El Tule

Artist Information

Biography

El Tule is for those who love to dance, feel good and enjoy the positive expression of music.

Since 2004, El Tule (el TOO-lay) has been honing its unique sound combining influences of Cumbia, Merengue, Salsa, Cuban and Reggae, in Austin TX. The music is about history, art and culture often focusing on legends and tales of the mystical. Fan favorites include Tres Viudas, the true story of three dancing widows in beautiful San Antonio, La Ruta Maya, a pounding tribute to the famed Mayan Route and Mi Niño, reminiscent of colorful childhood life on the border. The sound..."El sonido" that El Tule brings to each performance naturally transcends all cultural and social backgrounds.

Full length recording "Volumen 1" and "Volumen II" are available at iTunes and many other online retailers, Waterloo Records, Cheapos, Border Sessions.Com, CD Baby.com, Barnes and Noble or catch a show in a town near you. Currently in the studio working on Vol III.

Por los últimos seis años, El Tule ha venido perfilando su sonido que es una combinación de Cumbia, Merengue,Cubano, Salsa, Rock y Raggae, entre otros. La música ha sido influenciada por el arte, la historia, y la cultura; enfocando leyendas, tradiciones y lo místico. Entre los favoritos de los "fans" están: "El Chupacabra," una espeluznante interpretación de un animal que le chupa sangre de las cabras o corderos. "La Ruta Maya" donde se otorga tributo al famoso camino de los Mayas, y Media Noche, una elegía a los sueños evocados entre las horas de la media noche y la aurora. Los Sonidos musicales están constantemente en una progresión que nos transportan a recuerdos, experiencias e influencias; Siempre paralelo a la meta principal del grupo, la música adquiere su propia dimension y en forma natural trasciende los niveles culturales y sociales. Dicho simplemente , El Tule está para aquellos que les gusta el baile, sienten y disfrutan todo lo que es positivo en lo que se expresa con la música.

Instrumentation

Max Garza - Trombone
John Dell - Guitar
Stephen Selvey - Guitar
Tracy Chavez-Dell - Bass
Joseph Ledesma - Trumpet
Michael Penic - Drums
Joshua Collier - Timbales
Oscar Trejo - Guiro

Discography

Volumen I - Music can be found at www.eltuleband.com and www.myspace.com/eltule.
Volumen 2 - Music found at site
Volumen III to be released in 2012.
Pandora Radio's "El Tule Station"
Soundtrack to "Pepe and Santo Vs. America"

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

• Mezcla Mixed
  Listen  
• La Sirena
  Listen  
• Mi Nino
  Listen  
• La Guera
  Listen  
• Cumbia Cubana Electrica
  Listen  
• Tres Viudas
  Listen  
• Devil's Backbone
  Listen  
• La Botana
  Listen  

Lyrics

• La Sirena
• La Guera
• Tres Viudas
• La Sirena
• Mezcla

Video

La Guera

Photo Gallery

Press

• Wedding note from Bride & Groom [+ Show ]
  

  "We fell in love with El Tule at first listen. They play everyman's Latin music, the kind of stuff t..."We fell in love with El Tule at first listen. They play everyman's Latin music, the kind of stuff that gets everyone on the dance floor regardless of whether you know what you're doing or not. The band made our wedding night memorable and left everyone raving and asking "Where'd you find that band?" As if the music isn't enough, they're also a great group of people to spend an evening with. We can't wait to say we knew them when." - Jessa & Blake 1/28/12

• Vol II review by Austin Chronicle [+ Show ]
  

  El Tule comes in at an extended extended-play length, with six meaty tracks on Volumen II and the lo...El Tule comes in at an extended extended-play length, with six meaty tracks on Volumen II and the local septet's big band Latinate giving Grupo Fantasma a serious run for its pesos. "Silver and Gold" plates the starter pistol's dual guitar/bass jungle strut, "Cumbia Cubana Electrica" measures out gleaming brass conductivity, and "Mi Niño" booms Miami as "La Botana" stuffs itself on Caribbean surf, turf, and tequila. Que rico!

• Jan 16th 2007 Proclamated
  

  "I hereby proclamate Jan 16th Austin El Tule Day" -City Of Austin Mayor Will Wynn

• "Volumen 1" review by Austin Daze [+ Show ]
  

  El Tule – Volumen 1 Drawing from a number of influences such as Latin Jazz, Salsa, and C...
  El Tule – Volumen 1
  
  
  
  Drawing from a number of influences such as Latin Jazz, Salsa, and Cumbia, El Tule describes their music as being about history, art and culture. With a thoughtful production complete with horns it becomes a celebration.
  
  Volumen 1 kicks off with "La Sirena", a fiesta like number that had me salsa dancing in the kitchen in a matter of seconds. I kept going as the album went on. In addition to the fantastic rhythm, there are catchy melodies that had me singing along in a language that I barely have a vocabulary of 50 words in, none of which were in the song.
  This is a thoroughly enjoyable record with a lot of dynamics and many different timbres for your ears to delight in. Besides the aforementioned horns, there are a variety of percussion instruments, background vocals and 12 string guitars. All of them sound perfect where they are placed.
  Though the song has nothing to do with the coffee shop, I have to love a CD that has a song entitled "Ruta Maya." Maybe for their next album they could follow up with a tune called "Spiderhouse."
  
  8.5 Daisy Stars
  
  Daisy's Favorite Lyric: In the eyes of Noah, there was room enough for you and me

• Texas Platters by Thomas Fawcett [+ Show ]
  

  El Tule Volumen 1 Many songs from El Tule's debut, Volumen 1, begin as traditional salsa and cum...El Tule
  Volumen 1
  
  Many songs from El Tule's debut, Volumen 1, begin as traditional salsa and cumbia tunes, but more often than not, the Austin sixpiece takes delightful and unexpected detours along the way, dipping in pools of funk, reggae, rock, and psychedelia. The stunning "Media Noche" slowly builds from a slinky groove into a dreamy magical carpet ride full of wandering guitars and brooding horns, while the more traditional "El Chupacabra" adds another chapter to the lore of the mythical and mysterious goat-sucking beast. The group takes tradition seriously but isn't afraid to add a hard funk edge to a song honoring the indigenous past of Mexico ("Ruta Maya"). The reggae-infused "Eyes of Noah" doesn't quite hit the mark but demonstrates the group's impressive versatility. The title suggests this is only the beginning for El Tule.
  
  ***

• Netamente Bailable!
  

  Netamente Bailable!

Setlist

La Sirena
La Guera
El Chupacabra
Media Noche
Tres Viudas
Eyes of Noah
Working Man's Cumbia
Devil's Backbone
Silver and Gold
La Botano
Mi Nino

Sets: 1 to 2 hours
Covers: Some Latin Standards

Basic Requirements

Calendar