Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Los Vicios De Papá refine their sound
Posted by Kyle Long on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 at 12:22 PM
I'll let you in on a secret: the best show you'll see this month is happening on Saturday night at Locals Only. Chicago's Latin-ska pioneers Los Vicios De Papá are making their first appearance in Indianapolis, headlining a night of Latin rock music alongside a trio of local acts, Puntos Cardinales, Los Semilleros and HC4.
Los Vicios De Papá have been refining their unique blend of cumbia, ska and punk rock for over ten years. That decade of experience has paid off in dividends for the eight-piece band, resulting in wildly dynamic, high energy live shows and a rich, finely crafted sound.
I spoke with Los Vicios De Papá vocalist Rene Lemus and keyboardist Carlos Ortega.
NUVO: Your website states that you were the first Latin-ska group in Chicago. Can you tell me about the history of the group? How were you received by Chicago audiences?
Los Vicios De Papá: When we first started, the band was not well received. We took some hard criticism because the Latin music scene here was focused on "rock en espanol." But we still kept trying. We fought against the stereotypes and the name calling. It just made us stronger. After a couple years the community began to grow.
Now the scene here in Chicago is a diverse one, with blues, fandango, ska, reggae, and a lot of folkloric groups. It grew with the help of many artists that came together.
2012 marks the 11th year we have been together, and we're still going strong, despite some member changes through the years. But what hasn't changed is our energy, our positive vibes and our positive message.
NUVO: Can you describe the sound of Los Vicios De Papá?
Los Vicios De Papá: We have a very vibrant and fresh sound that combines many different styles and rhythms: ska, punk, cumbia, reggae, and even some salsa and samba.
This combination of styles really gets crowds going. No matter which genre they're into, our diverse sound will strike a chord with the audience.
They also relate to the message we bring in our lyrics. A message of tolerance, love and peace. This message encourages everyone to stay strong and continue fighting the every day struggles we endure as a society.
NUVO: You've shared the stage with some great bands, can you share some of the highlights?
Los Vicios De Papá: There have been several special moments in our career. Achieving the role of headlining band at concerts and festival is certainly a highlight for us. The road to attaining that status has also brought some great highlights.
It is very empowering for us to have had the privilege of playing with some very influential bands and musicians. Sergente Garcia, Panteon Rococo, Grupo Fantasma and Calle 13, to name a few.
The band's most memorable highlight was opening for one of our biggest icons, Maldita Vecindad. We were blessed to have shared the stage with this band. We also spent some time with them after the show and they provided us with wisdom and some laughs.
NUVO: Future plans for the group?
Los Vicios De Papá: We are in the final stages of finishing our second album. Hopefully it will be out by this summer. We're also planning our first tour of Mexico. Our fans there have been patiently waiting for us to tour and we know it will be an uplifting experience, filled with opportunity.
ESPERANZA - Los Vicios De Papa from Jorge Mancilla on Vimeo.
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