by latinomixtape
Chile is going nuts for Soda Stereo. Yes, you read correctly. According to Chilean news sources, the much beloved trio consisting of Gustavo Cerati, Charly Alberti and Zeta Bosio has been hard at work on their current world tour. They were greeted by 67,000 fans at the National Stadium for what turned out to be a whopping three hour performance. The stage must've been covered in sweat and flowers as fans sang loudly along to hits spanning a decade. Concert goers had shown up 12 hours prior to the band taking the stage. It seems appropriate considering that this is probably the most influential South American rock group of the past twenty years.

Soda Stereo then heads to Ecuador to probably similar sized crowds. Who knows if they're planning to stay broken up after this tour. Why should good things come to an end over and over again?

by latinomixtape
The legendary and newly regrouped Argentine rock outfit Soda Stereo has added another date to the South Florida stop on its 20-city stadium tour. Tickets have already gone on for a Dec. 4 show at AmericanAirlines Arena. Info: sodastereo.com or ticketmaster.com.

They are coming to Los Angeles via the Home Depot Center just south of Downtown LA on November 21st.

Check out some vintage Soda Stereo here on YouTube. Musica Ligera is such a post adolescent anthem, wouldn't you agree?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpiY999wHTM

by latinomixtape
That's right, La 5a Estacion is up for best Pop Album by a Group for their album "El Mundo Se Equivoca." I don't know what you're going to do but I'm planning my Latin Grammy viewing party coming up November 8th. Mojitos and mini brie quesadillas with a jalapeno yogurt dip? Whatever...but I'm so going to TiVo the hell out of the performances. And I'm crossing my fingers that this Spanish via Mexico band gets their recognition for a very good year.

by latinomixtape
So Chayanne's gearing up for a big show happening in the mountain city of La Paz, Bolivia. It's so big that he is demanding SEVEN tanks of oxygen to be available along with a few paramedics. You see the altitude is so high that the sexy Puerto Rican singer is concerned that he will lose consciousness because of the thin air up there.

It's like that last episode of Top Chef where Casey (the one woman chef still left in the running) pretty much blew her chance because she couldn't adjust her cooking to the altitude of the Rockie Mountains. Well, Chayanne must've caught that episode because he is thinking ahead. Even though he is saying that the altitude has nothing to do with it and that he ALWAYS travels with this on his tour.

It makes sense, right? He's only working and sweating up a storm from all those feverish dance moves and intense singing. He and his 50 person stage dancers and musicians do their all to put on quite a spectacular show.

by latinomixtape
What should've been an amazing whirlwind tour to support "90 Millas," Gloria Estefan's much awaited album, has turned into a sad episode for la gran dama of Latin pop. Gloria was supposed to go to Mexico City this week to promote her album but had to cancel to tend to her sick mother back in Miami.

According to People en Español, Gloria returned back home to see her mother, Gloria Fajardo, who is recovering in intensive care following an emergency surgery performed the week before. Thankfully, the singer's mother was not in critical condition but simply recovering doctors making sure she was out of the woods.

In the meantime, Gloria's people are rearranging her schedule to ensure her return to Mexico City at a later time this year. She wants to be there before the holidays so hang tight Chilangos!!!

by latinomixtape
Have you ever wanted to hear the same song over and over again because it was so good? Are there any songs out there that you could never get sick of and would be happy to hear different versions of it if it were so possible? Well then you understand how I feel about "Me Muero" by the Spanish pop band La 5a Estacion.

I did a search for the song on YouTube because I hadn't seen the music video in its entirety and was so pleasantly surprised to see all of these different performances of "Me Muero." You see the group on a couple awards show as well as fan edited videos that feature some interesting footage like anime images and stuff culled off the web. It's a trip to see what a song inspires fans to produce on their own and to feel inspired enough to create something visually original.

If you are new to this talented group then check out their videos on YouTube and pick up their music on iTunes. La 5a Estacion is a Latin Grammy-nominated band that are originally from Spain but now make Mexico their homebase. The core members are Madrid natives, Natalia Jimenez (isn't she so pretty?) and Angel Revero on guitar and Pablo Dominguez on bass.

by latinomixtape
Yes, it's been a really busy week but I do apologize for my absence. You see, I'm getting my own hustle on to try and find Vicente Fernandez tickets for his sold out ten-night run at the Gibson Amphitheatre in my hometown, Los Angeles. But I realize now--of course it's going to sell out because EVERYONE and their mother (and father, and abuela y primos) want to witness the majestic baritone of the one and only Vicente Fernandez. And yes, I am trying to get tickets for my mom who turns a young 65 this November and would like nothing more than to see el maestro himself sing the heck out of "Sigo Siendo El Rey" among other classic rancheras. But it's the same story every time the Big V comes to town. And let me tell you that the Gibson is no five-and-dime radio hall. That place is HUGE! But still offers an intimate setting for someone who embodies an entire movement around ranchera music. I'm going to have pray extra hard to the gods of musica mexicana to see if I can make mom's dreams come true. Que Viva Don Chente!

by latinomixtape

Check out this great article posted on the NY Daily Post website earlier this week. It is a great one!

Puerto Rico's alt-rock Circo channel their inner Juan Gabriel

BY NURIA NET

Wednesday, October 10th 2007, 4:00 AM

Fofé (with hat) and his Circo troupe.

---

Betrayal, excess, decadence, suffering, drama, disdain. It's not just what drove Britney Spears to spiral out of control or Noelia to star in that sex tape and have yet another fallout with her mother Yolandita.

It's the premise of Puerto Rican rock band Circo's new album, aptly titled "Cursi." To be "cursi" is to be exaggeratedly sappy, even corny, especially in terms of love. Cursiness permeates Latin culture — from the 5 p.m. telenovela to Marco Antonio Solis' classics to Pablo Neruda's most flagrant poetry. With its third album, which came out last month, Puerto Rico's leading rock band is on the verge of becoming mainstream by being risky in its sincerity.

"We were not afraid of baring our soul, being sentimental," says Circo's lead singer and songwriter, José Luis (Fofé) Abreu. "With 'Cursi,' we want to seduce a new audience. We are not scared of being labeled pop, you can be pop with an edge."

This from a band that called its 2001 Latin Grammy-nominated independent release, "No Todo lo Que Es Pop Es Bueno" (not everything that is pop is good). The group also found critical acclaim and more Latin Grammy nods with 2005's "En El Cielo de Tu Boca."

Circo members — guitarist Orlando (Orly) Méndez, keyboardist Edgardo (Egui) Santiago, drummer José David Pérez and Fofé — then set out on tour with Los Fabulosos Cadillacs and Café Tacuba, taking their mix of electronica, new wave and rock to audiences from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires.

After their record deal ended with Universal and bassist Nicolás Cordero left, the band entered a stagnant period. But then last year Fofé found inspiration in New York, after attending a ongoing biweekly downtown party known as Nacotheque.

In the basement of a Chinatown bar, Latino hipsters and Bohemian types converge and dance freely to everything from Gloria Trevi kitsch hits to alternative fare like Calle 13. Fofé was elated with the eclectic, if corny, mix.

The heyday music of sappy Megastars like Juan Gabriel and Sandro also influenced "Cursi." "They were challenging the norm, not scared of being obvious, erotic, over the top," says Fofé of the divos.

With new label Sony BMG, Circo brought in producer Aureo Baqueiro to shape the band's avant-garde electronic sounds into more radio-friendly material.

In "Cursi," songs like the single "Antes del Fin" — the video just premiered on MTV Tr3s last week — or "Velocidades Luz" are thematically not that different from Aventura's latest smash hit "Mi Corazoncito" or at the other end of the spectrum, rocker Zoé's love lament "No me destruyas."

The distinction is that Circo cleary points out the ridiculous aspects of love in their lyrics and their catchy pop hooks and celebrate it with humor.

And Circo's aspirations to reach a larger fan base is buzzing faster than they realized. "[Reggaetón pioneer] Tego [Calderón] mentions us in one of his new songs," says Fofé incredulously. "Apparently he's a fan of us! Everyone can enjoy our music — it's heavy but para gozar [to enjoy] at the same time."

by latinomixtape
Hey y'all, have you had a chance to check out Gloria Estefan's latest album 90 Millas (90 miles is the distance between the island of Cuba and the southern most part of Florida) yet or what? What are you waiting for?

Well for those of you that have picked it up and have been grooving to it in the solace of your car or bedroom headphones, check this out. Now she's got a remix version of "90 Millas" with the bad boy of Latin hip-hop/reggaeton, Pitbull. It's a really sweet mix that has a positive message of staying optimistic in the face of so much obstacle. Of course both Gloria and Pitbull are referring to the situation over in Cuba and the issues they have with the way the country has been ruled for the past fifty years.

It's interesting to see these two dramatically different artists bound together by their sense of political obligation.

What do YOU think of the collaboration?           

by latinomixtape
I came across this video today looking for news on what Julieta Venegas is up to these days. It's a really charming story Julieta tells about her songwriting history and it turns out the girl loves herself some ballads. Yes, ballads and the sappier the better it looks like.
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It looks like she's about to have some sushi since she's sitting at a sushi bar in a Japanese restaurant. That's cute. I remember seeing Julieta perform at the House of Blues in Hollywood, CA and the little thing just rocked the hell out of that place. She's really big in Southern California. And then I saw her back in 2003 in Hell's Kitchen NYC and the venue was packed but it was a different kind of energy that was cool but made me homesick for Los Angeles.

It'd sure would be nice to see Julieta return to the stage right about now! Maybe I'll just listen to Limon y Sal now.

by latinomixtape
Hot off the heels and high of winning several Grammy's for her 2005 release "Apasionada," the blonder haired Latin diva continues to enthrall old and new fans alike with a collection of hits called "Coleccion Suprema."

With hits such as "Perdiendo Tu Amor" and "Mas Que Un Amigo," you'll see why this sultry beauty continues to dominate the airwaves and our hearts.

It strikes me that Ms. Nazario has a lot of passion in her soul. I don't make any assumptions except to go one the cues that several of her albums give. I mean one of her earlier albums is titled "Pasiones." That is, we are to assume that she has them--passions--and lots of them. And with fiery titles like "Quiero Que Me Hagas El Amor" and "Te Sigo Esperando" you're just left to your own devices, imagining the soundtrack to an intense romance novel.

It's great that she was recognized for her fierce contribution to the field of pop music en Espanol with a Grammy for the last album. Give it up for Ednita Nazario!

by latinomixtape
The man who was once a boy from Cinecittà, Italy is returning this season with a new album called e2 (or e-squared). With a career that spans 20 years now is there anything that Eros cannot do to prove his artistic consistency? I feel like I've grown up with his music and have turned to it whenever I'm feeling uncertain or melancholy. The soulful insight is palpable in so many of his albums.

It's not surprising that Eros has alway dreamed of being a pop star in his native Italy and beyond. He started out with humble aspirations but just couldn't deny the dream to do music. Thank goodness he pursued his passion and didn't settle to be just some accountant helping out with the family business. Now if that doesn't take courage I don't know what does. But his pursuit has paid off. Not many artists have a career like that. Eros has taken Italy and Europe as well as Argentina, Mexico and the United Statest and not to mention that the sexy Italian singer is just as big in Japan! With timeless singles like "Cosas de la Vida" and "I Belong to You," you wonder what else Mr. Ramazzotti has up his sleeve.

So if you're in need of some of Eros to tide you over before "e2" comes out in a few weeks then I highly recommend you pick up his 1997 release "Eros" and of course his debut album from 1987 "Musica Es," just to give you a good range of where our man Eros has been and where he's going.

by latinomixtape
Who would you rather see do a reality TV show?

VOLTIO or Luny Tunes??

I don't know about you but my vote is VOLTIO. I bet he's a funny guy with a sweet crib. MTV Cribs should hit him up about where he lives and let us check out his digs. I don't know who does his styling but the man always looks fly. It's great when your favorite reggaeton artists are good flashy dressers. I know it sounds sarcastic but I'm being serious. I admit that I like a package on the outside as much as I do the talent that's inside but like everyone else, I enjoy a lot of eye candy.

With that said I'm going to put on the new VOLTIO cd and get electrified (I couldn't resist the pun).