Calentura: Global Bassment feat. Dengue Dengue Dengue, Los Rakas, Tropkillaz [video]

Calentura took things to the next level last week, March 12th, when the monthly party by Subsuelo and Late Night Laggers moved further east to the El Rey Theatre. The reason? To celebrate the release of Calentura: Global Bassment on Fania Records, which I wrote about in LA Weekly.

The night included guests Peruvian Dark cumbia duo Dengue Dengue Dengue, Panamanian rudeboys Los Rakas, and Brazilian Trap duo Tropkillaz. Check out the video of each act below. Hella photos coming soon.

Dengue Dengue Dengue:

Los Rakas:

Tropkillaz:

Cut Chemist at Calentura

My friends at Subsuelo have, for a little over a year now, switched things up with a new format. Their days at Eastside Luv, sadly, came to a gradual end after they began Calentura at Los Globos thanks to a partnership with the Late Night Laggers crew, Fania Records, and Jack Daniels.

The new(-ish) party still carries that Latino flavor but adds some ratchetero, electro sounds that would’ve been too much for their Boyle Heights’ digs. Calentura has allowed them to expand their variety of guest stars, a feat Subsuelo successfully pulled off in the past with one-off parties at the Bootleg Theatre and other venues. Their first party this year featured Mark De-Clive Lowe, Banginclude, and living legend Cut Chemist (some photos below).

Calentura has already announced another amazing lineup for the year: their March party will be at the El Rey Theatre and feature Los Rakas, Dengue Dengue Dengue (making a full-length set debut after their too-short set at Supersonico last year), and headliners Tropkillaz.

2016 is looking great for Calentura.

Update (02/16): Calentura will host Buraka Som Sistema at The Roxy in April.

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Mark De-Clive Lowe
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Aztlan Quetzal & Ethos

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Cut Chemist
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Cut Chemist
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Cut Chemist
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Cut Chemist

Buyenpongo Go Beyond Cumbia To Forge Their Own Sound, “Buyangú”

Buyepongo photo by Edgar Robles
Buyepongo photo by Edgar Robles

There once was a running joke among folks in L.A.’s Latino music scene that went something like this: “Wherever you are, Buyepongo’s there, too, jamming out.”

For years, the group performed anywhere and everywhere it could at any and all hours of the day. You could find them playing Mariachi Plaza during the day, then catch them later the same evening at the Mayan opening up for Ondatrópica. That ubiquity was necessary in developing the group’s core sound and style: a fusion of Latino, African and American sounds, grooves and rhythms, which has finally been compiled in the group’s long-awaited full-length debut album, Todo Mundo.

Read the rest of the article at LA Weekly.

Best Of 2015

Bomba Estereo

The electro cumbia/tropical bass group released the album of the year with Amanecer. The above track, “Algo Esta Cambiando,” is my favorite track off the album.

El Tri

I had the pleasure to see Mexico’s national team play (and win!) twice this year. The first game was in March at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum where Mexico defeated Ecuador 1 – 0. It was the game where Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez became Mexico’s second most prolific goalscorer and where my excitement over it was caught on camera.

The second time was at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena where El Tri defeated Team USA 3 – 2 in extra time to clinch the CONCACAF spot for the 2017 Confederations Cup. I sat on the field opposite Mexico’s bench and was on TV again, this time for the entirety of the match.

Afroxander spying on Paul Aguilar and Raul Jimenez.
Afroxander spying on Paul Aguilar and Raul Jimenez.

New York

I finally went to New York for the first time in my life. The week-long trip went by too quickly but was incredibly fun thanks to my wonderful friends. (Yes, I cut my hair too).

Aurelio

Most important of all, my nephew was born this year!