And the Music Goes On

This is my last blog for the semester, but I must say, I’m going to miss blogging for borderbeat.net.

When writing each blog, I learned something new about music and bands, in particular. I also was able to refine my album reviewing skills and find better ways to describe the music I was writing about.

This blog also helped me branch out in my music taste. I normally stick to indie music and stuff that is mostly underground or prestigious to other music connoisseurs.

However, when keeping the border in mind, I forced myself to listen to music that I don’t typically listen to. I didn’t necessarily like every band that I blogged about, but they all had intriguing stories and I came out with one that I actually like quite a bit. Ryan Bingham was my favorite artist to blog about, and I really liked that he used growing up along the border for inspiration with his music.

I was also able to produce a form of news that I enjoy myself. I love reading about music, especially album reviews, and wanted to be able to provide that to others. Going into this semester, I didn’t realize that I would learn as much as I did and grow to appreciate other genres of music.

My advice to future Border Beat bloggers is to pick a topic to blog about that you truly love. You will be enthusiastic to blog, and that will be reflected through the quality of your blog. Also, you will learn more about your passion, which is always self-rewarding.

Blogging is a great way of staying updated and updating others, and I encourage everyone to blog in some way because it is a great method of communicating.

Concert Preview: Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios

Music really becomes even more beautiful when it is used to help support a positive cause.

Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios will be performing live at Club Congress on Tuesday for the annual Casa Maria Thanksgiving Benefit. Casa Maria, usually located at 401 E. 26th St., has been serving the homeless and less fortunate for more than two decades.

In addition to feeding those in need, Casa Maria also helps immigrants seek legal aid and American citizenship lessons in Spanish. For their Thanksgiving Benefit, Casa Maria will be handing out large bags of groceries in addition to their normal soup, bread and coffee meals.

Rich Hopkins started the annual tradition of the Thanksgiving Benefit with Casa Maria after he became involved with them as a result of writing a song and shooting a video portraying the struggles of the homeless community.

Grouped with the Luminarios, who will be performing with him on Tuesday, Hopkins is also a guitarist for the Sand Rubies.

The style of Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios is infused with industrial, crunchy guitar riffs and ongoing guitar leads.

To check out Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios and see what there sound is all about, watch this YouTube video of their track “Dirt Town” provided by user reidgwilson.




To hear more music from Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios, check out their MySpace page or go hit up the annual Casa Maria Thanksgiving Benefit at Club Congress on Tuesday, Nov. 20. The doors for the 21 and older show open at 7 p.m. Donations are suggested and Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios will be accompanied by The Jons and Triple Double.

Album Review/Concert Preview: Ryan Bingham

As was mentioned before, Del Castillo, from Austin, TX, is coming to Solar Culture Nov. 30. Del Castillo is also being joined by the young Ryan Bingham, who grew up in both New Mexico and Texas. Bingham’s new album, Mescalito, exposes his childhood experience of growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Bingham spent much of his life moving from small town to small town along the border without much money in his family. Because of his regional influences, Bingham’s music is a fusion of raw country and mariachi.

In Bingham’s recently released album Mescalito, Bingham tells it like it is and exhibits a lovely frankness in his gravely voice and lyrics.

The track “Southside of Heaven” is a twangy song with harmonica, banjo and tapping beats that sound more like a boot hitting the floor than a drum.

“Boracho Station” eerily sounds similar to something Johnny Cash would sing, and Bingham croons huskily about the hills of Mexico.

The track “Dollar a Day” is possibly Bingham’s most upbeat song on Mescalito and sounds like an old country anthem with sassy guitar leads.

“The Other Side” is also upbeat and features a slide guitar and a steady beat, as Bingham asks “Won’t you take me to the other side.”


Here is a YouTube video, provided by user ethornson, of Bingham performing “The Other Side” live.





Here is another video from YouTube, provided by user LostHighwayRecords that has people describing why Bingham is such an amazing musician and person.





It is clear that this 25-year-old, who sounds wise beyond his years, has an effect on others both musically and personally. Check out Bingham’s MySpace page or his official site to hear his honest, stripped down country-esque songs or show up at Solar Culture on Nov. 30 to hear him in the flesh.

Concert Preview: Del Castillo at Solar Culture

Del Castillo, from Austin, TX, uses their influences from the U.S-Mexico border to create a Latin rock sound that has garnered the six-piece band many prestigious awards in the music world.

Comprised of Alex Ruiz, Mark del Castillo, Albert Besteiro, Carmelo Torres and Mike Zeoli, Del Castillo produce a fusion of Flamenco guitars, blues and Latin that makes the band sound as if they have been playing for decades. On the contrary, Del Castillo has only been a band since 2000 and performing live shows since 2001.

Del Castillo was first introduced to the true spotlight when Director Quentin Tarantino selected their track “Malaguena Salerosa” for the “Kill Bill, Vol. 2” soundtrack.

Following that, Del Castillo won “Best Latin Traditional Band” at the Austin Music Awards/South By Southwest in both 2006 and 2007. Also this year, the band won “Album of the Year” for their latest album, Brotherhood, also at the Austin Music Awards/South By Southwest.

Here is a YouTube video provided by Del Castillo’s street team that was put together the when the group won “Album of the Year”




Del Castillo has actually won too many awards to list, but you can check them out on their official website.

Del Castillo’s music is enjoyable if you speak English or Spanish or neither, because the band sings in both languages and the instrumental aspect of their music is so strong that lyrics almost aren’t even necessary.

This Latin rock band will show Tucson what it’s made of on Nov. 30 when they hit Solar Culture at 31 E. Toole St. Del Castillo will be supported by Ryan Bingham, and the all ages show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $10.

For more information about the show at Solar Culture, check out Solar Culture’s website.

To hear songs by Del Castillo, check out their MySpace page.

Artist Glimpse and Album Review: Juanes

We don’t seem to mind the fact that we don’t understand the lyrics of a song because they’re in a language foreign to us when the person singing those lyrics is very attractive. Especially when that person singing is Juan Esteban Aristizabal Vasquez, or, better known as Juanes.

Juanes, originally from Columbia, has been entertaining Central and South America for many years with his Latin rock and pop style and clear vocals. His most recent album, La Vida Es Un Ratico, was released on Tuesday and commands the attention of anyone who appreciates rock, elements of Latin flare, and an over all, good feeling song.

This crooner didn’t always sing heartfelt songs with catchy beats.

He first experienced with music in metal band Ekhymosis.

Juanes garnered much of his success and kick started his career by collaborating with producer Gustavo Santaolalla who is famous for composing award-winning scores for “Amores Perros,” “Babel” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Santaolalla’s talent must of rubbed off on Juanes, because his first album, Fijate Bien (Take a Good Look), won three Latin Grammy Awards.

Juanes’s new album, La Vida Es Un Ratico, is slightly more down-tempo than his previous album, Mi Sangre and portrays less attitude.

“Gotas de Agua Dulce” is a swanky, medium-tempo beat track with non-stop lyrics that propel the song forward.

“Hoy me Voy” is simpler in its instrumental aspect, and features a guitar lead in the chorus that flows through the song in waves.

“La Vida Es Un Ratico,” the album’s title track, reflect’s Juanes’s meaningful and emotional vocals over piano layered with distinct drum beats.

Song “Me Enamora” is catchy in chorus and an upbeat, positive track with harmonizing vocals.

Check out Juanes’s music video for “Me Enamora” provided by YouTube user todoxaqui1.






Previous album, Mi Sangre might have been a better album overall, however.

“Lo Que Me Gusta a Mi” kicks off with a bevy of guitar licks that are dripping with attitude and sass.

“Rosario Tijeras” is a sexy, slow-beat crooner’s song to a woman.

Check out Juanes’s website to hear all tracks from Mi Sangre, or watch this live performance of La Camisa Negra provided by YouTube user MustangLoverMex.





The new album may not be as good, but we sure like his new short haircut.

Band Spotlight: Ozomatli

This nine-piece collaboration is about as diverse as it gets. Not only do they produce a fusion of Latin, hip hop, salsa, cumbia, Middle Eastern funk and dub, but Ozomatli also is comprised of members from all over the world.

Ozomatli, made up of Wil-Dog Abers, Raul ‘El Bully’ Pacheco, Justin ‘El Nino’ Poree, Asdru Sierra, Ulises Bella, Jiro Yamaguchi, Mario Calire and Sheffer Bruton contribute their talents of vocals, bass, percussion, trumpet, drums and trombone to create a sound that is unlike many others and dance-provoking.

Their track “Can’t Stop” off of their most recent album, Don’t Mess With the Dragon has a great beat from the start and has Mexican and Spanish influences and style with Reggae flare as well. The lyrics and beat of the song encourage listeners to take advantage of each day that they encounter positively.

Song “City of Angels” starts off briefly sounding like a hard rock song, then flows into funky horns and then, surprisingly, hip hop. The track kicks off with a spoken recording of a band member saying: “Let me tell you a little something about L.A....I love it!” This track truly showcases all of Ozomatli’s talents and facets of musical diversity.

“After Party” off of Don’t Mess With the Dragon features Mexican elements and funk.

Check out this YouTube video, provided by user darksun360, of Ozomatli performing “After Party.”



Also, check out Ozomatli’s performance of “Saturday Night” from their 2004 album Street Signs, in this YouTube video provided by user vintagetubelug.





Track “La Gallina” is very upbeat and sounds like a combination of mariachi horns and hip hop, and really ignites the track with enthusiastic shouts from the band members. The overall feeling of the Mexican style track is fun-loving and carefree.

To hear more upbeat songs from this culturally diverse band, check out Ozomatli’s MySpace page.

Album Review: Cafe Tacvba

Mexico-based band Cafe Tacvba has a fresh, well-rounded sound and just dropped their new album Sino on Tuesday.

Cafe Tacvba sings in Spanish and fuses melodic and often upbeat guitar with a myriad of other instruments, including piano, synthesizer beats, mandolin, and steel guitar. The band’s front man, vocalist and guitarist Ruben Isaac Albarran Ortega has a nice set of pipes, but the instrumental aspect of Cafe Tacvba is the most impressive and compelling.

The band from Naucalpan, Mexico has been together since 1989 and has snatched up a few Grammy awards along the way.

Sino is a well-rounded album from start to finish, beginning somberly with Ortega crooning quietly to just piano with growing intensity.

“Tengo Todo” is one of Sino’s strongest tracks, exhibiting a catchy chorus (that I can’t even understand!) and overlapping melodies with elegant electric guitar work.

“El Outsider” conveys diversity with Ortega singing in a scratchy voice to bass and synth beats.

The single track off of Sino, “Volver A Comenzar” builds beautifully with drum beats and airy guitars.

“De Acuerdo” kicks off with espionage guitar work and stomping drum beats.

Cafe Tacvba will be entertaining fans across the border and in other countries with live shows to promote Sino.

Tour Dates
Oct. 18 – Distrito Federal
Oct. 19 – Veracruz, Veracruz
Oct. 20 – Oaxaca, Oaxaca
Oct. 21 – Tehuacan, Puebla
Oct. 25 – Hermosillo, Sonora
Oct. 26 – Mexicali, Baja California
Oct. 27 – Tijuana, Baja California
Nov. 3 – Tokyo
Nov. 4 – Fukuoka

Check out this video of Cafe Tacvba collaborating with Incubus at the 2005 Grammy Awards.




To hear Cafe Tacvba’s new album Sino, check out their Myspace page, the whole album is there for listening.