]
Singer-songwriter Nancy Sanchez is a bilingual jazz musician nominated in that genre's category. Signa has a solid rock en español
sound with spiritually-minded lyrics. ¡Aparato! is,
of course, the innovative jarocho-rock band fronted by one of OC's
sexiest people of 2011, Nancy “Cat” Mendez. Taller Sur has been a five-year
local mainstay of Latin American-influenced trova music.
As the OCMA's “Best Latin” category had featured many of the same
nominated bands for the past two years, 2011's fresh crop of first time-nominees was a pleasant surprise to all. “It was pretty exciting,”
Signa singer and rhythm guitarist Beto Gudiño noted. “My friend Abel
Muñoz, who plays bass in our band, gave me the news. I was thankful that
we were considered. It was nice, man.”
Taller Sur co-founder Ruby Castellanos had a similar response. “I
didn't really think we would be nominated, because I didn't even know
there was a 'Best Latin' category,” she said. “I was under the impression
that people had to submit their work. It was a nice and pleasant surprise
to see that we were making enough noise for people to start listening.”
A singer and multi-instrumentalist in her band, Castellanos was the
common link that helped organize the nominees together. “I'm out
and about a lot. I've known Beto of Signa for a couple of years. His
band opened up for Hello Seahorse! at the Detroit Bar recently and we
got to talking about our nominations,” she said. “Nancy Sanchez I met at
Revolución in Fullerton. We went to play in support of an art event and
exchanged CDs. I first met Cat through her old band Mystery Hangup.” Castellanos is also quick to note with pride that three of
the five nominated bands prominently feature women singer-songwriters –
all of whom (Nancy Sanchez, Taller Sur, ¡Aparato!) found themselves in the printed pages of the Weekly last year!
Now that the “Best Latin” musicians have banded together for a
special showcase at Santa Ana's The American Barbershop, they promise more than just good music. “First of all, it's going to be fun,” Gudiño says. “There's going to be different
bands and styles. There will be a spirit of unity.” Castellanos also notes
that the effort lends itself to a brighter future beyond the OCMA's. “If
we don't have bands that we can play with here in OC, then we have to
bring musicians down from Los Angeles to fill a show,” she says. She and her musical compatriots see this event as an opportunity to construct a more cohesive local Latin
Alternative scene here at home.
There are even rehearsals going on now to crystallize that sentiment
within the Santa Ana concert itself. “There might be some
cross-collaborative efforts at the show,” Castellanos hints, musing once more about possibilities to come.
“I hope this will be a good start overall to begin performing, playing and sharing a stage together.”
¡Aparato!, Taller Sur, Signa, and Nancy Sanchez perform at The American
Barber Shop, 320 E. 4th St. Santa Ana, Sat., Feb. 26th, 9 p.m. $10
suggested donation.
Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!