Avalos Is Open

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CD Release

Buenos Dias

Travel Tips for Aztlan - KPFK

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

Our good friend and advocate in Japan, Shin Miata was in town over the weekend. Check out GCA’s story about his and Shin’s dive bar adventures here.

LatinoLA has a story in which Gomez Comes Alive! and Marisa talk about some of the songs from our new album Marisela.

Gomez Comes Alive and myself took a little band field trip to see  Mulatu Astatke at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex as part of the Timeless Series. Astatke was backed by a great group of musicians including the legendary Bennie Maupin and a friend of mine from my days at CalArts, Todd Simon on trumpet and flugelhorn.

Fans of Mulatu and the essential Ethiopiques series were treated to two sets of music, both new pieces and classic Mulatu compositions. Opening the show were DJ sets by Egon, Quantic, and Cut Chemist. I saw a little of Egon and Cut Chemist and was pretty impressed by Cut Chemist’s set. Those of you who know me know that I never have really gotten excited about watching people spin records, but saw some of the appeal this time. Call me old fashioned.

Anyhow, I’d like to get GCA’s take on the evening too.  Since it was a field trip he needs to submit his report!

Gomez Comes Alive! shares his Top 10 Songs of 2008 over at his Los Angeles Me blog for Amoeba. Let’s get him to give us a DJ set here on the blog!

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.

Gomez Comes Alive! will do a DJ set tonight at Anda! for Ray Ricky Rivera’s birthday bash. Wil-Dog y su Banda La Juvenil will also be performing along with DJ sets from Gazoo, Ray Ricky Rivera, and DJ Mando Fever.