetery where it seemed like everyone involved was in a hypnotic state.
Watch the video for ‘Holocene’ from Bon Iver’s self-titled album.
Siddhartha – Naufrago (Bubler Sounds)
Mexico’s Siddhartha first started out as a drummer for Latin Rock band “Zoe” before venturing out to produce and perform as a solo artist. His latest release titled “Naufrago” has an indie element to it with a Latin electronic edge. This artist whom is not well known yet will make a huge impact in the every growing Latin scene if he keeps on releasing songs like “naufrago” which has this melody with just the right drum and synth sound that when closing your eyes, you can almost think of the classic indie band “Ocean Blue”.
Watch the video for “Náufrago”
Babasonicos – A Proposito (Universal Musica Argentina)
Argentinean rock band Babasonicos, which formed in the early 90s has been progressing with each release like a fine aged wine. With a running time of 40 minutes, their latest release from this Latin electro pop quintet is not only intelligent pop music but a creative masterpiece for them. Watch the video for ‘Muñeco De Haiti’ here
Atlas Sound – Parallax (Beggars/4AD)
When Bradford Cox of Deerhunter decided to dabble with his side project Atlas Sound, people thought he was crazy as Deerhunter was on the rise. With his latest release “Parallax”, Cox has had his best writing effort to date. Right from the first track “The Shakes” with the haunting guitar licks, one thinks of a David Lynch film; At least I do…
Le Baron – Esplendor (Sony Music Mexico)
Having Sonic Youth and Arctic Monkeys as influences is not a bad thing if your Argentinean band Le Baron. With an original sound and eclectic arrangements, this quartet is destined for success. With the exposure of the L.A. Latin Alternative scene in full effect as well as a stint at SXSW next year, Le Baron’s release “Explendor” not only surprised me with its subtle synth sounds but also with their keen ear to what their peers are experimenting with in technology. Watch the video for ‘Velicdad M’ here or listen to ‘Velocidead M’ here
The Horrors – Skying (Beggars/XL)
With a name like “The Horrors”, how could you not be intrigued to hear what this English band from Southend on Sea sound like. Back in 2009, there was buzz going around about their live show at SXSW, which had people lined up around the corner to get into. With their latest release “Skying” which had been delayed for some time, the saying “Good things come to those who wait” was hit right on the money. With resemblance to The Chameleons and The Psychedelic Furs, this release is everything closet Goths dream about.
Watch the video for “Skying”
Javiera Mena – Mena (Union Del Sur)
Javiera Alejandra Mena Carrasco of Chile started her career at the tender age of 17. With the Chilean indie music scene taking flight in 2001, she dove right in with her synthesized electronic sound. With her second release, simply titled “Mena” she discovers the pop scene while still craving that electronic sound that so many in her hometown fell in love with. With a disco-euro pop sound on her first single “Luz de Piedra de Luna”, and the addictive beat and salsa drums banging, you’d expect a mirrored ball to drop down from the ceiling while dancing. Listen to ‘Luz De Piedra De Luna’ here
I remember in my early twenties riding along with a friend’s band doing the California stretch in a week playing in five towns and taking turns behind their trusted van only to stop for food, beer and the occasional bathroom stop (in my case, we used the old milk gallon trick). Paste magazine has 
Being dubbed as the next big thing in the Rock En Espanol movement with influences ranging from 80’s punk to Electronic Dance music, La Vida Boheme tore through their set at The Parish dressed all in white with blue and green paint splattered all over them. Their latest release “Nuestra” on Nacional Records, received two Latin Grammy nominations for best rock album as well as one for best rock song for “Radio Capital”. Led by singer Henry D’Anthenay, these guys are making people take notice not only for their eclectic shows but also as a staying powerhouse in Latin music. NPR Music put out their “Possibly Life-Changing Music Discoveries from SXSW 2012” and La Vida Boheme made that list with flying colors, no pun intended.
Every year around April, masses of music lovers from around the globe attend this 3-day festival which has grown immensely since its inception in 1999. With over 25,000 people attending the inaugural event that had headliners Beck and Rage Against The Machine, this festival is now a haven for the up and coming artist, established acts or the ever recurrence of bands reuniting for that one off show for the festival.
