Kesta Happening Magazine: December 2013 by Kesta Happening

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

December TABLE OF CONTENTS

7 GYPSY PUNK Gogol Bordello

8 REGGAETON Ñengo Flow

9 URBAN

ISSUE # 33

J-Balvin

12 TROPICAL N Klabe

ROMANTIC

Amor a la música concert

13 LATIN JAZZ Sofia Rei

14 KESTADC.COM GALLERY

Photos of concerts and DC nightlife

15 UPCOMING EVENTS

Calendar of upcoming events

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GYPSY PUNK

18 FEATURED

2013 Highlights

21 FAMILY

Sesame Street Live

23 FOOD

Oyamel Restaurant

By: Kala Fryman

In order to understand what Gogol Bordello and the “immigrant gypsy punk” mindset is, one must first understand frontman Eugene Hütz. Hütz and his family initially fled Kiev in 1986 after the Chernobyl disaster and for political reasons. The local police and KGB threatened Hütz’s father, a rock fan and guitarist in the 70s, enough to eventually file for asylum. After fleeing Kiev, Hütz spent a year living with his grandmother’s clan of Roma gypsies in Western Ukraine; an experience that still fuels his passion

to fight for Romani rights and spread gypsy culture to a wider audience. The time spent exploring his gypsy roots thus commenced a five-year odyssey that took Hütz and his family to refugee camps throughout Poland, Hungary, Austria and Italy; finally ending in Burlington, VT in 1992. Hütz began his musical career in the Ukraine as a teenager, and was very influenced by Russo-Ukrainian rock and punk. True to his roots, Hütz is a gifted storyteller and most of Gogol Bordello’s work feels like a story more than just a song. One can imagine these “stories” being passed from one gypsy caravan to another; from one country to another; from one language to another. It’s not unusual to hear Hütz switch languages from line to line in one given song; broken English coexists with Ukrainian, Russian, Spanish, Italian and much more. Upon Hütz’s move to New York City, Gogol Bordello formed in 1999. The members of Gogol Bordello are also extremely diverse and come from various linguistic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Current and past members have ranged from Russians to Chinese and an Ecuadorian member, with this diversity celebrated in the band’s music and

performances. Though Gogol Bordello’s style is referred to as gypsy punk, they blend this with other influences such as dub and world folk music. More than that, this assortment of characters intentionally challenges the notion of things that separate us- borders, language, culture and race to come together in a delightfully chaotic unity. The band’s mission states, “From where we stand, it is clear that the world’s cultures contain material for endless art possibilities and new mindstretching combinations; raw joy and survival energy.” After forming in 1999, Gogol Bordello released its first album, Voi-la Intruder later that year. Since then, the band has produced 8 albums. Hütz and the band have also appeared in several documentaries and films; most notably the 2005 release of “Everything is illuminated.” Though the band began recording in 1999, their popularity skyrocketed with 2005’s Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike and even more so with the following album, Super Taranta! which was rated #14 on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 albums of 2007. With songs like “Immigrant Punk,” “Start Wearing Purple” and “Ultimate,” Gogol Bordello began to earn recognition as one

Gogol Bordello has embarked on yet another extensive world tour, and is known for their intense, energetic and unique live shows. Seeing Gogol Bordello is more than a concert; it’s an experience. Don’t miss a chance to catch the gypsy punks here in DC! The Gogol Bordello caravan is rolling into town for two shows at the 9:30 Club on December 27th and 28th. Tickets and more info can be found at www.ticketfly.com. █

24 INSPIRATIONAL Brandon Benavides

27 KESTA ASKS Santa list

LOVE ADVICE

Love, dating & relationship advice

28 KESTA GIRL

Kesta Girls of 2013

29 STYLE

Holiday Wishlist

30 KESTA EPIC PICS

Some of our favorite pics of the month

32 KESTA NEW Los Bunkers

33 LOCAL TALENT

Elemento Music Band

ELECTRONIC

This month at Echostage

12 PUBLISHER: Media644.com / DIRECTOR: Juan Luis Gonzalez / EDITOR: Rosario Garcia / DESIGN: Miriam Jave WEB & TECHNOLOGY: Javier Gonzalez / WRITERS: Sarah Barrie, Malayna Butler, Darlene Campos, Eric Cortez, Ellen

Flores, Kala Fryman, Rosario Garcia, Daniela Guillen, Juan Leon, Manu Mayor, Elvis Rivas Echeverria

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Jose Acha, Jose Arrieta, William Espinoza, Miriam Jave, Daniel Martinez, Harold Reynold SALES: Jose Acha / INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? info@kestamag.com / tel: 202 643 0555

34 BOOK

“Del Pacífico al Atlántico”

35 ALBUM REVIEWS Bunbury & Zoé

36 KE PASÓ

N Klabe, & Angeles del Infierno

37 KE?

Win tickets to Sesame Street Live & Cultura Profética

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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

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GYPSY PUNK

By: Kala Fryman

s a student of Russian language and obsessed with Romani gypsy culture, I was hooked the second I heard the raucous accordion, crashing violin and brass in “Sally” from the album Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike. Even still this song brings the taste of good vodka and pickled herring to my mouth and makes me want to get up and dance like crazy. One of the things that drew me to Gogol Bordello and has kept me as a fan is the flawless mix of world music, culture and art. Gogol Bordello does not simply experiment with other styles and sounds; the eclectic mix IS their style and sound. In order to understand what Gogol Bordello and the “immigrant gypsy punk” mindset is, one must first understand frontman Eugene Hütz. Hütz and his family initially fled Kiev in 1986 after the Chernobyl disaster and for political reasons. The local police and KGB threatened Hütz’s father, a rock fan and guitarist in the 70s, enough to eventually file for asylum. After fleeing Kiev, Hütz spent a year living with his grandmother’s clan of Roma gypsies in Western Ukraine; an experience that still fuels his passion

of the world’s most visionary bands. The 2010 release of Trans-Continental Hustle was heavily inspired by Hütz’s move to Brazil and has some of the strongest lyrics touching on the immigrant experience. In particular, “Immigraniada ( We Comin’ Rougher)” has a sentiment that no matter what, you can’t stop this process of world citizenship and transient migration. The band’s latest album, Pura Vida Conspiracy does not disappoint and calls listeners to rise together, reexamine the past and create a better future. Since its creation, Gogol Bordello has stayed true to its mission and desire; yet still manages to surprise and charm fans with each new release. Gogol Bordello has embarked on yet another extensive world tour, and is known for their intense, energetic and unique live shows. Seeing Gogol Bordello is more than a concert; it’s an experience. Don’t miss a chance to catch the gypsy punks here in DC! The Gogol Bordello caravan is rolling into town for two shows at the 9:30 Club on December 27th and 28th. Tickets and more info can be found at www.ticketfly.com. █

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REGGEATON

/ DECEMBER

2013

mask representative of the logo of the aforementioned “Real G4 Life” movement. Ñengo, also known as “El Producto Más Caro” and as a “Real Gangster for Life” seems to be an avid collector of tattoos. A YouTube video shows him in preparation as he gets a tattoo of the Joker on his abdomen. You hear him belt out an imitation of the joker’s laugh, he’s a pro at it and you can hear this from time to time in the background of his music.

By: Malayna Butler

” While his first album “Flow Callejero” was released in 2005, he has laid down tracks on countless mixtapes and has appeared on numerous compilation albums including “Hector El Bambino Presenta Los Anormales” (2004), “Sangre Nueva” (2005) and “Abusando del Género” (2006). His albums that peaked among Billboard’s Top 100 Latin Albums are “Real G4 Life: Part 2” and “Real G4 Life Baby: Part 2.5” (2012).If six degrees of separation is a rule, all paths in the genre of reggaeton must inevitably lead to Ñengo Flow. The artist, who was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico and grew up in Bayamon and took an interest in the genre at age 14, has collaborated with a variety of reggaeton and rap artists including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Julio Voltio, Ivy Queen, Plan B, Arcangel, Farruko, De La Ghetto, Yomo and Yaga and Mackie. His music is influenced by street life and personal experiences. A video produced for “Real G4 Life Volume

2, Chapter 1” is shot like a film short and strives to depict his biography. It begins with text that narrates: “It was the summer of 1986 when Edwin Rosa dreamed that someday he would be the spokesperson for the streets of Puerto Rico and the world... 20 years later… Thousands of people worldwide identify with his movement for supreme power called REALG4LIFE… And at his young age he has started a movement that will change the world, because the idea is not to be street, it’s to live as a Real G4 Life… The Empire”. On Daddy Yankee’s album “Prestige” (2012) after a roll call by DY himself, Ñengo is first up to bat, laying a solid foundation for the track “Llegamos A La Disco” followed by Arcangel, Baby Rasta y Gringo, Farruko, De La Ghetto, Alex Kyza and Kendo Kaponi (2011). The following is a taste of Nengo’s flow, “Seguimos encendio/ Las gatas quieren fuego/Y tú bien sabes que ya yo no estoy pa juegos/Seguimos encendio/Las gatas quieren fuego/Un poco de candela y despues nos vemos”. In the video, Ñengo is seen shirtless with many tattoos, stands in front of a candy apple red Jeep Wrangler and wears a gas

There are two sides to every story and although his image is usually hard and tough, some of his songs offer a glimpse into the softer side. “No Dice Na” is a love song in which he wants to get his love back and doesn’t know when he’ll see her again. You hear him say, “Me miro pero no dice na’ (Mami)/y ahora me dice que tu amor se fue (Porque)/Vivo sufriendo por que tu no estas/y con las ganas de volverte a ver dime cuando va’ a volver ma’…” In “Sentimientos de un Gangster” he relates, “Quien dijo que un gangster de la calle no ama/Y ni se enamora /Dicen que no tenemos sentimientos /Pero enamorado me siento.” Other songs in which he’s struck by cupid’s arrow are “Sigue Viajando” and “En Las Noches Frías”. It appears that Edwin Laureano Rosa Vazquez Ortiz has been pretty busy this year. To date he has released over 21 songs in which he was the principle or featured artist, according to one source. Among these tracks are “Todo Gucci” (De La Ghetto), “Me Niegas Remix” (Baby Rasta & Gringo and Jory), “Vuelve El Leon” ft. Tempo, “Con La Luz del Sol ( JP El Sinico), Bella K

(with J King and Maximan), “Conocerte Por Dentro” (Gama La Sensa), “Pum Pum” (Farina), “Nunca Te Olvidé” (I-Majesty), “Deja Tu Película” (Montana, Ñejo, Franco El Gorila, J Alvarez, Maximus Wel, and Chris G) and “Hagamos el Amor” (Magnate & Valentino). His Twitter site recently promoted one of his latest releases “Aquí No Caben Los Cobardes” (“No Room for Cowards”). Also this year, Ñengo was seen on the red carpet at Premios Billboard for the first time and performed at a New York nightclub in which J Balvin and Jory Boy were also featured in addition to presenting at El Teatro Colonial en Argentina. “Soldado Callejero” is a track that he did with Nely “El Arma Secreta” who performed in August at Cococabana in Maryland and “Me Guayo” with Jowell y Randy and who also performed there in November. Get a firsthand look at the soundtrack of the streets when Ñengo himself performs at Cococabana on Friday, December 13. █

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URBAN

I’ll have to admit it, J Balvin sort of snuck up on me. I didn’t see him coming, although I’ve been keeping up with reggaetón and el genero urbano for years. The obsession started somewhere this summer when “Yo Te Lo Dije” hit my ears for the first time. I couldn’t tell at first if it was Arcangel, J Alvarez or Farruko but I knew that whoever it was I needed to download this song ASAP. It was an anthem, an irresistible tribute to “the eternal player” or “forever bachelor” that would never catch feelings, allowing a woman to clip his wings or strap him down. The message is similar to Daddy Yankee’s “Lo Que Pasó, Pasó” – we did our thing, we had our fun, let the drama go, it’s time to move on. J Balvin has

surely had his set of trials and tribulations although he is now becoming a household name in the House of Reggaetón.

posted a pic of his “hijo” on his Instagram and Twitter which was surprisingly his dog? How adorable!

While at an early age, he was attracted to music, taking an interest in rock primarily. After failing to launch a successful career in New York, where he gained fluency in English, he became exposed to hip-hop and urban sounds. J Balvin returned to Colombia and worked steadily to establish his career. He was Hip-Hop Freestyle Champion for 2 consecutive years at Dejavu Nightclub in New York. Labeled in 2010 by Daddy Yankee as “una promesa del genero urbano” and also named as one of People Magazine en Espanol’s “10 Grandes Artistas en la Categoria Urbana” he brings a lot to the game, including his undeniable sex-appeal. What is it about J Balvin that is makes him so enticing? Could it be his million dollar smile, model-like build or the luring deep, smooth and haunting voice? Could it be that he recently

Make no mistake, J Balvin “El Negocio” (his A.K.A.) is all about “The Business”. In fact, he studied for his bachillerato at El Gimnasio los Alcázares in Medellin, Colombia and dabbled in International Business for 7 semesters at la Universidad Eafit although he did not finish. He’s collaborated with a variety of reggaetoneros

and artists of other genres to build his audience. He joined Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams on the Latin American version of the hit “Blurred Lines,” and contributed Spanish vocals to Ariana Grande’s bilingual version of “My Way,” in addition to working with Jowell y Randy, Farruko, Alexis y Fido, J Alvarez, and Hector El Father. J Balvin’s most recent album “La Familia” released on October 29 has already gone Double Platinum according to Billboard. J Balvin, age 28, seems to be everywhere at once, nearly omnipresent. In addition to maintaining interaction and accessibility with fans through social media he tours

like a mad-man. As of the week of this article J Balvin was in Texas, Eastern Europe including Paris, tweeting from Singapore and headed to Australia, eventually destined to return back to the U.S. The stress of his rigorous schedule led to rumors of a nervous breakdown earlier this year that was reportedly being treated successfully. But who is J Balvin? “Yo Soy J Balvin/Y el resto tu lo sabes…” If you don’t’ know, you’d better ask somebody or ask J Balvin himself. In an interview, he shared that, “La música se hizo para pasarla bien y no quiero tocar ciertos temas que son álgidos. ¿Para qué nos vamos a complicar la vida? Cada quien tiene su posición política y religiosa. Eso es una cosa de cada quien. Lo que me interesa es llevar un buen mensaje y por eso tengo canciones como Seguiré subiendo, que es un tema social, en el que hablo sobre seguir los sueños.” If you’d like to get a crash course in J Balvin 101 and experience him for yourself, check out: “Tranquila,” “Sola,” “Yo Te Lo Dije,” “Sin Compromiso, “6 am,” and “En Lo Oscuro”. Or better yet, check out J Balvin live on January 10th at the Palace. Visit www.tickeri.com for tickets! █

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VALLENATO

/ DECEMBER

2013

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SALSA

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/ DECEMBER

2013

TROPICAL

ROMANTIC

IN | CARLOS VIVES EDNITA NAZARIO | RICKY MART ANER | LOS TEMERARIOS FRANCO DE VITA | RICARDO MONT

By: Manu Mayor

de Una Noche” with Julio Voltio and the one you all have heard, “I Love Salsa!”. Suddenly, salsa was back in business!

n and bachata in bigger and bigger numbers, the industry has wondered how much room is there left for salsa? Certainly, a few artists such as Marc Anthony and Victor Manuelle are still a huge draw, but the number of salsa acts capable of reaching a mass audience and sustaining that level of success is not encouraging. Enter N’Klabe. A group of young guys went back to Puerto Rico’s musical essence and against all trends, they started a salsa band. Led by Felix “Felo” Torres, N’Klabe started with traditional, but fastpaced salsa rhythms, delivered with a youthful attitude. The combination was a hit. Their first album could not have been more properly named for its time, “Salsa Contra Viento y Marea”. Seemingly overnight, their first album scored two “top 5” hits in the Latin charts. This quick success led them to sign with Sony Music for the production of their second album. “I Love Salsa!” was the title. Their second production scored them two #1 hit singles, “Amor

N’Klabe came to fill a void that had been around since the 90’s when the salsa boy bands that caused a frenzy like Salserin, Los Adolescentes, Servando & Florentino head-lined huge concerts, were all over the Latin media and even came out with their own movies... but then the boys grew up. Their bands, didn’t grow along with them. While some of these guys remain active in the scene, their reach could be called a niche at best. Nothing wrong with that, but certainly their chance to keep salsa at the forefront of the Latin music industry came and went. Bands like DLG, Dark Latin Groove, infused salsa with energy in the late 90’s, bringing a fresh sound of mixing new and old, however, the stint was short lived as lead singer Huey Dunbar decided to go solo. Although successful to a degree, neither Dunbar nor the remaining DLG members were able to sustain their previous popularity without each other. Around this time, came the so-called Latin explosion. With Marc Anthony veering off into pop (as did many others who wanted in on the explosion), the future of salsa as popular music was looking bleak. Salsa is dead many said. It was 2004, the year in which reggaeton took over the youth of Puerto Rico, between cars blasting Daddy Yankee and Don Omar, it was improbable that a salsa band could survive. But N’Klabe did.

In 2006, N’Klabe followed up with another success, “A Punto de Estallar”. In 2007, they brought us “La Nueva Escuela ‘Nu School” where you could find tracks with urban artists such as Rakim & Ken-Y, as well as old-school salseros such as Gilberto Santa Rosa. In 2011, they had another #1 hit single with “Aries de Navidad”. The album which it belongs to, contains re-makes of traditional La Fania All-Stars classics, all with a N’Klabe touch. Last year, N’Klabe brought us their latest production “La Salsa Vive”. As always, N’Klabe is very aware of what they are trying to do and clear of their musical mission, keeping salsa alive and thriving. Some old-school salseros might dismiss them, comparing them to the greats of the past, this is hardly fair. Salsa had the Latin world’s attention 25 years ago, these guys have to compete with the heavily marketed trends of today. On top of that, N’Klabe had to make their music relate to a new audience that was not exactly eager for new salsa. This might not be your parent’s salsa, but I bet you might surprise them when they hear some familiar classic tunes re-made, among N’Klabe’s other original material. N’Klabe’s work pays homage to the genre’s greats of the past, but also opens the way for it to have a future. La Salsa Vive! You can dance salsa toda la noche on Friday, December 20th with N’Klabe during a FREE show at Hyattsville’s CocoCabana! Get on the gueslist! www.KestaDC.com/Guestlist █

HOW DEEarPs InISLatinYOMuUsicRWaLntOVToEKn?ow! The Biggest St By: Ellen Flores

That’s the burning question Franco de Vita, Ricardo Montaner, Ednita Nazario, Ricky Martin and Carlos Vives have for you! Kesta Happening is celebrating the holiday season with a musical bash and massive lineup at 93.1 FM Amor Radio “Amor A La Música” the concert in New York! Amor A La Música will be uniting some of the biggest superstars in Latin Music. Get ready to hear classics like “Tu De Que Vas” from Venezuelan pop icon Franco de Vita and “Me Va A Extrañar” from legendary Argentinian singer-songwriter Ricardo Montaner. Puerto Rico will also be en la casa! “Vuelve” “La Bomba” and “Tu Recuerdo” do those ring any bells? That’s ‘cause Ricky Martin will be performing some of his biggest hits that very same night. As if that weren’t incentive enough, La Diva, Puerto Rico’s leading lady Ednita Nazario and her chart topping repertoire will be present and melting your heart with anthems like “Tu Sabes Bien.” Not yet convinced? Then el paisa Carlos Vives will also be part of the lineup with his dose of cumbia and vallenato sure to get you dancing the night away! Join us as we take a road trip to attend the magnanimous lineup at the Amor A La Música Concert in the Nassau Coliseum in New York on Sunday, December 8. Kesta Is taking a road trip to the show and we want you to join us on the party bus! Tickets to the show and the bus are now available at www.tickeri. com all you have to do is grab your tickets and meet us for fun and memorable trip to see some of the biggest names in Latin music. See you at the show! █

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LATIN JAZZ

By: Sarah Barrie

Buenos Aires native, Sofia Rei, has been referred to as one of the most versatile, passionate, charismatic, and in-demand vocalists on the New York music scene. Grammy Nominee for “Best Latin Jazz Album”, and Independent Music Award Winner, Sofia Rei’s music possesses a beautiful and unique style that blends elements of jazz, electronic and folkloric beats with traditional South American rhythms. As a long time fan and admirer of her music, and having lived in Argentina myself, I jumped at the opportunity to interview Sofia Rei , and quickly discovered that not only was she friendly and easy to talk to, but she also had a great sense of humor! KH: What inspired you to become a musician? SR: I started singing when I was 5 or 6. My mother was a music lover. She loved the arts in general. She sent my brother, my sister and me to music school right out of kindergarten. I loved singing so much and got involved in pretty much every vocal group I could find. When I was 9, my grandmother took me to Teatro Colón where I enrolled in the children’s choir. Teatro Colón is one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world. I don’t think becoming a musician is a specific decision, but I remember one of my first performances there, and enjoying it so much, and this is when I really felt it was something I could do forever. KH: Why did you decide to leave Buenos Aires? SR: I really love Buenos Aires. It has a very hectic environment with a very mixed culture. I became obsessed with jazz and it was very difficult to find a good mentor or teacher to help me back home, so I realized the best thing I could do was to come to the U.S. I got the opportunity to do Masters at the New England Conservatory and study

with some of the best Jazz musicians in the world. And that’s the reason I left home. All of my family still lives there so I go as often as I can to visit. Sometimes performance opportunities bring me back as well. KH: Who are your inspirations? SR: Definitely Mercedes Sosa, a voice from Argentina. Opera singer, Maria Callas, she was a real inspiration. Elis Regina, one of the few singers I know that has a big spectrum of emotions and a big personality. She has the flexibility to sing in a lot of different styles. Her voice is so subtle and at the same time really strong. Biork, she’s a brilliant artist and wonderful singer who has a big range. I admire her as an artist in general. KH: What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishments? SR: Probably being able to do what I do, to be a professional musician and being able live off of the thing I love the most, which is singing. I’m very fortunate to have that in my life. I think music will always be what makes me keep going, the fact that I can do that, and make a living is quite a gift and

quite an accomplishment. KH: What instruments do you play? SR: I play the Piano, the charango, which is a small guitar from South America, along with some small percussion instruments. KH: If you weren’t singing what would you most likely be doing? SR: If I wasn’t singing, I would most likely be a writer… KH: What three things you could not live without? SR: Music, mate, and love…but not in that order! …I think I could give up the mate! KH: When you aren’t working on your music, how do you spend your free time? SR: If you ask me about my free time, I don’t even know what that is! When I’m not working on my music, I’m teaching at

the university or you may find me catching up with another project.. I don’t really have free time! At the end of our conversation, I thanked Sofia for her time and told her how much I was looking forward to her upcoming concert in the DMV. The opportunity to see Sofia Rei perform is truly an opportunity you do not want to miss-I know I won’t! Sofia Rei will be performing at Artisphere’s Dome Theatre, in Arlington, VA on Saturday, December 7th at 8pm. General admission tickets are $18 and available online at ww.artisphere.com. For more information about Sofia Rei and her upcoming shows, visit her website at www.sofiamusic.com █

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/ DECEMBER

2013

KESTADC.COM GALLERY La Sonora Ponceña @ The Palace 11.15.13

Photos by: José Arrieta

Angeles del Infierno @ The Howard Theatre 11.09.13

Damas Gratis @ Diamond Lounge 11.01.13

Photos by: Miriam Jave & Daniel Martinez

Photos by: Harold Reynold

Kestaween feat. Los Pericos @ The State Theatre 10.31.13

Cristian Castro @ The Fillmore 10.30.13

Photos by: William Espinoza, Miriam Jave, & Daniel Martinez

Photos by: Miriam Jave

Eva Ayllón @ The Howard Theatre 10.28.13

Photos by: José Acha & Miriam Jave

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KESTA HAPPENING DC FEATURED EVENTS Tues 11.26 Sun 12.01 Fri 12.06 Sat 12.07 Sat 12.07 Sat 12.07 Sat 12.07 Sat 12.07 Sin 12.08 Fri 12.13 Fri 12.13 Sun 12.15 Fri 12.20 Fri 12.20 Tues 12.31 Fri 01.10 Thurs 02.13 March 2014 Tues 04.01

Desorden Público @ Look Yovanny Polanko y Kiko Rodriguez @ Cococabana Grupo Niche @ The Palace Sofia Rei @ Artisphere Gaitazo 2013 @ The State Theatre Fiesta Boricua @ Elk Lodge De La Ghetto @ Club One Chiva Parrandera @ Cuba Libre Bus Trip to NYC for Amor a La Musica Concert Ñengo Flow @ Cococabana Nene Malo @ Diamond Lounge Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano @ GMU Center of the Arts N Klabe free concert @ Cococabana Willie Gonzalez & Edgar Joel @ The Palace DCs Ultimate New Years Eve @ DC Crystal City Double Tree Hotel J Balvin @ The Palace Jorge Celedón @ The Palace Jarabe de Palo Cultura Profética @ Howard Theatre

For more information and many more events go to KESTADC.COM

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FAMILY

/ DECEMBER

2013

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FEATURED

/ DECEMBER

2013

Total Dembow TEGO CALDERÓN @ Cococabana El que sabe, sabe and Tego Calderón knows how to give the people the dembow they crave and the party they need. El Güasibiri Tego Calderón performed at Coco Cabana to a near sold out crowd that got down and dirty, Tego style. With his signature dreadlocks, shades and all around cool aura, Tego dominated the stage at Coco Cabana and demonstrated yet again why he is a leader in the reggaeton movement. A setlist that covered classics and new songs, Tego gave a dose of much needed dembow and sex appeal that got everyone just a tad crazy and that’s always a plus in our book! #Gozadera

Best Freestyle DADDY YANKEE @ Cococabana Daddy Yankee could have easily showed up, performed his act, and gone home. But he didn’t do that: instead he gave the people what they wanted, a Daddy Yankee freestyle! When “DY” begins his freestyle, it’s an official sign that the show is being cemented into history! “Lo Que Pasó Pasó,” “La Despedida” and “Posé” flowed through the room as he gave the crowd at CocoCabana an open invitation to the world through his eyes, bringing the streets to the stage via his lyrical ingenuity. Of course, no Daddy Yankee set would be complete without the reggaeton anthem, “Gasolina”. With this performance, “The Big Big Boss” remains the MVP of Freestyle.

Girl Power! Biggest Female Crowd JULIETA VENEGAS @ The Fillmore From falling in love, to realizing you are better than him, all of the ladies in the DMV were in attendance at the Julieta Venegas show. With a tequila in hand and a heart full of joy (some with sorrows), the ladies were present in full force and ready to sing their favorite Julieta songs at unfathomable decibels. After seeing Julieta live, now we understand the raw girl power connection she has with her fans and why she’s earned the title her fans have given her of La Licenciada Julieta Venegas. Don’t get us wrong, the guys were there too, but we kind of felt sorry cause the girls dominated this show and so did the tequila!

Sensory Overload! Best Stage Show CAFÉ TACVBA @ The Fillmore Café Tacvba @ The Fillmore Silver Spring Our minds were blown away and we were sent into a sensory overload at Café Tacvba’s show. A giant tree that appeared in the middle of the stage, a mind blowing laser show, a volcano and lead singer Rubén Albarrán dressed as a bird made this a unique and unforgettable night. The height of our sensory overload came at the song “Agua” when bubbles rained upon the crowd and sent us on a musical trip that only Cafeta can do! The props were mesmerizing but what gave us goosebumps was that the music took center stage in a raw and uncompromised way that only true and talented artists like Café Tacvba can pull off and that’s why we loved this show!

Best Audience Interaction ROMEO SANTOS @ The Patriot Center Aside from wowing you with his talent, Romeo Santos will also tickle your funny bone! He wooed fanáticos with his stellar voice, good looks, and mega hits including “Llévame Contigo,” “Mi Santa,” and “You”. During “Debate de 4” he invited 3 concertgoers to participate in the magic and even hosted an impromptu tryout session amongst them that greatly contributed to the humor of the evening. Even funnier was when the “King of Bachata” wasn’t shy about letting those who didn’t make the cut know when their 15 minutes of fame was up. Romeo is a natural entertainer who treated the audience like good friends into his home.

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Best Crowd Energy MOLOTOV @ The Fillmore What do you get when you combine attitude, Latin Rock anthems and a protest? You get an explosive night and that’s what we lived at the Molotov show in the Fillmore! Tito, Paco, Micky and el Gringo Loco Randy dominated the stage during their Jägermeister tour stop with a no holds barred, no apologies and balls to the wall show. The atmosphere was plagued with attitude, sex and rebellion that got us dancing and moshing our asses off! Molotov had the biggest and most frantic mosh pit this year. The fellas didn’t disappoint in getting us riled up and singing at the top of our lungs and full of Mexican pride for one night only. A huevo Güey!

Most Romantic Show JARABEDEPALO @ Howard Theatre Jarabedepalo lead singer Pau Donés enamored us with his Piano y Voz concert at the Howard Theatre this summer. The soulfulness in his voice and stripped musical format gave classic Jarabe songs a whole new life and place in our hearts. Tales of how his songs were inspired and life experiences that inspired songs like “La Flaca” to the heartbreak behind lovelorn track “Agua”. We all let our hair down and embraced our romantic side wishing more people would write love letters instead of emails or texts. Piano y Voz was definitely one of the most romantic and intimate shows we witnessed this year. ¡Que viva el amor!

Best “My Feet Still Hurt From Dancing” FONSECA @ Howard Theatre ¡De Colombia para el mundo! Fonseca packed the Howard Theatre for two back to back shows filled with cumbia, vallenato and melodies that drove our feet, hips and waist crazy with non-stop motion! As part of his Ilusión World Tour, Fonseca connected with the DC audience on a cellular level. His stage presence left not one single person sitting down or forgotten as his connection with his fans was electric. Fonseca sold out one night at the Howard Theatre and consequently a second show was added. Pretty impressive! His music hypnotized us in a trance that got our bodies moving and stole our hearts with his down home paisa spirit.

Best “We love Salsa” show EL GRAN COMBO @ Howard Theatre & The Palace

Love. Strong word that defines wanting to be together with someone or something. The DMV showcases this “love” feeling toward salsa music by always selling out one of the most successful groups ever: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. With a repertoire of decades of classical salsa hits they gave the crowd a very memorable performance not once, but twice this year. Songs like “Me Libere” and “No Hago Mas Na” were performed perfectly as they took each concert fan way back to the place were they first heard these classical songs. The love is still very strong! See you in 2014 El Gran Combo!

Best Afterparty: CARLOS VIVES @ Patriot Center Carlos Vives provided a 2 hour+ rumba that kept most parceros and parceras on their feet dancing and singing along to all of Carlos Vives’ hits. Two hours wasn’t enough though as many afterparties went on as soon as the concert ended. These afterparties weren’t at some fancy club in DC, they happened right there at the Patriot Center’s parking lots! As you walked out of this memorable concert, you found groups as large as 30 or more continung the party at the parking lot blasting vallenato and colombian sounds from their cars. Dancing, singing and sipping aguardiente (don’t tell the Patriot Center security!). These true rumberos didn’t consider the concert being over as marking the end of their rumba. Now you know the next time Carlos Vives visits our area, the parking lot afterparty is definitely a fun way to end the night!

Most Enegetic: PITBULL @ Preakness Fest Loudest fans: J ALVAREZ @ The Palace

Punch Packed Set List KESTAWEEN: LOS PERICOS @ The State Theatre

As if Halloween isn’t fun enough, this year Kesta teamed up with the State Theatre for a night of pure reggae Latino with Argentine greats, Los Pericos. What made this the best set list of the year? Los Pericos played non-stop all of their biggest hits from start to finish and got the crowd dancing and having a blast. Some of our favorites: Runaway, Pupilas Lejanas, Me Late, Mucha Experiencia, Párate y Mira, an awesome cover of Depeche Mode’s Personal Jesus and Sin Cadenas. If you didn’t go, you missed out on a hell of a performance and an amazing array of costumes. From El Pibe to Where’s Waldo, KestaWeen partied the night away at an unforgettable show!

Best “We Need More Space for Recaps” Performances: JUANES, ALEJANDRO SANZ, KESTA ROCKS, RICARDO ARJONA, BARETO, OSCAR DE LEON. 2013 was a massive year full of amazing musical recuerdos. Unfortunately, we have run out of space to summarize all of the unforgettable shows we lived through this year. To quickly summarize the remaining list of shows, we are gonna use one short but powerful word to describe them: EPIC! We cant wait for 2014!

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Best ALL Ages show: LEO DAN Best Tribute: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs Tribute by FRIGUEY @ Bier Baron Best “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore” moment: MEGA DC ZEDS DEAD @ Echostage Most colorful: LILA DOWNS @ Hylton Performing Arts Best remixes: LOS MASTER PLUS @ Tropicalia Worse WTF! canceled show: PANTEON ROCOCO @ The Fillmore Best Dance till the sun comes up event: BACHATA CONGRESS @ The Washington Hilton

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2013

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FAMILY

By: Darlene Campos

name “Sesame Street.” “Sesame” is a nod to The Arabian Nights, famous for its well known command, “Open, sesame!” Since the show was meant to be a passageway to knowledge, “open sesame” seemed to be on the right track. “Street” was then decided on because the show takes place in a city setting, similar to New York City. Hence, Sesame Street was born. The show was created as an experiment to see if preschoolers could really learn by watching television. The mission of the show was intended to teach basic numbers, the alphabet, and day to day social skills, such as making new friends. Ever since Sesame Street premiered, it has been awarded more Emmy Awards than any other show in the history of television. When Sesame Street was in its early production days, the creators struggled to think of a title which would attract attention. One of the program’s writers came up with the

Ever since Sesame Street began, it has remained as a nonprofit organization. So, the show receives its funding from other sources. A few of Sesame Street’s sponsors include the U.S. Department of Education, United Healthcare, Party City, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Walmart, MetLife, and JP Morgan Chase. With support from these sponsors, the show continues to air for preschoolers all over the world. Now the successful television show is upping the ante, and bringing you Sesame

Street Live! A live musical performance targeted for small children. Audience members are encouraged to sing, dance, clap, and even join in to participate in certain parts of the musical. If attendees wish to go backstage with the show, a Sunny Seats package is available which includes a party before the show, a chance to see the steps of 123 Sesame Street, music, games, and a meet and greet with Elmo, one of Sesame Street’s classic characters. Sesame Street is recommended for children ages 1-6, but it is also known to be entertaining for people of all ages. The performance is usually around 90 minutes long and includes a 15 minute intermission. From Thursday December 12 to Sunday December 15, Sesame Street Live will be bringing it’s fun interactive show to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia. This year’s theme is “Make a New Friend” and

will include the introduction of a new muppet friend named Chamki, who is from India. The show will explore and celebrate similarities of different cultures and teach children the fun of making new friends from all types of backgrounds. This year’s songs are also meant for the adults to enjoy since they will include parodies of “I Want Candy” and “Moves Like Jagger.” Tickets range from $18-$30. Gold circle seats are $45 and Sunny Seats are $75. Tickets are now on sale at the Patriot Center box office and through www. ticketmaster.com. For more information about Sesame Street Live, please visit www. sesamestreetlive. com or visit the Facebook page at facebook.com/ sesamestreetlive. █

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2013

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FOOD

Atún Pacífico” (tuna ceviche) and the “Ceviche Tradicional” were no doubt my favorites. The Ceviche de Atún Pacífico consisted of fresh, juicy, mouth-watering tuna, marinated in a delectable Maggi-lime marinade, topped with scallions, avocado, jalapeños, and toasted pecans with crispy amaranth, which gave it a perfect crunch. Equally exquisite was the Ceviche Tradicional, made with succulent fresh striped bass, onion, sweet potato, corn, avocado, and cilantro with a citrus lime marinade. Both of these options will leave you wanting more. Another favorite was the “Cayo de Hacha Pipian de Chile Pasilla,” succulent seared jumbo scallops, which are downright heavenly. Served in a pasilla chile and pumpkin seed sauce, the taste, presentation, colors, everything about this dish is amazing. For meat lovers, one of Oyamel’s must-try dishes is the “Gorditas de Pato”, or house-made masa cakes topped with tender duck confetti and a salsa of chile arbol, served with a relish of apples, habanero and piloncillo. The crisp masa cake on the bottom and the mouth-watering duck meat on top is the perfect combination.

By: Sarah Berrie

yamel Cocina Mexicana is arguably the best Mexican restaurant in the DMV area. In fact, it was named one of the top 10 Mexican restaurants in the world by Reforma Newspaper and was featured in Delta Sky’s “My Favorite Sheet”. Owned by world renowned award winning Spanish Chef, José Andrés, Oyamel provides rich, authentic Mexican cuisine prepared with gourmet ingredients. The restaurant is perhaps best known for its signature antojitos -“little dishes from the streets” as they call them- which include authentic gourmet ceviche and a variety of unique tacos. Opening its doors in 2004 in Crystal City, Oyamel made the Penn Quarter its permanent home in 2007. It is one of several popular restaurants owned by José Andrés in the DMV area (a roster that includes popular Jaleo, Zaytinya, and minibar) also located in Penn Quarter. In 2012, José Andrés was recognized by Time Magazine as, “one of the most influential people on the planet.” Anthony Bourdain writes, “the man is capable of anything… no one kitchen — or 10 — can contain him. He is an advocate, promoter, entrepreneur, philanthropist, artist.”

As you step foot into Oyamel, the first thing you will notice is its beautiful and welcoming ambience. Big open windows, traditional and tasteful Mexican decorations, pottery and colorful statues, butterfly accents scattered throughout, and verses by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda decorate the walls. However, the main attraction at Oyamel is definitely the food. The fresh ingredients (some of which are imported directly from Mexico and California) ensure a unique and wonderful dining experience. The first dish I tried was guacamole. Accompanied by its traditional partner in crime, corn tortilla chips, the guacamole was nothing short of amazing. Made fresh at the table in a molcajete (stone bowl used for grinding and made from lava rocks from Oaxaca). The guac had a melt-in-your-mouth texture, with just the right hint of lime. You can even request the level of spiciness you want. I opted for a level 3 (out of 10!). Although the guacamole is recommended for a party four, I could have easily finished the entire molcajete of guacamole by myself. It was that tasty, but I wanted to make sure I saved room for more delicious morsels to come! Seafood lovers get ready: Oyamel offers a variety of delicious “mariscos” (seafood) as well. The “Ceviche de

If you are in the mood for a salad, a great choice is the “Ensalada de Aguacate y Remolacha” (avocado and beet salad). This salad is made with crisp, fresh Mexican avocados, tomatoes, ripe roasted beets, tomatillo, pickled red onion, jicama and orange dressing. I’m usually not a beet person, but these beets are delicious and full of flavor! Another great vegetarian option is the “Quesadilla de Huitlacoche”, made with a corn tortilla and filled with Chihuahua cheese and a juicy corn truffle. Still have room for dessert? I didn’t think I did, but after tasting Oyamel’s “Pastel de Tres Leches con Piña”, that all quickly changed! With a cold and creamy texture, soaked in Coruba rum and milk, and topped with a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream, this dessert epitomizes the idea of having a “separate dessert stomach” as it is almost impossible not to finish! With most dishes at Oyamel ranging between the $10 to $20 dollar range, the food is reasonably priced for the quality and freshness of the ingredients. Oyamel is definitely a must have for any Mexican food lover in the DMV area! To view hours of operation, as well as, the full menu, visit Oyamel online: www.oyamel.com. Happy eating! █

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

INSPIRATIONAL

/ DECEMBER

2013

By: Eric Cortes

our 30s are the most important part of your life. They culminate everything you’ve worked hard for in your 20s and begin the rest of your career. For 32 year-old Brandon Benavides, he believes through hard work, patience and prayers, you can accomplish any and all of your dreams. Benavides currently serves as content producer at NBC 3/WRC-TV, the No. 1 station in Washington, D.C. But it hasn’t been an easy journey. Benavides, a southerner at heart, was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and studied at St. Edward’s University in Austin for his undergraduate studies. While visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time in college, he attended a Rotaract Conference at George Washington University and fell in love with the District. This is where he wanted to be; but it took more than just a visit to establish himself in D.C. After graduating from American University’s one-year intensive graduate program in 2004, Benavides interned everywhere from Dateline NBC to the U.S. House Radio and TV Gallery. However, he needed a full-time position. “I applied everywhere. I mailed my resume and tape to news directors in the District and across the country. I kept a database and a folder of everywhere I sent my resume. No one called me back,” he says. And that led him to move back to San Antonio. But with perseverance and prayers, Benavides continued calling news directors while in Texas. He ended up landing a job at KETK-TV in Tyler, TX as news producer. A smaller market than D.C., but as he says, “work two years in a small market and move up.” And that’s what happened. He worked at Tyler for a year and ended up at KSTP in Minneapolis. Two years quickly turned into 4 years but with two Emmy awards for his coverage of the I-35 Bridge collapse, Brandon was well on his way to realizing his dreams. Unfortunately, despite his success, the recession made it difficult to progress and look for jobs in a wider market. “My station laid off several of my co-workers. Stations across the country stopped hiring and started laying off people and offering buy-outs,” Benavides says. And just like before, he sent his resume everywhere and no one called him back. But in 2010 after

taking a trip to D.C. to visit an old friend, he e-mailed area news directors. “Frank Caskin the assistant news director at WRC was the only one to respond in time,” he says. After a quick 5 minute meeting, interview, discussing opportunities with the news director and other hiring managers, the coffee meeting soon turned into a job offer one month later. After six years and two Emmy’s, Benavides returned to the nation’s capital. For any aspiring journalist or even in any industry, the importance of joining professional organizations is equally as important. Benavides joined the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) as a graduate student at American. NAHJ is also how Benavides landed his job at KSTP. Dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry, NAHJ was established in April 1984 and has created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. “I think NAHJ does a good job training future journalists with its student projects during the national convention,” he says. “The hands-on experience is amazing and the students work with professionals.” Like himself, he tells any aspiring journalist of color to set goals and plan to achieve them all. There are clear and different paths to take throughout any career. Benavides’ Latino background also is important to his work. “As a Latino, I bring a unique perspective to the newsroom. I think a diverse newsroom is better at covering a diverse community as large as Washington, D.C.,” he says. During his leadership at NAHJ, it was important for the journalism industry to not only include better coverage and positive stories, but also to hire Latinos. Benavides currently serves as Chapter President for the NAHJ-DC chapter. This is his fourth, one-year term. So what’s next for Benavides? Living the American dream also involves settling down, getting married and having kids. We thank Brandon Benavides for allowing us to spotlight the realization of his dreams, and for setting a great example for other Latino’s aspiring to reach theirs. You can follow Brandon Benavides on twitter @brandontvnews. █

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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

KESTA ASKS

/ DECEMBER

2013

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KESTA ASKS

LOVE

This month for Kesta Asks we helped the big man from the North Pole himself by finding out what Kesta fans want for X-mas! We’re delivering the list to Santa himself via this page so pay close attention... Since we love our Kesta fans, we hope you get everything you want for Christmas (whether you were naughty or nice)! Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and we hope you achieve all your goals and make your dreams come true in 2014! See you next year! Luis Fernando Garin: Una novia rockera xD Alex Mendoza: Joaquin sabina Miriam Jave: El 2014 empieza muy bien!! Joaquin Sabina seria lo maximo! Andres Calamaro, Silvio Rodriguez, Fito Paez y los Fabulosos Cadilacs.. Patty Cas: An inmigración reform Jani Beba SagastizadoRussian: Yo quiero que Kesta me de una noche con mi artista preferido.. para cocinarle o que me de un reto para completar por el/ella Karina Echeverz: A new car!! Rolo Ruiz: Hola Amigos de Kesta, yo quiero una vieja BIEN CHULA Juan M Yuki Nakandakari: Un restaurant de comida Nikkei en DC William Aragon: Rata blanca o pxndx xfavor

Ze Rafael: Que mejore la economia!

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Caballero Oscuro: Someting gothic.. Una banda gotica english of spanish we want gothic bands Katty Reyes: El 2014 venga con bendiciones,proyectos nuevos ,la reformA y sobretodo q dios nos siga cuidando Rocksario Garcia: Quiero un laptop para DJ y para terminar todos mis articulos de Kesta Ps. Y que reunan a Heroes del Silencio y los traigan a DC (that is all for now)

Belen Barriga: Alex Ubago! Sin Bandera... Alejandro Fernández.... Y si Héroes se juntan pues súper bueno!!! Luis Larrea: El retorno de Enrique Bunbury!!! Y una nueva Camera Y mejor héroes del silencio sería lo mejor que pueda pasar! \m/ Jenny Osoria: una casa ya toda pagada :) Raul Mayorga: Wow pretty complex Santa , well if i can finish my goals, too many lol, please sent me your formula Santa!

Steven J. Saucedo: A check to pay all debts! lol also a new suit w/ accessories ! lol

“I recently became engaged to my 26-year-old fiancé. He is 4 years older than me, and many people have told me that the age difference matters. I feel confident, but I always hear people say that I’m too young to “settle down”. It’s true that I do want to keep doing fun things, and when I get married I want my husband to be my roomie- I want us to be in love and still go out to dinner, have fun, etc. My question is, does age matter for marriage? Does getting married mean that we can’t have fun anymore? “ Prometida Confundida en DC

Ellen Flores: Dear Santa, I would love an all expenses paid trip to Vive Latino 2014. That would be the best gift ever! If that’s too much, I understand. I’d more than welcome some spending fun money and weekend getaway to New York or Puerto Rico. Gracias Santa!

Dear Confundida: Good news! Most people tend to end up with partners three to five years younger or older than themselves. Getting married in your teens is statistically more likely to end in divorce, but by age 22 that risk goes down dramatically. So in this case, I think it’s fair to say that age is the least of your worries. The main predictor of a happy marriage isn’t how old you are on your wedding day - it’s WHO you marry! What actually matters most is trust, that he treats you like a priority, and that you know he’ll be there for you unconditionally when you need love and support (and vice versa). When you’re having a bad day, knowing that you’re coming home to a safe haven with a loving partner makes all the difference. So when you say you want him to be your “roomie” my thought is be careful! The emotional connection needed to make a marriage work is on a completely different league. And it may sound obvious (yet for some reason came as a surprise to me when I got married), but when you get married you won’t even have your own room! With a roomie you usually have a door to close to get some privacy and space when you need it (for a reality check I highly recommend living together first).

Everybody has their own expectations of personal space, “me time”, and togetherness (not to mention finances, household chores, etc.). What seems “normal” to you could be very different for him. Talk about these things now and don’t make any assumptions. And yes, you should absolutely go out and do fun things together once you are married, otherwise what’s the point of sharing your life with someone! Just make sure to have good communication and resolve disagreements early. Lingering arguments and hurt feelings lead to resentment, and then it’s hard to have fun with someone who is annoying/upsetting/ disappointing you. And here’s a bonus tip- a recent study found that generosity in a marriage can be better than sex (not really, but close). Simple acts of generosity make a big difference. Things like making coffee for your partner in the morning, doing nice things for them just because – not because you have to. The study found that men and women with the highest scores on the ‘generosity scale’ reported being ‘very happy’ in their marriages. So lots of communication, love, trust, and generosity will make a huge difference! Your date of birth? Not so much. █

Jazmin Moral www.jazminmoral.com is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Rockville. This column is meant for entertainment only and should not be considered a substitute for professional counseling. If you have a love, dating, or relationship question, send it to us via our confidential online form at www.kestadc.com/love.

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2013

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STYLE

█

By: Daniela Guillen

ear Santa… it’s that time of the year again. While we know this is the time to give we wouldn’t mind receiving a little something under our Christmas tree. Like every year trends come and go, some are fun and flattering and some are meant to be let go. There are several trends that I find are worth the splurge this winter. I never thought I’d be adding sneakers to my wish list but bloggers like Leandra Medine from The Man Repeller, shows us how to mix and match normal day-to-day wear with sneakers. Sneaker brands like Nike are designing sneakers with a lot more color and prints. I won’t ever give up my Louboutins or sexy ankle strapped heels but it is a nice change for our feet. Gym clothes also deserve a spot on this list. This year I’ve seen basic black work out pants replaced by graphic print pants. Everything else on the list are items like faux leather skirts and faux fur vests that are fun to wear during the upcoming cold season. And, of course I couldn’t leave off cashmere! Isn’t there a saying that cashmere and diamonds are a girls best friend? █

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1. Unreal Fur Two Tone Short Fur Jacket in Cream and Black, $312.21 – asos.com | 2. Mackage Coat - Kitty Novelty Boucle, $740 – bloomingdales.com | 3. Unreal Fur Stripe Gilet, $210.95 – asos.com | 4. Warehouse Tweed Check Zip Detail Coat, $160.32 – asos.com 5. River Island Leather Look Check Coat, $109.69 – asos.com | 6. Sam Edelman Sherpa Wrap Coat with Knit Sleeves, $220 – bloomingdales.com | 7. Capulet Mojave Shearling Moto Jacket, $288 – nastygal.com | 8. Elie Tahari Coat – Marina Leather Trim Belted, $595 – bloomingdales.com 9. Yellow Long Sleeve Epaulet Belt Trench Coat, $34.10 – sheinside.com | 10. Burberry Leather Sleeve Trench – Nordstrom.com | 11. Cape, $59.95 – hm.com

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

This page: Tito El Bambino @ The Palace, El Var贸n de la Bachata @ Cococabana | Next page: Laidback Luke @ Echostage, Angeles del Infierno @ The Howard Theatre, El Gran Silencio @ Tropicalia.

Photgrapher: Jos茅 Arrieta

Photgrapher: William Espinoza

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Photgrapher: Miriam Jave

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Photgrapher: Miriam Jave

Photgrapher: Daniel Martinez

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

KESTA NEW we are losing more and more. If watching this video makes even one kid want to go out and play marbles, I will be a very happy man. Kesta: The Chilean rock scene has undergone a major renaissance in recent years, with new bands like Anita Tijoux, Gepe, Javiera Mena, etc. How have things changed for you? Mauricio: We for one thing love it, because it helps break down those barriers and allows artists to both take their music outside of Chile and artists from outside to have more venues and opportunities to bring their music to Chile (like Lollapalooza Chile). It’s a great exchange and we are very proud to be a part of it.

By: Rosario Garcia

Heavily influenced by the Beatles, and classic Chilean bands like Los Tres during their early days, Los Bunkers have recently left their arena rock days behind in favor of an electronic, synthesizer heavy sound in their latest Grammy nominated album, La Velocidad de la Luz. I jumped at the chance to interview Los Bunkers drummer, Mauricio Basualto, to tell us more about their new direction. Kesta: First let me congratulate you on being nominated for “Best Rock Album” in this year’s Latin Grammy’s for – La Velocidad de la Luz! Mauricio: We’re beyond excited. It may sound cliché but we were truthfully surpri-

sed to be nominated, it’s something you never expect to happen. As a musician, you just focus on your group and try to do the best job possible. So this is already a win for us. Specifically we are very fortunate to be nominated in a category as important as “Album Rock”, we are very happy. Kesta: What was the creative process like for “La Velocidad de La Luz? Mauricio: It was very different from previous albums because the music is so different. As we evolve we keep changing our tastes, the music we listen to, and this album is a reflection of that. When we start listening to our previous albums, they are more fixated on classic rock. As the years have passed we have met new people with new tastes, we’ve been exposed to dance music and listen to electronica when at home. These influences have led to new musical fields and for us that is good becau-

se we don’t want to be boring and stick to just one genre. Kesta: The music video for your new single, “Bailando Solo” is SAD but has a happy ending for the guy who manages to be “cool” and win the love of a girl. Is it based on a personal story? Mauricio: *laughs* Yes it’s based on the real-life story of every teenage boy who has ever wanted to get the attention of the girl he likes and has to compete with a “cooler” guy. The idea for the video came from Director Pascal Krumm, but we all immediately loved it. I think aside from the message that you should be yourself and not contain your personality in order to please everyone, I loved the scenes of the kids playing soccer or marbles in the street, being social and outdoorsy. That’s something that because of today’s technology

Kesta: The documentary about Los Bunkers left me wondering, how do you find time for peace in the chaos of being on the road? Do you miss having cameras rolling 24 hours a day? Mauricio: *laughs*. Well obviously the camera’s weren’t running during our down time (although there were lots of scenes of us sleeping *laughs*). When we’re on the road we consider that part of being a professional musician, it’s a job, and we focus on giving 100%. One thing we do while on the road is always find time to practice. I think that helps us stay focused and relaxed. To be honest the cameras took some getting used to. We would have never agreed to do it if it weren’t for the fact our good friend Pascal Krumm would be directing. We considered him to be a part of the group to the point that we felt comfortable with him filming us taking our kids to school and other personal moments. It was a unique experience. Kesta: What are your plans for the following year? Mauricio: We’re planning on spending the holidays with our families in Chile. Then we’re going on tour to promote the new album in Spain, Chile, Mexico, and to the US probably around May of 2014. We’re going to be promoting a DVD we filmed in Chile with amazing technology, and also we’re writing some songs for various movie soundtracks. We also finished a cover of “Almohada” for the Jose Jose Tribute. It’s been a busy year for us but we’re prepared to be even busier. To find out more about Los Bunkers, visit: http://losbunkers.cl/ █

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LOCAL TALENT

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ELECTRONIC

By: Juan Leon

By: Rosario Garcia

ocal Latin Rock band, Elemento Music, may be new to the DC rock scene, but already they have won fans over at various high profile shows including a recent performance at Telemundo’s Feria de la Familia held on November 10, 2013 at the DC Armory. Elemento participated in a Kesta Happening contest in which fans voted for their favorite local talent to perform at the Feria de La Familia. Elemento won the majority of the votes by a wide margin. Although Elemento has only been together for a short time (since beginning of 2013), the band has been busy performing at various local venues including being the openers at the Howard Theatre’s Latin Rock Invasion show in May of this year. Elvis Rivas Echeverria, lead frontman for Elemento, tells us, “That was actually my first show in front of a large audience. I was definitely nervous but I knew I had to do it no matter what.” Elvis tells us that although he’s played guitar for several years, he took a long hiatus from the instrument to focus on personal growth, and now, “I almost feel like a novice. I’m learning all over again.” Elvis shares that Elemento (known as Elemento Music band for social network purposes) was born when he met Omar Ucanan (a Peruvian bassist who

you may recognize from other local bands like Zakke and La Rina) through a mutual friend. Elvis describes this meeting with Omar, and Omar’s bandmate, Max Velazquez, as the push he needed to start playing guitar again. “I wanted to start a band, and although I had Omar, we didn’t have a drummer or lead guitarist. It took us a few months but eventually Jorge Carranza (a friend of Omar’s who joined as the drummer), and Bryan Alomoto joined as our lead guitarist. The chemistry was just there, so we started Elemento.” The first time I met Elvis, we were casually discussing Mexican culture and our mutual love for salt and lime doused Tecate’s, when he casually mentioned he was a little nervous since his band was to play “next”. I was surprised, up until that point I thought he was one of the concertgoers, and he didn’t have a pretentious, “I’m in a band” attitude that you encounter from time to time (I won’t name any names!). I watched as the nerves seemed to dissolve away and the show was fun and energetic, (it was hard not to notice Bryan Alomoto’s crazy guitar shredding skills), and the bands synergy as a whole. When asked what inspires their sound, Elvis stated, “We combine all of our personal influences to create one sound. The main songwriters are

myself and Omar Ucanan, we come up with the lyrics and melody and Bryan (who is definitely coming from a metal background) fills in with his heavy guitar solos. Then combined with Jorge’s drumming and we end up with an interesting sound.” Although Elemento has a few original songs in their set, including “Sin Ti o Contigo” a softer rock ballad written by Elvis, and “Para Poder Amar” a heavier rock anthem written by Omar. Currently, Elemento is working on two new songs, one of which is titled, “El Pecador” and the other, “Para Toda La Vida.” Elvis describes the writing process as going very well and is confident that Elemento will be in a studio to record by early next year. For now, Elvis shares that the band is focusing on writing new music and practicing at least three times a month. “What keeps us going is the thrill we feel when performing for people. Like at the Feria de La Familia. We were all nervous because the acts before us were playing bachata, or popular Caribbean influenced music. And here we were, a rock band. But we were happily surprised to see people jamming, dancing, and singing! I wasn’t expecting that, it was one of the best moments we have had so far. It was a great show, and we want to thank Kesta Happening for having the contest and allowing us this opportunity!” You can find out more about Elemento Music Band by liking them on Facebook! facebook. com/ElementoMusicBand █

4th Annual Winter Wonderland Presented by Art Soiree-- Billed as a “visual and musical journey through a spectacular Winter Wonderland.” Get ready for an “enchanted winter forest with snowtopped trees, twinkling lights, and fairy-tale creatures.” (Doors open at 8PM, 21+)

Porter Robinson- With Bart B More. Electro superstar Porter Robinson makes his way back to Echostage. At only 21 years old, Porter Robinson already has stellar releases such as Language, and the Spitfire EP under his belt. (Doors open at 9PM, 18+)

Zedd-- Also with Alex Metric, Lucky Date. “Clarity”, “Spectrum”, “Stay the Night”. What else is there to say about Zedd other than he’s a hit-maker. He was partly inspired to start making music after listening to French music duo Justice. The 24 year old has also contributed production work to Lady Gaga’s latest album, ARTPOP. But don’t hold that against him. (Doors open at 9PM, 18+)

Hardwell-- Also with Dannic, Roberto Gonzalez. Hardcore partygoers know the 27th is the biggest night in clubbing aside from New Year’s Eve. Spend this epic night with the Dutch electro house superstar, Hardwell. (Doors open at 9PM, 18+)

Alesso-- Also with Matt Goldman. A midnight set from Alesso! Surely he’ll play some Years, If I Lose Myself (his sweet remix of that OneRepublic song), City of Dreams. Should be fun. (Doors Open at 9PM, 18+)

Eric Prydz-- Also with Matt Goldman. This is huge! Massive EDM superstar Eric Prydz brings his incredible melodic talent to Echostage. On. New. Year’s. Eve. It does not get much bigger than this. Bring in the new year with the man behind “Call On Me” and “Pjanoo”! (Doors open at 9PM, 18+)

/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

BOOK REVIEW

By: Rosario Garcia and Elvis Echeverria

e all love a good juicy story. The story with the most twists and turns, and goose bump worthy plot, tattoos itself into our memory to be retrieved later, perhaps when recounting it to an unsuspecting friend. Local Peruvian author, Alfredo Del Arroyo Soriano, has managed to capture equal parts imagination with reallife experiences to turn his latest work, “Del Pacifico al Atlantico – Cuentos Desde la Otra Orilla” into the page turner that it is. The book itself is a collection of 26 short stories told by Alfredo Del Arroyo Soriano and his partner in stories, Roberto Mansillo Nieto. The book is essentially two books in one as the stories are not intermingled but rather co-exist in the same volume. While Alfredo Del Arroyo’s stories seem to rely on personal experiences that he turns into “what if ” scenarios, Roberto Mansilla Nieto reflects on recounting personal experiences from his youth, interwoven with stories drawn from his imagination, touching stories about love, poor decisions, and soul searching. My co-author in this article, Elvis Echeverria reflects about the Mansilla Nieto portion of the book, “I found childhood memories comparable to that of many immigrants, the stories are written in such a way that it’s impossible not to relive your own stories. It’s overwhelming and touching to read a story within a story.”

Although both Soriano and Nieto reflect on spiritual journeys and base their stories on rich and strong emotions, there is a common theme of finding alternate and unexpected endings to real life situations. In the story, “De Martes a Miercoles” for example, Alfredo del Arroyo paints a picture of a character who meets a girl at a Blink 182 concert at the Patriot Center and is now living with her. The story starts on a day where “everything is going wrong”, the character wakes up setting his left foot off the bed first, burns his breakfast, puts his work shirt on backwards, etc. The lyrics to Soundgarden’s “Fell on black days” song plays in your head as you read the story (the author starts the story quoting the lyrics to the song). What starts as an innocent story about a seemingly normal couple ends with infidelity, tragedy surrounding the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon, and an office murder/suicide. Talk about twisted. I recently met up with Alfredo del Arroyo Soriano to discuss the book and he shared that his real-life experiences account for 40% of the short stories, while the rest are based on him reliving moments that have actually happened except in his writing he’s able to let his imagination run wild to build on those experiences. In his short stories he answers, “what if ” I had talked to that stranger on the metro (in La Rubia De la Estacion), what if reincarnation was a fact (in Fantasmas en el Sementerio)? And what if

people aren’t really who they seem (in el Complot). One of the burning questions I had after reading the book was, why are the majority of the stories linked to death or reincarnation? Alfredo responded that he’s always been heavily interested in esoteric topics involving reincarnation, death, extraterrestrials, and the mind playing tricks on you. He laughs and states, “I’m just a normal guy in real life, but I bring out my dark side when I write.” Conversely, Roberto Mansilla Nieto shares stories where the end is not as final. Elvis Echeverria shares, “I like the way the writer puts content of unexplained events and hidden meanings (in reference to the story “La Casona”) with an end without end. A finale shrouded in the mystery of not knowing what happens. In the story “Contrastes” the theme is that love matters above all, despite contrasting situations, it’s the simple things in life that really matter. If you like short stories with a punch, and plots that leave you wondering for days on end, read “Del Pacifico al Atlantico – Historias Desde la Otra Orilla” by Roberto Mansilla Nieto and Alfredo Del Arroyo Soriano. You can find the book at the Portico Book Store in Washington DC (Portico Book Store, 1350 New York Avenue, NW, DC) or by sending a $15 check or money order to P.O Box 3434, McLean, VA 22103. Happy reading! █

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ALBUM REVIEWS By: Kala Fryman

After three years in the works, Enrique Bunbury is back with his 9th solo album, Palosanto. Highlighting Bunbury’s signature creativity as a solo artist since leaving Heroes del Silencio (HDS), Palosanto is a set of stories that intertwine the world with our private universe. Though Bunbury has maintained that Palosanto is open to interpretation and does not advocate a singular position; the common thread uniting Parts I and II of the album is a message of the need for change and revolution; societal and personal. Musically Part I is a bit heavier and digital, with lyrics ranging from feelings of cynicism towards the status quo and a call to take to the streets and challenge the existing system. The album’s first single, Despierta, begins Part I. Amidst guitar riffs and synthesizers Bunbury sings, “Wake up, everything has changed. Nothing is as we imagined.” Though Bunbury has often experimented with different musical styles throughout his solo career, one of the biggest surprises in Part I is the female choir in Salvavidas. Part I ends on a softer note with El Cambio y la Celebracion, comparing change with giving birth. It’s painful yet necessary and beautiful. Part II of Palosanto is distinctively more organic and spiritual, taking an introspective look inwards and at history. Indigenous flutes and a full orchestra accompany the soft guitar and piano found throughout Part II. Ending with Todo, we are reminded that true change and growth can only come from within. █

By: Rosario Garcia

As spacey and electronic as a Zoé album can go; Programaton marks the return of our beloved electronic Mexican synth-gods, since their last studio album Reptilectric in 2008, and their more recent MTV Unplugged mega success in 2011. Zoé gives us a robust album that with its first psychedelic note in “10 A.M” will ensnare you while you sing, “Alejate de mi, Alejate por favor que ya no aguanto mas”. The song is reminiscent of “No me Destruyas” both in its catchy riffs and in its pleas to stop the person you love from hurting you beyond repair. Leon Larregui sings, “esto que se supone que los dos tenemos, no funciona como lo queremos, y tengo que decírtelo,” in perfect tortured soul form. It’s sure to become an anthem to beloved Zoé fans everywhere. “Panoramas” starts with a soft acoustic melody that builds into a synthy heaven daring its listener to “return to nature, get out of the city, and stop wasting time” before going on to describe various other pleasurable images... “Andromeda” is a perfect marriage between Zoé’s more acoustic tendencies and Leon Larregui’s recent solo album Solstis. In this album, Zoé manages to touch on familiar themes of eternal love, the abundance of space, infinite panoramas, and juxtaposes soft acoustic guitar riffs and choruses, with the dark psychedelic intensity that characterizes their unique style. As more and more Latin alternative bands move into the electronica realm these days, Zoé shows them with Programaton that this is their world. █

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/ KESTA HAPPENING MAGAZINE

/ DECEMBER

2013

KE PASÓ

By: Kala Fryman

Spanish rock legends Angeles del Infierno showed the DMV why they are still a force to be reckoned with this past November at the Howard Theatre. DJ MetalMary revved up the crowd with metal classics, while DC’s own Metanium did a great job of hyping fans up for the ADI show with their fast, high-energy set. A personal highlight was watching Metanium’s lead singer Marvin Serrano brandishing a giant sword while the band played Manowar’s, “Warriors of the World” (seriously who doesn’t like giant swords?!). At last, the lights dimmed and the crashing first drum beats of O Fortuna blasted over the loudspeakers. Images of fires burned on the venue’s TV screens while lights flashed in time with the chanting chorus. Such a dramatic entrance was fitting for a band that has been rocking for 35 years and shows no signs of stopping. ADI’s set was a nonstop blur of intensity as they played mostly older songs (prior to the 2003 release “Todos Somos Angeles”). A voracious crowd went wild with classics like “Maldito Sea Tu Nombre” “666” and “Con Las Botas Puestas.” Whether you were in the thick of the pit, or elsewhere, everyone was jumping with ADI’s metal hymns of “Rocker” and speed metal favorite A Cara o Cruz. Fans were calmed to submission singing in unison during rock ballads like “Si Tu No Estas Aqui” and “Al Otro Lado del Silencio.” Simply put, ADI tore it up! █

By: Malayna Butler

Chencho y Maldy, better known as Plan B, converted The Palace in Woodbridge into a true “House of Pleasure” on Wednesday, November 20. This duo of reggaetoneros from Puerto Rico excited the audience with their club bangers and hit songs. I was more than impressed with the audience’s engagement and Plan B’s mutual response. Maldy was especially cordial, reaching out to as many fans as he could and at one point it seemed that he may even be pulled off-stage by some eager fans. When he touched my hand I could have fainted. The place was packed from wall-to-wall and the energy was through the roof! The VIP sections overflowed. “Si No Le Contesto”, “Es Un Secreto”, “Por Qué Te Demoras”, “Ella Se Contradice” and “Partysera” were just a few of the songs that got onlookers hyped up. They also performed “Agarrala”, a track they recorded with Tito “El Bambino” who graced the very same stage only weeks before on November 6. They had had spectators singing along and infectiously nodding heads. Those closest to the stage had no little wiggle room for hips to sway along. Some folks were so determined and forceful in making their way to the front that a fight nearly broke out! Maldy, while slightly distracted, continued his flow as Chencho maintained his focus. If you’ve heard Plan B, “El Duo del Sex”, on the radio, then you also know now what they sound like live. If you Google search the words “Plan B” online you will surely be led to information regarding contraception and for some this catchy music could easily influence the act of baby-making (Lol). On another note, this concert was no overall disappointment although it was pretty surprising that at the end of the set they abruptly left the stage without even saying “Goodbye”. It made me wonder if they were late for a flight headed the 14th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas being held the very next day …? Well, who knows…? In any case, this concert provided me with a sense of gratification and will serve as a great impetus for myself and others to continue to support their music in the stores and, of course, on iTunes. █

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KE? KESTA HOROSCOPE Aries: Cultura Profética says “Tener tus ojos deberia de ser ilegal...” -“Ilegal”, Cultura Profética

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GIVEAWAYS: Libra: N Klabe says: “en mi en mi vida eres tu la melodia presente en mi canción” -”Si ya no estas”, N Klabe

Taurus: Gogol Bordello says: “Start wearing purple” -“Start weating purple”, Gogol Bordello

Scorpio: Jorge Celedón says:

“Brindemos por la vida es linda... Quiérela quiérela“

-“Que bonita es la vida” -Jorge Celedón

Gemini: Ricardo Montaner says: “Cuando estas cerca de mi, la cancion mas bonita que necesito suena a amor bonito“

Sagitario: Grover de Plaza Sesamo says: “Arriba, abajo, alrededor y a traves”

win tickets to

Cancer: Franco de Vita says: “Tú me das

Capricorn:

tuesday, april 1st

-” La Cancion que necesito”, Ricardo Montaner

las cosas que yo quiero cuando menos me lo espero” -”Tan solo tu” -Franco de Vita

Leo: J Balvin says: “Traaa TRA TRA

tranquila dale baby dale que tu no haces fila ” -“Tranquila”, J Balvin

Virgo: Jarabedepalo says: “SOMOS tierra, SOMOS paz, SOMOS fuego, destino, verdad....” -“SOMOS”, Jarabedepalo

Cultura Profética says “Tu eres la libertad soñada...”

-“La complicidad”, Cultura Profética

Aquarius: Los Temerarios says: ”Si

tu te vas...Todos mis sueños tambien se iran”

-“Si tu te vas”, Los Temerarios

Pisces: Ricardo Montaner says: ”Convenceme que la semana contigo tiene 2 semanas” -”Convenceme” -Ricardo Montaner

cultura profética

@ the howard theatre Download and install a free QR code reader for your phone 1. Open the QR code reader application 2. Take picture / scan the QR code with your mobile device 3. The code willl take you to the Win Tickets Page for a chance to win 4. THE FIRST PEOPLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION CORRECTLY ON THE WIN TICKETS PAGE WINS TICKETS TO CONCERT. Good Luck!

WWW.KESTADC.COM

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