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From their birth on the mean streets of New York,
King Chango (named for the Afro-Cuban god of drums and thunder) quickly
leaped to the top of Latin rock's international heap with their 1996
self-titled “masterpiece” debut on Luaka Bop. Their mix of hard-charging
ska, Latin rhythm, and roots reggae converted virgin audiences from
Venezuela to Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Denmark, Japan - and everywhere in
between - into true believers.
King Chango pays tribute to another Latin bruiser (Mexico's
masked-warrior wrestling superstar) on their second release “Return of
El Santo.” Leaner and meaner, streetwise and funky, “El Santo” manages
to make the sonic free-for-all of hit debut single "Melting Pot" seem
tame. Chango leads the vanguard of a post modern, mix-n-match aesthetic
- this multicultural, coed band of Venezuelans, Asian, Dominican,
Filipino and Afro-American Nuyoricans! have created something truly
exciting and new out of traditional music from mariachi to mambo, dub to
cumbia. With roots, rock, trip-hop dubadelica, sexy love ballads and
full bore punk attacks, King Chango is ready to put your head in a
figure-four ear-lock and set your body rockin’.
King Chango are Latin party animals out to convert you. The “high energy
blitz” of their live show finds impromptu moshers “whipping themselves
into a lather.” “You gotta be doing something right when you can keep a
crowd of all ages and persuasions jumping around for an hour and a half
in a blissful state - fresh, invigorating.” Enthusiastic cheers hail a
“masterful job of working the crowd.”
The band believes that the diversity of styles and cultures in their
music is exciting and breeds mutual respect and tolerance. It leads you
into multicultural music history, politics and revolución and its
powerhouse delivery will have you on the edge of your seat if you
weren’t already out of it and on the dance floor. Led by the spirited
“Blanquito Man” (Venezuelan Andrew Blanco), the band wants only one
thing at their shows – for their audiences to have a good time! Says
Blanquito Man, “It’s about making people feel. The beauty of King Chango
is that we are a band that is 100% from the heart.”
Says Andrew, “I don’t only represent Latin American culture. To me the
culture that we represent is African culture. That’s where all our music
comes from.” Songwriter Blanco blends the languages in his lyrics. He
crosses between Spanish and English very naturally, especially when he
can’t quite find the word he needs or wants a stronger rhyme. He will
switch back and forth in the same way he and his neighbors do in
everyday speech. The lyrics emerge strong and meaningful although the
primary function is for dance music. He credits his Venezuelan
upbringing and exposure to all kinds of music for opening his
perspective. With the high-stepping “Blanquito Man” at the center of the
action, his brother, Luis “Negrito Man” Blanco, Luis Ruiz, and Glenda
Lee (the awesome chick on bass) complete the core of the group.
King Chango’s frenzied blend of dub, ska and Latin rhythms, their
philosophy and joyful, mixed cultural perspective teamed with their
equally energetic stage antics have dazzled audiences and music critics
around the world. They have ignited audiences in countless clubs
throughout the US and at dozens of prestigious music festivals including
New York City’s Central Park Summerstage, Reggae on the Rocks (Denver),
Clinton’s inaugural ball, Miami’s world famous Calle Ocho Festival and
two appearances at Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle). They knocked the
Aussies out at the Perth International Arts Festival and the Sydney
Festival and have played most major European music festivals: Roskilde
Festival (Denmark), Summer Jam in Cologne (Germany), Parkpop (the Hague,
Netherlands), Doctorfestival in Spain and Ruisrock in Finland - and
more! Consistently topping charts in Venezuela, The Changos have
headlined at every major music venue in that country and remain in
constant demand. |
