QUAD ROCK
It's fitting that in a month wherein the political struggle of undocumented immigrants dominated the news, one of the hottest Latin bands in the world is visiting Santa Fe. The past few weeks have seen massive protests in LA and across the country as well as last
week's "Day Without Immigrants" walkout, all in the context of Congress clearly struggling to deal with the issue, bringing an already burgeoning trend-the influence
of Latin culture-to a fever pitch and while not overtly political, Quadfest headliner Yerba Buena definitely fits the bill in terms of aesthetic.
Yerba Buena has been tagged "the new Ozomatli," and while perhaps stuffing the two groups into the "dance-y Latin band" category is both patronizing and simplistic, it's true the two groups do share a verve and energy that is similarly stimulating and engaging, a vibe that can be summed up in one word: hot!
Hot, as in saucy, speedy percussion-steel drums, congas-and thick, rapid-fire bass. Hot as in sultry island grooves, blended with a multitude of globalized, overlapping sounds-reggaeton, Cuban melodies, South American rhythms. Hot as in an undeniable infectiousness, that hypnotic effect wherein even the most wilting wallflower
must dance-
must
-because there's no choice in the matter, the energy and flow of the music simply takes ahold of your rear end and forces it to move. On a recent appearance on
Late Night with Conan O'Brian
, for instance, Yerba Buena blew the roof off of Rockefeller Center with one of the group's strongest tunes, "Belly Dancer." It's clear the vocals come second in "Belly Dancer," almost an afterthought as the band focuses on tight rhythmic swings and rich horns; the agenda here is overt-to make you dance. On Conan Yerba proved irresistible, a dervish of swiveling hips and drumbeats, flying dreadlocks and confetti.
Much of the band's new disc,
Island Life
, follows the same agenda; though the execution shifts in tempo and instrumentation, the goal remains the same. "Fever," for example, takes it down a notch to a sultry smart groove, a la "Slow Ride," while "El Burrito," starts with a slower, classic Latin vocal intro, only to hit its stride via added background vocals, horns and percussion, into a dreamy rocker. The album is full of surprises like this, simultaneously familiar and surprising.
Island Life
's only drawback is that its jam is interrupted with schtick-y intros and skits (one featuring John Leguizamo) and ham-fisted sexual innuendo ("Yo quiero un burrito?" Please.).
But, overall,
Island Life
couldn't be more fun, nor could it be more appropriate for the times. I have a feeling the Yerba Buena set at Quadstock will be one of those legendary Santa Fe shows where the crowd bonds through dancefloor sweat and hundreds of asses in simultaneous motion, pure energy and groove. Kind of like, you know, Ozomatli.
Produced by FanMan Productions, Quadstock will be held at the Quad, natch, at the College of Santa Fe (1600 St. Michael's Drive) starting at 1 pm, Saturday, April 6. $15, $10 students. Call 988-1234 for tickets and details.
LAST, BEST HOPE?
I couldn't be more psyched that Swig has reopened. I spoke recently with Manager Patrick Padilla, who also managed the spot under the previous owners, who tells me some things will remain as they were, others will go in a new direction. "We want the club to be more accessible," Padilla says. "We want to change the image of it just being a late-night spot."
Part of that transition, Padilla tells me, is concentrating on locals, making Swig into a place for an after-work cocktail and snack. Dropping prices and adjusting the menu has played a large role in the transformation. "We don't want to have to rely on only 10 percent of the population-whether tourists or locals-that can afford to support us," Padilla says. So think, yummy hors d'oeuvres (and a stronger focus on sushi), plus less pricey drinks and a less stuffy atmosphere.
Which is not to say, of course, that late nights and music will take a back seat. The new Swig folks are wisely sticking with DJ King George, formerly of the hip-hop arm of the Chicanobuilt collective-who's one of Santa Fe's best DJs. George, who will play both Wednesday and Friday nights, is known for his hip-hop skills, but he's equally adept at house and other genres.
Padilla says Swig plans on shifting out of the West Coast DJ circuit niche it had been relying on and changing things up with more local DJs, including bringing back Justin Roberts, who spun at the club in its early years. Weekends will revolve around "Saturdays in Stereo," featuring a revolving pair of folks behind the decks. Expect more hip-hop, disco, perhaps some '80s, plus more live music.
Swig's shift in focus will, hopefully, prove a boon for the summer scene in the City Different. Given the struggles of local folks to find a spot to play, post-Paramount, Swig amounts to the best opportunity to perform in a bonafide music venue, one that doesn't double as a carpet store or hot dog stand or Jiffy Lube or whatever else we've been making admirable do with. And, if there's sushi to boot-well, that's win-win.
