The Spanish-language music press is abuzz with news of a confirmed Caifanes reunion in 2011. The legendary rock en español band from Mexico City have made amends after 15 years apart, as they get set to perform at the huge Vive Latino outdoor music festival in the D.F. on April 9.
Tensions between singer Saúl Hernández and guitarist Alejandro Marcovich dissolved Caifanes in 1995—after they had crafted some of the most memorable songs of an emerging Mexican rock scene. Hernández continued performing without Marcovich in a refitted version of the band, Jaguares. The two have now apparently smoothed things over and are ready to reemerge in a major way, joining forces to appear on the festival bill with the likes of Los Enanitos Verdes, Enjambre, The Chemical Brothers, Carla Morrison and more.
The Caifanes reunion could also be a major centerpiece in next year’s anticipated lineup for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. A new website, Caifanes2011.com, shows two concert dates on its front page: One is for the Mexico City fest, while the other simply reads, “Indio.”
Although a fake lineup has already been released for Coachella, it’s fun to speculate the Caifanes reunion will be headed for a massive north-of-the-border festival. From a Dec. 15 Heard Mentality blog post by Gabriel San Roman.
THE FLING SIGN TO DANGERBIRD RECORDS
The new year looks bright for The Fling: The Long Beach psychedelic rockers have announced a record deal with indie powerhouse Dangerbird Records, adding an eclectic, folksy sound to the label’s diverse roster. The LA-based Dangerbird will release the band’s sophomore album this spring.
This year, the Fling released their first full-length, When the Madhouses Appear, and they just wrapped up a multistate tour with labelmates Darker My Love and The Delta Spirit. They’re also set to play a January residency at Spaceland in Silver Lake—a gig that has springboarded acts such as Beck and Foo Fighters to success. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for a tour stop in Orange County. From a Dec. 16 post by Taylor Hamby.
THE KWOTABLE KOTTONMOUTH KINGS
A self-described “rip-hop” outfit from Placentia, Kottonmouth Kings have spent their decade-plus-long career exalting the marijuana plant as if it were some kind of sacrament. In advance of one of their seasonal “Jingle Bowls” shows at the Grove of Anaheim, front man Brad “Daddy X” Xavier and member/producer DJ Bobby B spoke to the Weekly about the band’s most beloved subject. They offered this highly (sorry) appropriate response to a question about their favorite stoner flicks:
Daddy X: I like, uh, man . . . Bobby, what would you say are some good stoner movies that you like to watch when you’re baked?
Bobby B: Half Baked, the Dave Chappelle movie.
[Pause and chatter]
Daddy X: He actually said, “We’re too stoned to come up with a good answer.” From a Dec. 17 post by Reyan Ali.
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