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.