Posted onNovember 1, 2021|Comments Off on La Fiebre On the AC Cruz Podcast
The Monsters of Tejano Rock. The Pride of Pasadena. And now, the Latin Grammy-nominated. Those are a few descriptors for Tejano legends, La Fiebre.
Riding high with the release of their album, Historico, and a single that continues to top various Tejano charts, Cuidala, La Fiebre is getting ready attend the Latin Grammys later this year. The legendary radio personality and music promoter, AC Cruz, got them into his studio (virtually) for an interview.
Within a 30 minute platica, AC and Luis, Joe, Rudy and the guys go through some Tejano music history, La Fiebre’s start as a garage rock band, their 90s tours with other big name bands, and the story behind their biggest radio hit, Borracho De Besos. All this and more about their Latin Grammy-nominated album. Give it a listen here.
And make sure to listen to all of AC’s interviews, including talks with Abraham Quintanilla regarding his recent book.
Posted onOctober 16, 2021|Comments Off on Tacho’s Sabado Playlist
Time to load up that playlist, again. There are some new singles that will soon be inching up the charts in the Tejano genre. Here are a few.
Jay Perez – Para Volvernos Amar – This tune is a soon-to-be Joe Revelez penned classic. Perez’s soaring vocals, particularly during the chorus, are exceptional. His musicians provide a fat bass line and a classic sound that Perez has stuck with throughout his solo career. Give it a listen. The R&B harmonies are amazing, too.
Chente Barrera – Senorita Cantinera – As previously posted, Chente recently released an homenaje to the legendary Primo, Roberto Pulido y Los Clasicos. All those Pulido classics some of enjoyed on our sister’s 8-track player are on this release. And Senorita Cantinera is still a classic as Chente powers through through highs, much like Pulido did in the 70s.
La Fiebre – Cuidala – I had previously added this one to the playlist, but now, it has an on official video from Freddie Records. With it’s tough horns, melodic acordeon, and that sweet rhythm guitar, it’s a tune worthy of a Latin Grammy nom. And the whole album was nominated. Check out the vid.
Posted onSeptember 29, 2021|Comments Off on Latin Grammy Tejano Noms Are Out
On page 19 of 36 of the press release, one will find the nominees for Best Tejano Album for 22nd Annual Latin Grammys. Some of the nominees I have heard of, others not so much. I had to test out the music to see if they fit the definition of Tejano. Here are the noms:
El Plan – Pa’ La Pista y Pal Pisto. El Plan appears to be a Monterrey-based band which gives its own sabor to la music Tejana. In fact, Monterrey loves Tejano and brings the best bands to perform at some of their major clubs. A sample of El Plan’s abilities include a medley collab with Bobby Pulido of hits La Rosa and Flecha Envenenanda. Good job.
Ram Herrera – Back on Track. Ram Herrera’s newest project has had quite a few singles, including Te Traicione and Tu Eres. Also included is a remake of his David Lee Garza-era hit, Especialmente Para Ti. It’s a pretty good album that keeps one on their toes. Produced under an indy label, Ram stays committed to an ever-evolving style that put him on the map in the 80s.
La Fiebre – Historico. Based at Freddie Records, the Pride of Pasadena, TX, La Fiebre, is one of the 90s hey-day Tejano hair bands that can still rock a joint. Seriously, some of their tunes can put a rock band to shame with their tough sound. Historico is a well-produced album that experiments with different sounds–rock, Tejano, conjunto, cumbia–all with a big horn-based sound. Two hit singles include Cuidala and Mendigo.
Solido – Incomparable. I would have expected Solido to be in the Regional Mexican category because of their accordian-based music. But, whatever. They are here and they have a strong sound that is reproduced live quite well. Hits on this album include Todavia No Sabe and Si Fuera Facil. The album is produced under the Good I Record label, owned by the good folks at Grupo Intocable.
Vilax – Un Beso Es Suficiente. Now, Vilax I had never heard of, but with a combo of keyboard, bajo sexto, and acordeon, as well as a female vocalist, they may have gotten into the genre under the radar. The title track is a standard cumbia, but a recent ranchera single, a collab of a tune of music’s past, with Alicia Sifuentes, Cosas Del Amor, has a Norteño sound and not even close to Tejano. But I don’t work at the Latin Grammys, and the debate about what constitutes Tejano has a mind of its own.
Click on the links for the songs on youtube.
At this point, I’m rooting for La Fiebre and Ram, with El Plan as honorable mention for a good effort by a Monterrey-based band attempting Tejano-stylings. La Fiebre’s is a full-fledged and professional production that seems to have pulled out all the stops in the studio. Ram Herrera’s is a truly Tejano production that gives one that vibe one feels dancing vueltas at a local ballroom where Tejano music has its roots.
For true Tejano fans, the debates will continue. Perhaps the Grammy folks need to listen before they kill the genre.
Posted onJuly 24, 2021|Comments Off on The Newest in Tejano Music
Obviously, if you need the best day-to-day news about Tejano music and culture, you should visit Tejano Nation. But I have my favorites, too, and some of those faves have been releasing new material. Here are a few that hit my radar (and Spotify playlist):
Jay Perez – The Voice is back with an amazing production, El Maestro. Along with that voice is a team of musicians and songwriters who helped put together something to enjoy from start to finish. The first single, Eres, is a Perez-penned tune that keeps that legacy sound we all expect. Cumbias, like Mi Duena and Aun Te Extrano give Perez a whole new dimension, but it is Norteno-lite tunes like Juan Trevino’s Ya Se Fue and Entiendo that will surely expand his audience into Mexico. My fave, though, is the Joe Revelez-composed Para Volvernos Amar, with Jay’s soaring vocals. It’s a must-have!
La Fiebre – Speaking of legacy sound, The Pride of Pasadena continues to offer up that rock-tinged Tejano sound with Historico. The trumpets are as strong as ever, backed up by strong bass lines, guitar rhythms and powerful drumming. The first single, Mendigo, written by the legend Freddie Martinez, Sr., gives you that Borracho de Besos feel, while their newest single, Cuidala, takes you back to that No Cure era where the sound really took off. Cumbias like Mira, with its rock guitar and soaring trumpets should definitely become a crowd favorite.
Gary Hobbs, David Marez, Joe Posada – Onda Chicana big band, La 45 (produced by Mike Torres, III and John Ontiveros) back up three vocal legends of la Onda Tejana on this Hector Gutierrez-penned tune, Querida. Each voice has its own quality that, when put together, creates something special. The only question: Where’s the rest of the album and tour? And, yes, Posada provides some excellent sax riffs and solos.
Shelly Lares – What is said to be her final album as she heads into retirement, LMD82 celebrates Lares’ 40 years in La Onda Tejana. Little Miss Dynamite explodes with some horn-driven rancheras and cumbias. Salsipuedes spent most of the pandemic earning airplay, as well as Por Amor. Enamorada, though, seems to be my fave. The album offers up multiple samples of her genre-defying versatility, including a duet with David Marez (Mi Persona Favorita) and a quartet, the mariachi-backed, Nada De Ti, featuring Lares and up and coming female vocalists, Sonja de la Paz, Monica Saldivar, and Demmi Garcia. The newest trio-version of Mil Besos is a treat, too. In conclusion, Don’t Retire Shelly!
All of these are available on all platforms, but give a musician a lift and buy the tunes!
Posted onMarch 22, 2018|Comments Off on DC on Tejano Nation
Every now and then I get a bit jaded and annoyed with the whiny-ness in politics, so, I seek out music to soothe me. I was happy to submit a couple of music reviews to Tejano Nation last week. Go check them out.
doscentavos.net 
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