Posts under ‘Música/Eventos’

Uli is short for Fernanada Ulibarri, who describes herself on Facebook as a chica who left home (Mexico City) to study Music in Boston. Like her Grammy-winning cousin, Rana Santacruz, she eventually transplanted to NYC to become a professional musician. There she joined forces with Los Gringos “where they earned their ‘street cred’ playing Nacotheque and packed Saturday nights at the Knitting Factory and Crash Mansion (NYC) before packing up and heading to the West Coast.” Upon arriving, Uli accompanied Julieta Venegas and her band and toured with her in Europe and Latin America. We now have the pleasure of hosting her in this City of Angels. Uli resides in Echo Park where she writes, performs music and explores the joys of acting. Listen to some of her tracks on her MySpace or SoundCloud (my favorite is “Sol”) and groove to this cool video recorded in New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.

What is INDIE en ESPAÑOL? Bands like Maneja Beto, apparently! I went to a media event where they played a short set yesterday. Before they started, I asked someone what kind of music they played and they answered, “I don’t like that question.” After hearing them and doing my research, that reaction is understandable–they draw on traditional Mexican cumbia, son, and tejano styles as well as indie rock/Brit pop sounds. They’ve been on NPR’s Alt.Latino blog, their music has been featured as a KCRW Top Tune, and they’ve played South by Southwest. Tonight they’ll be at La Cita downtown, so drive over and check out this up and coming indie en español band!

In May he released his debut album Capullo, “a collection of beautifully crafted pop songs”,  and has toured throughout Mexico, as well as in the U.S. and Spain. Someone put the words Tom Waits vocals and driving force in the same sentence in regard to this artist, so check him out. Download “Tu fortuna” for FREE, or take a look at this sexy sounding and looking video, “Dónde va.” Oh yeah, and he sings en español and in English!

Props to ReMezcLA for compiling this list and offering us a song from each album! Click here to listen to some great tunes, or rolas, as we like to call them in español. It might change your idea of Latin music…and if you’re interested in these artists, the good news is they regularly come to LA. See Ceci Bastida tonight at Ele Espacio, 248 West 2nd Street.

Sporting a platinum blonde punk look to an afro and everything in between, ELY GUERRA is always stunning and ready to ROCK our mundo! She’s my kind of chica because she’s fabulous AND smart AND can get down with a pink guitar in her hands. Check out her videos and interviews at her website, along with the movie trailer for an upcoming film! For ahora, enjoy “Stranger” from her latest album.

I’m listening to her lovely live set this morning, and if you haven’t heard her before, check her out. She’s a self-proclaimed “book junkie” (which makes me more of a fan) and we share a birthday, so she HAS to be a cool chica! She was born in Long Beach, California, but raised in Tijuana, Baja California and has lived in Mexico City for years now. Julieta makes playing the accordion look sexy and is a talented musician, winning the 2004 Latin Grammy for Best Vocal Rock Album (Sí). CLICK here to LISTEN TO HER LIVE SET AND INTERVIEW. I’m muy excited to hear the mamá-to-be’s new material. She’s playing May 2nd with Ceci Bastida and ruido de fondo at the Majestic Ventura Theatre. For more info, you can call (805) 653-0721 or go to  www.venturatheater.net/ The video below is a beautiful duet she did with Brazilian legend, Marissa Monte.

Julieta Venegas MTV Unplugged from Monica Sosa on Vimeo.

Mil gracias a Josh por avisarme del nuevo sitio, está muy chido y debes visitarlo. Las fotos son lindas, puedes bajar una canción gratis, y la música es la neta–in other words, it’s excellent. Visit the site, and check out this group that describes itself as “a multi-cultural band of exceptional musicians giving an explosive sonic snapshot of the ever-evolving musical landscape of the Americas.” I’ve seen them live and couldn’t stop dancing. Need I say más?

Belanova is a Mexican electropop band formed by Denisse Guerrero (voice) originally from Los Mochis, Sinaloa (Mexico), Edgar Huerta (programming and keyboards) and Ricardo “Richie” Arreola (bass and guitar), all from Guadalajara, Jalisco (Mexico). The band was formed in 2002. Their latest album “Fantasia Pop” (2007) won a golden disc for sales in just 2 days! I put this song on my running playlist, and the song “Rosa pastel” reminds me of a Sandra Cisneros vignette from House on Mango Street.

CLICK HERE TO SEE “ONE, TWO, THREE, GO!”

CLICK HERE TO SEE “ROSA PASTEL”

This video has BEAUTIFUL cinematography, it highlights Tijuana and the border, one of the places she considers home. You can also check out her MySpace for other tracks and video. ¡Yo la he visto en vivo, y puedo decir que es muy buena artista!

Ceci Bastida: Ya Me Voy (Music Video) from David Niebla – Director on Vimeo.

17 de septiembre- BROWNOUT + DJ Jeremy Sole 
The psychedelic latin funk alter-ego of Grupo Fantasma. Free show at Westfield Mall!
www.myspace.com/brownoutmusic

EVENT INFO: http://www.kcrw.com/events/sounds-around-town

Listen to Jeremy Sole: http://blip.fm/jeremysole