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NEWS
ABOUT THE BAND
MONTE NEGRO
NEW ALBUM, CICATRIX OUT NOW
As the world grows increasingly interconnected, the need for art to serve as both a mirror and a bridge grows increasingly crucial. But at its best, music is a subtle transit, initiating a journey effortlessly with the inescapable rapture of a simple melody. The music that wins our hearts needs only to trigger colorful visions and engage us in the moment. It doesn’t need to remind us that we are citizens of a larger world or broaden our horizons from within. But if it happens to do both, then something truly magical has happened. With its debut album Cicatrix, Los Angeles’ Monte Negro manages to establish itself as an important band simply by being a great one.
To grapple with the obvious, Monte Negro is bilingual. Effortlessly so, like so many first generation Americans of Latino descent. As songs like “Arde El Corazon (Triangled Love)” casually glide between English and Spanish, it becomes clear that the band does not belong in the comparatively narrow lane of the rock en espanol genre, nor is it unalloyed “alternative” rock. Even the Latin elements in Monte Negro’s music are searching and expansive, embracing the Colombian cumbia in “Lejos (Me Gusta),” while channeling more traditional Mexican musical elements on “Amor Finito.” Of course, as the sultry reggae of “Give Me Love (No Llores),” the anthemic rock of “No One Knows,” or the grinding guitars of “Don’t Let Me Down” might suggest, U2, Bob Marley, the Police, Jane’s Addiction, the Smashing Pumpkins and Epic Records forefathers the Clash all figure in the mix right alongside Caifanes, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs y Mano Negra.
Monte Negro’s music, however, surpasses the sum of any apparent influences. Guitarist Jason Li Shing channels incredible technique into guitar lines that elegantly support the songs, while bassist Rodax Rodriguez stirs their rhythm with a guitarist’s eye for kinetic progression and a born bassist’s sense of space. Meanwhile, drummer Xavier Lopez is a phenom, driving and twirling polyrhythms with the muscle of a metal skinsman and the vibe of the best jazzer. Vocalist and lyricist Kinski Gallo Rodriguez’s soaring voice launches from the band’s rich musical bed in earnest flight, a larger than life personality submerging himself humbly in his works. Also an accomplished sculptor and visual artist, it’s his pan-cultural designs that give the band’s artwork, videos and merchandise a style that is both universal and distinctive. Performing alongside his brother-by-blood Rodax and the close-knit extended family of the band, his visions have a whimsical personal touch that, like Monte Negro’s music, is totally disarming.
For a generation instinctively attuned to a looser, richer, more instinctive cultural mix, Monte Negro could well be the band that bridges between worlds. If the first major sea change in the post-rock world of American popular music was hip hop, it’s not unreasonable to expect that the next wave will be bilingual. And you could be forgiven for imagining Monte Negro somewhere near the crest. Epic Records saw the arc in (courageously) signing the band to its “mainstream” rock roster, while early supporters such as the influential MTV3 have seen in the band’s potential to develop a unique and largely unprecedented story and close the decade with a bold step towards a multicultural space that is entirely new and thrilling.
But the basis of any story told about Monte Negro will always have to remain its music. Spend some time with Cicatrix. Real time, on an open road, on a bed wrapped in headphones, with candles and a drink, in a club or a giant-sky festival, in flagrante or in reflection, sad, lonely, elated, searching, content, confused, engulfed, near, far or in transit between. It’s a record that will reward you every time, from a band for whom the journey has only just begun
hEY FELLAS! COMO ANDAN EH?! I HOPE EVERYTHING IS LIVELY AND WELL ON THE TOUR AND ON THE ROAD! IM TELLIN' YA YOU GUYS ARE LIKE MONTE NEGRO MACHINES LOL YOU DONT STOP! @_@ JA JA AYEEE YAY YAY DONT FORGET TO CHILLAX AND TAKE A BREATHER...LOOK TOWARDS THE SKY AND STARS AND YOU'LL SEE US SPARKLING FOR YOU...OUR LOVE FOR YOU GUYS IS LIKE THE BURNING SOLLLLL! CALLLIEENTE! CANT WAIT FOR YOU GUYS TO COME BACK HOME. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS...!
Hi!...Thank you soo much for coming to New Jersey!!!...My friends and I really enjoyed your performance at Long Branch.Hope to see you soon and I'm sure it will be at a larger venue like Madison Square Garden...By the way,love the whole cd and started to promote your music around the stores...lol...Take care!!!
Hola, Hola! Me llamo Yalitza y soy una representante de American Latino TV/LatiNation! Solo quiero recordarles que este fin de semana, Octubre 11-12, va a ver un segmento de Monte Negro en LatiNation que no se pueden perder!! Asi que para averiguar a que hora y en que canal, visite a www.latination.tv/wheretowatch
I think u guys rock...Chicago truly loved u guys. Awesome to see a band interact w/the fans...thanks for stickers and autographs...I bought ur cool Give Me love tank too...woo hoo. xoxo
it was so awesome hanging out w/ all of yous last night, and getting the chance to hear ya live again!! Ya killed it like always! Thank youu soooo much!!
sorry about my crazy sister..lol!! ooo and next time can we go thru with the trade!? u take my sis and i take jason, he's sooo SWEET!!..lol!!
BEST OF LUCK and be safe out there!! and remember u will always have a friend in the east coast!
You guys were amazing last night! Great show. And I hope you guys come back again. I will definitely get a lot more people to see you guys! Thanks for the pics and the autographs. Love you guys!!!
When are all u guys planning on comung back to L.A... =? did the fans scare u away or what ha ha ha... =p your music is still really good (man it sounds awsome) and hope you come down pretty soon. -keep on rockin-
Que hacen despiertos chikillos???!!! Descansen! Gracias x el comment que me dejaron. You guys, im so proud of you!!! Can't say that enough....keep rockin. Good luck this week. and the next, and the next. Se cuidan! Echenle ganas! A fuego! -ANAX[MNR]
Hola! Como estan chavos? well we are missing you guys!and hope to see you soon...So are you guys having fun on your tour? Well I hope everything is going good and see you soon here in LA. Your friend Alexa/Barbara
