Avalos Is Open

Tia Chucha’s, the San Fernando Valley bookstore and cultural center co-founded by writer Luis Rodriguez recently changed locations and had a gala grand opening to celebrate. In addition to the new location itself, there was food, vendors, poetry, dance and music.

I got there to see the latter part of the music, just in time to see the 3 piece electro-Reggae ensemble Fosforo. I was happy to hear a very creative, different take on Los Angeles Reggae, with the band able to effectively mix the organic and electronic aspects of their music. Obviously, these guys have been at it for a while since the spare parking lot setting of the gig had no bearing on their ability to have an excellent set. Because of the time constraints, their set was too short, but as I listen to their music on MySpace right now, I really hope to be able to catch a full set in the future.

Next up, my former band mate Olmeca leading a quartet, including Gomez Comes Alive!, but on bass instead of the keyboards that he plays in Monte Carlo 76. Olmeca led his group through a short set of his revolutionary hip-hop with the world premieres of a couple of new pieces that included Marisoul from La Santa Cecilia on vocals. With his years of community activism and hard-hitting music Olmeca showed exactly why a place like Tia Chucha’s is so vital to the social, creative, and political life of the Los Angeles area.

Last on the bill was a group that I’d heard a lot about but had not seen yet, La Santa Cecilia. This group did not disappoint either, managing yet another individual take on all that the musical life of Los Angeles has to offer. I could list the styles and influences that I heard in this music, but I won’t, as this is a group that is better heard than read about (but really, what group isn’t?). Suffice it to say that La Santa Cecilia continues in the tradition of LA groups like Quetzal, Ozomatli, etc. who manage to distill all that is going on around them into something new, fun and beautiful.

With a kickoff event like this, Tia Chucha’s should have a very successful future in it’s new location. With the world the way it is right now, this kind of community organization is more necessary than ever.

Tia Chucha’s
Luis Rodriguez
Fosforo
Gomez Comes Alive!
Monte Carlo 76
Olmeca
Marisoul
La Santa Cecilia

Luis Rodriguez is another major literary influence on Monte Carlo 76 and on Saturday 3/28 his store, Tia Chuca’s, is having a Grand Opening. Performing will be La Santa Cecilia, Olmeca, Nahuatlaka, Las Cafeteras, Fosforo, Funkhahuatl & John Densmore, and AhWomb Collective.

Tia Chucha’s
13197-A Gladstone Ave.
Sylmar, CA 91342
Phone:(818) 528-4511
http://www.tiachucha.com/ 

Mark Scaggs played drums for us at our CD Release, this weekend he’s playing with Burkhart on Friday 3/27 at 9 PM at the Palms Bar in West Hollywood.

Palms Bar
8572 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood 90069
$10

Monte Carlo 76 songwriter/keyboardist/vocalist Gomez Comes Alive! has a couple of new posts over at Amoeblog, highlighting the top Latin sales of the last month.

Monte Carlo 76’s brand new second album Marisela is now available at two stores in the Los Angeles area, Amoeba and Teocintli. We’ll have it available at CD Baby and digitally soon as well.

Tex has got a couple things going, especially for blues harp fans in the Inland Empire.  Go over to his MySpace page and check out the details.