L@s Cafeter@s

Brooklyn and Boyle Article on L@s Cafeter@s
Current mood: artistic
Brooklyn and Boyle Current Issue 1, Volume 6
L@s Cafeter@s Live for Son
2009 August 13
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By Kristopher Fortin
Jaranas and requintos hang over L@s Cafeter@s band members’ shoulders as they huddle together, arms connected like chain-links, outside of La Cita bar on a Wednesday night for the last time after their two-week residency there. A few band members admit they are nervous, tuning their instruments, as other members begin speaking in the band’s circle. They comfort one another because they are like family, and son jarocho, a traditional folk music originally from Vera Cruz, Mexico, is nothing if not a family affair most often handed down from parents to children.
“We are playing for our sisters, mothers, dads, and brothers,” says Hector Flores, a Cafetero. According to him, the band uses the “@” sign in its name to reflect both the male and female members of the group in a single, catch-all spelling.
L@s Cafeter@s perform son jarocho as a way to build community, to raise funds for the Eastside Café, an El Sereno-based community center and to share a little known cultural legacy. As one of the youngest and newest bands to come out of the son jarocho tradition, they are unrivaled in their enthusiasm to teach and perform.
On the last night of their running gig at La Cita on Hill and ..
2nd St.
.. in the heart of dowtown LA, they are visibly excited. It is a watershed moment for a band that began by playing at community events, private homes and at marches.
L@s Cafeter@s took shape from the son jarocho classes that were begun three years ago at the Eastside Café. Through the son jarocho classes the students bonded with one another, said Angela Flores, one of the two teachers in the first class and a current Cafetera. The Santa Ana-based group Son Del Centro, Angela added, encouraged the Eastside students to play at fandangos, a traditional freestyle son jarocho party.
“Once we hit two years, we [saw] that we were getting better… so we knew we should try teaching other people how to play,” ..Flores.. said.
The collective eventually gathered enough experience to take over son jarocho classes at Eastside Cafe, and they eventually even presided over classes at Tia Chucha’s in the ..San Fernando Valley...
Las Cafeteras’ popularity has expanded through social network sites and connections within the Latino and activist communities. Taking their name from the Eastside Cafe where they originated, the band taught son jarocho while developing a repertoire for themselves. After two years of work as instructors, the collective began playing at houses, with other more experienced groups and musicians.
While not a requirement, all of the band members have made at least one trip to Vera Cruz, Mexico, to soak up the music in it’s indigenous home.
“When I’m around the music, I don’t need anything else,” says Christina Torres, who plays the jarana and marimbol in addition to contributing vocals.
All the band members are college graduates, and they all consider themselves Chicanos.
The band fluctuated from nine to 12 members, but now only jarochos that help with classes can play on the stage. That separated the band, which now is made of nine members, and occasionally increases and decreases in its size.
“When you walk in, create, and organize something, you are a cafetero,” Angela said.
“People who come in and out, we still embrace them. It’s about people owning that space and people feeling that they own it,” she adds.
Clapping, and chants of “otra, otra, otra” from the crowd urge Las Cafeteras on, and the close with “La Bamba.”
“Thank you for sharing your energy with us,” Denise Carlos says
As the song begins, jarochos file out, some with jaranas, a few with requintos. With thunderous stums and stomping the twenty or more musicians enraptured the stage and dance floor, with music and harmony.
“Once a Cafetera always a Cafetera,” Hector adds.
- Kristopher Fortin

Article available on web page. - Victoria Garcia

Excerpts: "Keeping with the Latin theme was Las Cafeteras, named after their community center in East Los Angeles. What amazing group of people. Guitar, marimba, cajon, and Southern Veracruz dancing. Here’s a band that their families must be proud of, reviving Latin music and culture through their excitement and youth. At this point everyone came out of their shells. The room was alive with music and everyone was busting a move, swinging a partner around. The crowd and the band showed appreciation for one another. Friends joined Las Cafeteras for a closing cover of “La Bamba.”
Full Article as follows:
FEATHERBEARD + ADANOWSKY + LAS CAFETERAS + HE’S MY BROTHER SHE’S MY SISTER + AMANDA JO WILLIAMS @ BOOTLEG THEATER
October 6th, 2010 · No Comments

I’ve really been enjoying going to The Bootleg Theater lately. They have a nice outdoor patio, good sound, and kind lighting. While they only serve beer and wine I feel that helps keep the crowd tame and somewhat sophisticated rather than loud and tanked. Usually a five band bill is a lot to digest but the theme of the night kept everyone entertained. Updated styles of American and Latin folk brought a diverse crowd together.

The evening opened up with a group that sounded like a bunch Bohemian Flapper Hippies, Featherbeard. When Featherbeard is on stage he’s neither man, nor beard, nor bird. Well, than what is he exactly? That I’m not sure of, but I feel confident he’s part of Mother Nature’s militia singing songs of friendship, love, and trees with a quirky Devandra Banhart vibe. Wearing a beautiful headpiece and a beard of feathers, Featherbeard was accompanied by friends on percussion, upright bass, and guitar keeping the audience still, silent, and in humorous smiles.

Latin heartthrob Adanowsky was next to the stage joined by his friend Max Sokolinski of Sweaters on guitar. Adanowsky peformed an acoustic set singing en Espanol and had a swooning front row of ladies enchanted under his spell. You could tell he was a real treat for fans scattered throughout the crowd. Adanowsky would boast “Thank you all for being so quiet and listening. I flew all the way from Mexico to be here today.” At the end of his set he was cheered on for an encore, a sight not seen too often for an opening act.

Keeping with the Latin theme was Las Cafeteras, named after their community center in East Los Angeles. What amazing group of people. Guitar, marimba, cajon, and Southern Veracruz dancing. Here’s a band that their families must be proud of, reviving Latin music and culture through their excitement and youth. At this point everyone came out of their shells. The room was alive with music and everyone was busting a move, swinging a partner around. The crowd and the band showed appreciation for one another. Friends joined Las Cafeteras for a closing cover of “La Bamba.”

By the end of the Las Cafeteras set, the room was packed for the anticipated performance of He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister… Brother and Sister, Robert (of Lemon Sun) & Rachel Kolar with Lauren Brown & guest drummer Orpheo McCord (of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros) and cellist Satya Bhabha celebrated the release of the band’s new self-titled EP, and last homebase show before leaving on tour with Edward Sharpe. Their set had a great flow from begining to end, keeping everyone in the audience dancing and singing. He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister reminded me of The Mama And The Papas. What I really like about this band is Brown tap dancing, using her feet as an instrument. Hopefully a new phenomenon is starting. The crowd went wild for their amazing cover of Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants.”

Surprisingly the crowd got a little lighter after their set, which I find shocking. Who doesn’t want dessert after dinner? Amanda Jo Williams was just that. Pretty much envision the best ice cream sundae party you’ve ever been to and then all of your friends laughing and spraying whipped cream everywhere. Sounds like a party right? Amanda Jo Williams is a quirky, hip, country Georgia peach. Amanda Jo plays guitar and kick drum while friends join her on percussion, guitar, and upright bass. She sings songs about being a country girl, getting sick and dying, and bears eating her. Watching Amanda Jo Williams live and joining the country tribal dance circle is pretty much a therapeutic experience. Her lyrics are infectious and so off the wall that your own crazy thoughts start to become sane. A must see! With band members named 5-Track and Feather, Amanda Jo Williams seems almost like a superhero, building our heart rates one song at a time! Knowing how hard it is to put a show together I was really thankful for this wonderful night out.

—Rebecca Balin

Category: Live reviews
Tags: · adanowsky, bootleg theater, featherbeard, hes my brother shes my sister, LARECORD, las cafeteras, live review, rebecca balin - Rebecca Balin