Dear Southwest Xicanos, Chicago Xicanos, Cali Xicanos,
You grew up with Xicano language, literature, music, artwork, politics. For me it was something I had to discover. Columbus, Ohio is on the verge of its first Xicano movement (which I will write about later this week). With our Xicano movement will come music, but for now I have to use a different medium in order to obtain my Xicano music, and yes it is owned by Rupert Murdoch, it is myspace. The website has allowed me to access awesome Xicano music that I otherwise would have never known about it. Below are a few, enjoy!
Los Abandoned: I actually first heard about Los Abandoned from El Pocho Abogado’s entry about them. I often think of El Pocho Abogado as that guy who is light years away from where I’ll ever be when it comes to great music. They are lead by strong fem vocals, to sweet electronic music, that makes me want to jump around and bump into people while singing along. Their lyrics are bilingual, they are awesome and you should go listen to them. On myspace they categorize their music as “New Wave/Latin/Indie”. Go listen to “A La Mode”.
Aztlan Underground: While I discovered them on myspace they do have their own official website. Their music is political, no doubt about it. In their band description they describe themselves as “The dormant giant has awakened. Throughout the Southwest known to Chicanos as Aztlán, the movement of the struggle is still in effect and greater than ever. Treated as foreigners in our own land, Aztlán Underground(AUG) was founded to voice the anger and frustration of the poor and powerless…AUG captures the psyche and transcends to all ethnic groups, capturing a universal rhythm to convey their message of “self-determination and decolonization.” Their lyrics are bilingual, political, and their music, is as they describe it, “Psychedelic, Regional Mexican, Pop Punk”.
Down aka Kilo: Okay, I owe this one to El Pocho Abogado too, well I don’t know if the word ‘owe’ is correct. His lyrics are not progressive, in fact they are misogynistic, but his song Lean like a Cholo is catchy as hell, so enjoy it for what its worth, a catchy bubblegum hiphop song.
Los Dryheavers: They, Los Dryheavers, actually have a non-myspace website here. Their music is sweet dude punk music. I know that sentence doesn’t make much sense…to you, but it does to me… Anyway, sweet dude, like cool awesome kid you want to spend the summer going to punk shows with, this is sweet dude punk music. They site their influences as Vicente Fernandez, The Clash, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, and The Ramones….come on ya’ll you know it is going to be good. Their lyrics are also bilingual.
The Fresas: If you like Los Abandoned you’ll love The Fresas. They remind me of Elastica, I have fond memories of driving in Mexico from my mom’s house to my grandmother’s house with Elastica blaring and people giving me funny looks. The only thing that makes me sad about Las Fresas is that unless you guys go encourage them and help me help make them big, we in Ohio will never get to see them preform. Help a girl out! Go listen or even download for free their song Dang B. They are poppy, they are bouncy, they make me smile, yeahhhhhhhhhhh.
Mad Mexicans: Out of Tejas, these guys are straight up rock, their song style reminds me a lot of Molotov‘s album Donde Jugaran Las Niñas. Catchy hooks, hardkore rock, that makes you want to roll down the window and say “Ain’t no party like a Mexican party, ’cause a Mexican Party rock all night long” or if you wanna get political “Three cheers for a blind society, raise a glass to a broken democracy”.
The Mormons: Out of California, these chavos make fun of an easy target…Mormons. They dress in that gdman colonizing uniform of the Mormons: the black pants, short sleeve white button down shirt, black backpacks, and bike helmets! They are comical with great music which finding a combination of both is hard to find. Their music is punk rock, with an occasional bit of sing along peppiness that I enjoy and I’ve seen them define themselves as “Latin Music” on myspace, with their backgrounds as they told me are “Vince and Joey are Mexican and Jimmy Is Chilean”.
Los Nativos: Straight out of the Mid-West, no not Chicago, and no not Ohio (sadly), Los Nativos are from Minnesota. Los Nativos are on the same label (Rhymesayers Entertainment) as Brother Ali, Atmosphere, and Columbus Ohio’s Blueprint. I guess this is the closest it gets to Columbus having politically active Xicano music and I damn fine with it since good lord it is AWESOME! Their music is straight up hip-hop, it is just plain good, you want to drive with it, you want it while you are working around the house, you want it all the damn time…go give it a try.
Anyone else wanna mention some other good Xicano or Latino music?