What's New- Page 4

Bands and Solo Artists To Check Out

pc Muñoz- "Grab Bag"- Fifth and latest CD by one of my favorite current artists.  As usual, his song ideas and the poetry in his lyrics are great.  His previous CDs, with the exception of one haiku record, for the most part have funky music tracks behind the lyrics.  His haiku CD has the backing of unusual sounds, instruments, and effects without a backbeat.  On "Grab Bag," pc combines the two styles to create a sound he calls "art funk."  You get the funky grooves under an avant-garde aural atmosphere.  The concept is accurately described in the subtitle of the CD, "Otherworldly Sonic Adventures."  The cover and graphics for the CD are clever and fun.  pc has several guest artists, including Ingrid Chavez, who worked with Prince in the 90s.  My favorite tracks are "Archery," which has some cool poetry while being humorous, "All Out of Everything, and "Sturdy Heart."  Grab Bag" is on Talking House Records,  written & produced by pc Munóz.  For more info on pc, see the review below and visit his website, www.pcmunoz.com and his my space page, www.myspace.com/pcmunoz, where you can hear samples from "Grab Bag."

pc muñoz and the amen corner- pc is a mestizo Chamoru (Native American-Pacific Islander) from the San Francisco Bay area, who performs spoken-word poetry over funk, rock & roll, and hip hop musical grooves.  The Chamoru culture is from the island of Guam.  According to pc, 60 to 70 percent of Chamorus have Latino last names because the Spanish, who invaded Guam by way of Mexico, came in galleons that often included Mexicans as well.  Therefore, modern Chamoru culture has similarities to Chicano culture, with a  language that's a mix of the indigenous and Spanish.  pc's style is more in the spirit of Gil Scott Heron, rather than the style of most current rap artists.  According to pc's record company, "pc's music is more for listening than for partying."  That's true, but you can certainly dance to many of the tracks if you choose to because they groove.  His lyrics are intelligent, hip, and sometimes sprinkled with humor.  Many of his songs have choruses sung by guest vocalists and his band is versatile and very good.  His latest CD is called "California" and it's on Beevine Records, www.beevine.com.  My favorite tracks are "California," which features a chorus vocal by Jackson Browne, "Brunching Britney and the Homeboy," "I Didn't Steal Anything," and "Small Map."  "Brunching Britney and the Homeboy" is my favorite song on the cd.  It's about a homeboy whose got the hots for a white, good girl, cheerleader type.  The song addresses issues of race and class with a bit of humor thrown in the mix.  All this over a incredibly funky track.  pc muñoz is an excellent urban poet with a lot to say.  Check out his website, www.pcmunoz.com.
 

Warriorland- "There Will Be Signs"- new CD produced, composed, and performed by my cousin, Johnny Guerrero.  Johnny is a multi-instrumentalist, who plays all the instruments on this collection of reggae instrumentals.  Johnny was a member of reggae bands Christafari and Temple Yard and has performed with or on the bill with many major artists including Beyonce Knowles, Sheila E., and Big Mountain.  The only guest musician on the cd is guitarist Tony Chin of the Soul Syndicate Band (Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Lee "Scratch" Perry).  Click here to learn more about Johnny and his music on his my space page.  Click here to link to where you can purchase the cd.
 

Batista the Latin Rock Experience- "The Element"- new CD-EP by the L.A. Latin rock band, led by Joe Batista.  It's a bilingual four song collection of Santana inspired Latin rock featuring some fine vocals and instrumental ability by the band.  "I Feel Like I'm Flying" is a standout track and the last cut, "Ritmo From With-in" is an instrumental that allows the players to let loose and let it fly.  For more info on the band visit their website at  www.batistathelatinrockexp.com.  Click here to go to their my space page.
 

Greg Esparza- "Just Enough To See the Sun"- new CD by singer/songwriter Greg Esparza, who has in recent years also been a vocalist with classic East L.A. groups Cannibal & the Headhunters and Thee Midniters.  In his solo debut Greg's music is being compared to the current sounds of artists such as Audioslave, Oasis, and Incubus.  Some of the tracks also have shades of the Verve and Toad the Wet Sprocket.  At times his vocals have a hint of John Bon Jovi.  Greg is an excellent singer whose voice and vocal ability are better than the majority of alternative/pop rock vocalists currently on the charts in my opinion.  Greg Esparza wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on this CD.  For more information and to order the CD, go to www.myspace.com/gregorio.  For information of Greg Esparza in regards to his "Eastside Sound" musical activities visit www.myspace.com/cannibalandtheheadhunters and www.cannibalandtheheadhunters.com.
 

Los Lonely Boys- An excellent young band from Austin, Texas made up of three brothers named Garza.  Henry on guitar, JoJo on bass, and Ringo on drums.  Yes, his real name is Ringo.  They all play and sing very well and their harmonies are strong.  Henry is a great guitar player, whose style shows influences of Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and Stevie Ray Vaughn.  They write their own songs which are mostly blues-based, but there are several with Latin elements.  Lyrically, most of their songs are in English, a couple in Spanish, and some are bi-lingual.  Willie Nelson calls them his favorite local band and guests on acoustic guitar on what's probably my favorite song on the album, "La Contestacion."  Their debut self-titled cd is on Epic Records, a division of Sony Music.  I saw Los Lonely Boys play on a late night talk show recently and was impressed with them.  Many Chicano rock veterans, besides me, are taking notice of Los Lonely Boys.  John Valenzuela, my former fellow guitar player from my 70s A&M Records band, Tango, gave me Los Lonely Boys' debut CD with a good review.  He liked them so much, he went to see them live on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," a national late night television show, and was impressed with their performance.  Manuel Valdez, former lead guitarist with 80s punk rock band Los Illegals, himself a great guitarist, also likes the band.  He particularly likes the guitar playing of Henry Garza.  If these guys keep their heads together, they should be around for a long time.  For more information, check out their website, www.loslonelyboys.org.
 

Zarate Pollace Project- new cd by guitarist Abel Zarate and keyboardist Michelle Pollace.  Abel, who was a founding member of 70s Latin rock band Malo, describes the music as "Afro-Brazilian global beat jazz."  Abel Zarate displays his guitar artistry and songwriting ability on this set of instrumental tracks.  One can hear shades of some of the artists who have provided him with inspiration over the years such as Carlos Antonio Jobim, Gabor Szabo, and Wes Montgomery.  Michelle's keyboard and writing style is a great stylistic match for the talents of Abel Zarate.  The cd also features first rate guest musicians:  John Santos on conga and percussion, Paul van Wageningen on drums, Curtis Ohlson on bass, and Anthony Blea on violins and violas.  "Soul Redemption" is produced by Abel Zarate, Michelle Pollace, and Greg Landau.  Abel Zarate is an important figure in Latin rock history.  His songs, arrangements, and guitar playing appear on Malo's first two albums and he was a co-writer of their mega hit "Suavecito."  He's also recorded and performed with Coke Escovedo and  Willie Bobo.  For more information on Abel's career and the Zarate Pollace Project, visit www.zaratepollace.com.
 

The Damascus Experiment- San Francisco bay area fusion band led by original drummer for Malo, Richard Spremich.  They have a new CD out on his Christian-based Prince of Peace record label called "Conversion."  The band is excellent with a strong lead vocalist by the name of Vincent Grimes.  Spremich is the chief songwriter, with Vincent as co-writer of several tracks.  My favorite cuts are Latin-flavored "When Did I Become So Weak" and the gospel/r&b styled "Road to Damascus."  Richard Spremich had e mailed me after reading my article on Malo and brought some additional information about the band to my attention.  According to Richard, he along with lead guitarist Abel Zarate, Roy Murray, Bob Olivera, and Fist Stevens, were in a band called Naked Lunch.  When they were in their late teens, they played a benefit concert with Tower of Power and Boz Scaggs and blew everyone away.  A Warner Brothers record executive was in the audience.  This led to the idea of combining members of Naked Lunch with members of the Malibus to form Malo.  Richard Spremich, Abel Zarate, and Roy Murray went with Malo.  Richard played with Malo on their first two albums before leaving the band.  That was then.  What's happening for Richard Spremich now is his new band, The Damascus Experience.  Their first CD, "Conversion" was released in 2003.  The new CD is called "The Damascus Experience II, Sword of Spirit."  The Christian music utilizes many styles, including hard rock, funk, blues, and ballads.  The musicianship is first rate and the vocals, both male and female, are very strong.  All songs were written by Richard Spremich.  He's an excellent songwriter.  For more information, check out their website, www.tdxband.com.
 

Chencha Berrinches- an L.A. based hard rock-ska en Español band who have been together about five years.  Their first CD, which did very well, included songs such as "Blanca Nieves" and "Brown Impala." They've opened for such influential Latin bands as El Tri, Victimas Del Dr. Celebro, and Ozomatli.  Their second CD, "Cada Loco Con Su Tema," is being released on May 2, 2004 with a release party at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood.  Chencha is a high energy band, whose music and spirit is in the same ballpark as Mexican rock icons, Maldita Vecindad.  To underscore the point, their new CD is produced by Maldita's sax player, who's known simply as Sax.  Chencha Berrinches will begin a tour in May which includes shows in California, Arizona, Chicago, and Nashville.  For more information on the band, check out their website, www.chenchaberrinches.com.  Learn about the origin of their name, which is quite amusing, on their menu page called "the myth of Chencha."
 

Contact me at:  info@markguerrero.net

Previous page || Go to next what's new page 5

Return to what's new index page