Montenegro, is an L.A. based rock band, they’re Mexican, they’re American and they’ve got a message for you… “they’ll sing it through and through, so please don’t fuck around.” These are excerpt lyrics from their song “Message” off of their new EP, “Fugitives of Pleasure And Pasajeros” released in July 2009 under their label Feed the Hungry Records. Although the “Message” is a not a song about the bands background, credo, or musical stance, listening to it for the first time really gave me an idea of who Monte Negro really is.
Monte Negro is a family affair as Lead brothers Kinsky and Rodex Gallo first formed a group together in 2001, called Anima, who was quickly categorized as “the Latino Red Hot Chili Peppers." Anima broke up in 2003 but that didn’t keep the brothers away from music for long… the brothers teamed up with guitarist Jason Li Shing and drummer Xavier Lopez, and called themselves Monte Negro.
Monte Negro’s music, “they’re vehicle to pleasure”, as singer Gallo croons on “Fugitives of Pleasure” off the new EP, is best described as a Spanglish mix of mysterious new wave that in the same cut will tangle genres and remind you of Mana, the Cure, and Caifanes… then just when you thought you’d figured out their “genre”, they’ll mix in a little hip-hop and good old American rock and roll, just to see if you’re awake.
In “Fugitives of Pleasure And Pasajeros”, Monte Negro doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, tackling immigration in “Immigrants Lament” where they croon “Pasajero sin destino, que haya luz en tu camino” during the chorus and getting right into it later in the song with “Soñando el sueño dorado que mi pais me ha robado”.
In “Loco por tu amor (Tarde o temprano se paga)”, Monte Negro describes el “desamor” or “heart-break” that will stab right into the hearts of those who have loved and lost… haven’t we all?
Monte Negro made their musical debut in 2007 with "Cicatrix," which sparked enough interest for a major label (Epic) to re-release it in '08. They’ve since travelled the world and toured with major artists (toured with Enanitos Verdes in LA and Texas), opened up for Gwen Stefani in Puerto Rico, and also toured with Babasonicos and Zoe just to name a few.
The “Fugitives of Pleasure and Pasajeros” EP is out in an Original Version that contains 5 new songs, and was also released as a “Limited Edition” that is complimented with deluxe artwork and packaging, autographs, 6 additional eclectic instrumental tracks, and an unexpected surprise: "La Negra Tomasa" in a stunning hip-hop reinvention of the Caifanes classic. Yes, you heard Caifanes, “La Negra Tomasa” and hip-hop in the same sentence. I can assure you that if you quit trying to pinpoint what makes Monte Negro tick and just enjoy the eclectic Spanish and English construction of music, you will be highly pleased with what you’re left with.
Contact: rosario@kestadc.com
No comments:
Post a Comment