Combine a hefty helping of Tex Mex conjunto, simmer with several parts of Texas Rock, add a daring of well-cured blues and R&B Riffs, and you've cooked up the tasty TexManiacs groove. Not to say that this group's sounds is for musical gourmets only...no way or, better yet, eso no! These guys - Max Baca on bajo sexto, Speedy Villanueva on bass and David Farias on accordian - feed the masses, but with only the best in musical fare.
Founded by Max Baca, the TexManiacs are a product of his wide-Ranging experience working and recording with everyone from his father's family conjunto to Doug Sahm's Texas Tornados to the Rolling Stones. Despite his youth, Max is a legend on the Bajo Sexto, a twelve string guitar-like instrument, which customarily provides rhythm accompaninment for the button accordion, thus creating the core of the conjunto sound.
On the bajo, Max does all that and way, way more, using the instrument to push the TexManiacs sound to another level of vibrancy altogether. His many
sojourns as a sideman has resulted in an impressive international touring schedule, many national television appearances and plenty of awards, including participation in three albums receiving Grammys.
Israel Villanueva (aka Speedy Vee) was born in Synder, Texas a small town in West Texas, where he cut his teeth playing bass guitar with his dad's conjunto band. After a move to Houston, he became a founding member of the legendary Tejano band, La Mafia. A veteran of the conjunto and tejano scene, Speedy nonetheless a lifelong fan and purveyor of bass-heavy classic rock and brings that big booming sound to the TexManiacs.
At the age of eight David Farias began playing in a band with his brothers. By the time he was thirteen years old, he was fronting the band as accordion player and lead singer. Over the course of 34 years, the group morphed from Los Hermanos Farias to La Tropa F, signaling the change from a downhome family band to a high-fueled and highly popular (though still family-based) Tejano act. Over the years, La Tropa F recorded with Wea Latina, EMI Latin, Fonovisa, Hacienda Records and Freddy Records. For the last fifteen years, the group has been a favorite of award shows and programs and most recently David was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2004 and 2005.
Like a great salsa, this threesome mixes the simplest yet finest ingredients of Texas music to create a sound solidly rooted in tradition but exploring with
contemporary vitality. Their first CD, A Tex Mex Groove, contains a wide sampling but a unity of musical focus that is characteristic of the group. It also hosts a legendary line-up of guest artists, such as Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers, Ruben Ramos and members of Los Lobos, who share the TexManiacs take. So don't just stay for supper, stick around for dessert!
www.texmaniacs.com
Checkout my Riding & Acting Homie Emilio Rivera (Left) on "Sons of Anarchy" (a New Biker Show) as "Marcus Alvarez"; FX CHANNEL, Wednesday September 3, 2008 @ 10:00 pm PST,,,,,,
Now how's that for some guitar playing? Here is wishing you a rocking week! Just think, only 4 days for the week end! Yea! HAVE A GOOD ONE! Smiles and hugs! Pita
It was Cool Jamming with you Vatos; you were the Tightest Act at the Milwaukee Mexican Fiesta this past weekend,,,,,,
See Lorenzo Martinez of "Los Texmaniacs" & me ("Harsh Times" Bar Scene-Ranchero) Honoring & Playing "Carabina 30/30" for Pancho Villa's Son, Ernesto Nava Villa (Center) & Grandson, Raul Nava Villa (Right):
See Emilio Rivera (Left-"Sons of Anarchy" & "Weeds") and me (Right) in "HARSH TIMES" in the Mexican Bar Scene on SHOWTIME, Tuesday 19, 2008 @ 8:00 pm PST,,,,,,
See Danny Trejo (Center) and me on "The Young and The Restless" on Friday August 22, 2008 on CBS-TV @ 12:30 pm PST,,,,,,
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