free week

[1/9] Preview: Como Las Movies, Cilantro Boombox & more at Holy Mountain

January 7, 2015 By Ian Morales

While the last leg of 2015’s Free Week happens this weekend, Latin music fans are not left without a proper showcase. Friday night, Jan. 9, Red River hot spot Holy Mountain is the place to be, especially if you missed our Austin Vida Free Week showcase last week at Spider House Ballroom. The lineup includes Austin-based bands Como Las Movies, Cilantro Boombox, La Vida Buena and a Rudy Rexx percussion accompanied DJ set with DJ Chorizo Funk called “Clásico.”

What is great about this particular lineup for Friday is that there is something different that makes each band special. All fuse traditional Latin rhythms with different musical genres, but all have their own unique sound.

After DJ Chorizo Funk and percussionist Rudy Rexx open the show with their Clásico set, La Vida Buena will bring their salsafied hip-hop fusion to the stage to set up the night’s headliners. Lead by member Louie “Luison” Alarcon, the group performs original tracks from their debut EP ¡Checkpoint Alpha! as well as covers of popular hip-hop and R&B tracks.

Como Las Movies are Austin’s purveyors of nu-cumbia, fusing electronic synths and jazz elements with traditional cumbia. While mostly instrumental, the group will incorporate a guest vocalist on occasion.The group is composed of musicians from of my old Austin favorites of the past including Maneja Beto, Mitote and La Guerrilla.

Cilantro Boombox are a perfect electronic marriage of Latin and Afrobeat, which translates into an epic live show. The group formed when producer/bassist Felix Pacheco and Joe Willard of saxophonist Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears fame came together in 2010. They’ve been the opening act for Los Amigos Invisibles on multiple occasions in Texas and are known for hosting a series of killer boat parties in the summer.

Don’t let the cold keep you home Friday. This group of artists is special and to see them live for no charge is a gift, so please take advantage if you haven’t seen these bands before. You will be amazed at what you discover and upset you didn’t see them sooner.

Holy Mountain is located at 617 E. 7th Street. Doors open at 9 p.m. All ages welcome. No cover for 21+. Visit the Facebook event page here.

Como Las Movies

Cilantro Boombox

La Vida Buena

Clásico

Photos: Austin Vida Free Week – “Futuro De Indie” at Stubb’s

January 4, 2015 By Ian Morales

Saturday, Jan. 3, we presented our annual signature Free Week showcase at Stubb’s. This year we focused on young Latinos doing big things in indie rock, a genre more and more young bi-cultural Latino musicians will play in the future. To prove this theory, we curated a lineup that included young bands from not only Austin but also El Paso, San Antonio and Monterrey, Mexico. Those in attendance, whether they were Latino or not, loved what they heard.

The list of performers from beginning to end included Gus Goose (Monterrey), Femina-X (San Antonio), Migrant Kids (Austin) and Avindale (El Paso).

Photos by Mari Hernandez.

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[1/2] Preview: Austin Vida Free Week showcase at Frank

January 2, 2013 By Austin Vida Staff

Free Week has officially begun Austin! The annual event is a festival of sorts when independent Austin venues host free shows that showcase Austin’s local talent during the first week after New Year’s Day. In 2011, Austin Vida hosted the first ever Latino indie Free Week showcase at Stubb’s and in in 2012, we hosted four Free Week showcases all over town. With the help of some friends at Pachanga and The City of Austin, we were able to give Latin music a real presence during Free Week. The best part? We’re presenting four Free Week shows again this year, showcasing the multiple genres and groups within the “Latin” umbrella.

This year our Free Week kick off happens at local music venue and purveyor of the artisan sausage, Frank. We are taking the cultural singer-songwriter route with this one, presenting three of Austin’s most talented Latino groups and performers.

Austin singer-songwriter Gina Chavez was scheduled to perform tonight, as seen on the event poster to the left, but she had to cancel due to sore throat and flu-like symptoms. We wish her a speedy recovery and thank Kiko Villamizar for filling in on short notice. We’ll be sure to have Chavez on another showcase soon.

Performing with band mates from Kiko Y La Banda, Villamizar will open the showcase with his brand of traditional Vallenato, a popular folk genre from Colombia. Locally Villamizar is know for his new open Latin jam showcase series around town. Kiko Y La Banda perform at 10 p.m.

Son Jarocho collective Son Armado follow Kiko Y La Banda. Son Jarocho is a popular Mexican-based art form centered around community gatherings & celebrations known as Fandangos. The Fandango involves music, dancing, and poetry in the context of a communally created and shared space, with the tarima (a wooden dance platform) as the gathering point. Son Armado do this well and take the stage at 11 p.m.

Closing the night is first time Austin Vida showcase performer Mauricio Callejas. A self-proclaimed troubadour from El Salvador, Callejas is the founder of the first songwriter directory of Central America, www.centroamericanto.com and produces a weekly radio program that is broadcasted from different radio stations around the world. He is currently performing in support of his latest release, Helado Pop, that was co-produced by himself and Michael Ramos of Charanga Cakewalk. Callejas will perform at midnight.

Frank is located at 4th and Colorado street. All ages are welcome. No cover. Visit the official Facebook event page HERE for your chance to win a $20 Frank gift card to use at tonight’s show. Tonight’s show is sponsored in part by Pachanga Latino Music Fest and The City of Austin.