ENTERTAINMENT
Viva Velorio!
Velorio continues to blaze music trails
By Matt Muñoz, MÁS Staff
T
wo years ago, the Bakersfield Latin rock quintet was being watched on international TV after winning SiTV’s ‘Jammin’ online band battle and making it to the finals broadcast. Although the band lost to a group described as another “future pop music casualty,” it was probably better that Velorio took home the consolation prize. After all, most reality show competition winners fall into obscurity sooner than later. Not Velorio. Like most new bands making a big impression in highprofile places early in their careers, Velorio took the experience and immediately planned their next moves — writing new music and touring across the country. “We’ve been expanding,” said Velorio lead-vocalist and guitarist Alvaro Caceres of the band’s continued mission. “And preparing ourselves for the next step.” Carefully plotting their next career move, fellow band members Ben Gomez, bass; Eric Powers, keys; Adrian Nevarez, percussion; Jason Blakely, drums, bass, have already scored some choice gigs for an unsigned band. Headlining the Hollywood House of Blues this past year, the band has also performed at L.A.’s Conga Room and been a featured band at various artist showcases, thanks to their manager and booking agent Claudia Guerrero of Southern California-based,
PHOTO BY ALEX OMEGA/COURTESY OF VELORIO
Velorio, from left, Adrian Nevarez, Jason Blakely, Alvaro Caceres, Ben Gomez, and Eric Powers.
Chicle Atomico Promotions. “To survive in this game, everything has to be streamlined so we don’t step on each other’s toes. Claudia began booking us more than the LA bands because we wanted to work,” Gomez said. “She’s been an immense help to us.” Building their fanbase via their MySpace and Facebook pages, the group’s “brick by brick” approach has also put them on the road in some interesting travel arrangements from California to Oregon, even as far as Chicago. Making their recent trek aboard a tour bus that runs entirely on used kitchen grease, the band ventured through city alleys requesting contributions from various restaurants. “We refer to it as our environmentally conscious tour,” Caceres laughed. “The Asian mom and pop restaurants
had the best grease.” Percussionist Nevarez, also a recent CSUB graduate, added his own description for filling the 120 gallon converted fuel tank that included a simple hose and batteryoperated pump. “We put on the rubber gloves and went for it. We’d jump out and just go, go, go…” In addition to thinking outside of the box when it comes to touring, the band has also steered their music in a different direction. Originally a jam-based band with extended solos and multi-layered percussion, Powers explained their new course to keep things light. “We’ve been concentrating on simplicity. When we first started out we had a home studio we used to record as much as we can. Things became muddled,” explained Powers.
Hit tracks like “Entregate,” and “Lights, Camera, Dissatisfaction” from their latest sessions are radio-friendly jams with the right blend of the band’s strongest musical elements. Catch the band live and there’s no resisting their invitation pa’ bailar. “The dance game is addicting, and we love making people dance,” said Caceres. So, as the world’s 'Roc en Espanol' scene seems to be taking a creative siesta by trying to imitate their U.S. idols, Velorio’s music reminds you of why you still wear your old Caifanes T-shirt. You can’t bring back the dead, but you can rest assured that within the armies of bands spinning their wheels – there is hope in the Valle Central. “It’s only going to get better,” said Powers. On the Web: www. veloriomusic.com Sept. 5, 2010
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