Von Army

“Von Army”
Von Army
Studio M Records
The next generation in the Emilio Navaira dynasty is not following the expected Tejano path. Instead Emilio IV and brother Diego Navaira are diverting from papa Emilio’s popular Tejano and carving out their own guitar-driven rock style. What? Yes, it’s no surprise that every generation seeks its own identity. This collection of original 10-tracks sounds like a musical stew with spices of Sammy Hager, Van Halen, and a little U2. Van Halen fans will like the tracks “Monster,” “Burning Sky” and “The Wild.” The boys also pay tribute to the Kinks on the classic “All Day and All of the Night,” and give it a new energized reading by applying a Police/Yes filter.
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--Ramiro Burr - Ramiro Burr

San Antonio Express-News - Who knew Tejano superstar Emilio Navaira secretly wanted to be the David Lee Roth of Tejano?

That goes a long way in explaining the cool Van Halen influences in his teenage sons' rock band, Von Army.

"The whole reason that we're Van Halen nuts is because of him," said Emilio Navaira III. "I know that he wanted to be the Spanish version David Lee Roth onstage. He's still the only Tejano artist I've ever seen do the splits onstage."

Von Army – which includes Emilio III on drums, his younger brother Diego on lead guitar and lead vocals and cousins bassist Sean Gamboa and guitarist Shane Gamboa — plays at Jack's Patio Bar Friday night at midnight.

And if you just can't wait for their official CD release next week, the self-titled album produced by Ron and Michael Morales at Studio M will be available at the gig.

The album project began two years ago, but was delayed because of their father's catastrophic accident on Easter morning 2008, in which he suffered a severe head injury. They worked on the record after their father stabilized after multiple surgeries.

"We're excited about it," said Navaira, 19. "But the stuff feels really old. The whole thing with my dad resulted in us stopping the project and started doing stuff with the family."

The drummer explained that the Von Army album is a bit of a two-headed monster, with earlier songs having a retro '80s Van Halen vibe and later material leaning toward modern rock like "Worship You," "The Wind" and "Monster."

"That's really the way we want to go," he said.

But Von Army doesn't stray too far afield from what fans like. These days it's closer to "Foo Fighters-meet-Van Halen" modern rock.

Emilio III and Diego (who often spend hours in the studio singing Beatles songs) recently helped their uncle Raul Navaira record a solo album, "Simplemente Raulito Por Mientras." "We're very close," said Navaira.

Von Army's lyrics deal with love.

"They're love songs," said Navaira. "I've never been the kind of person that could write a song about (heavy topics). I don't think people would take me seriously writing about world issues."

The boys' famous father gives them advice and praise. "He's been saying the record is awesome. He really likes the record," said Navaira. "But when he was coming to the studio before (the accident), he was really concerned that we didn't have a single on it. He's very critical of us, which is good. We need someone like that."

Emilio III said his recuperating father is singing a bit at home.

"We have a little studio at the house. He goes in there on his own. It sounds great. It sounds like him. It's crazy."

Find more news, concert info and updates in the Latin Notes Now blog at mySA.com. Keyword: Entertainment
- San Antonio Express News