Don Palabraz

Taller Sur in the OC Weekly

Taller Sur Celebrate Four Years of Diverse Latin Music at Viento y Agua Coffee House
BY GABRIEL SAN ROMAN
Issuing impressive guitar work, stirring melodies and expressive vocals, Taller Sur have proved over the years that Latinos can be bohemian, too. Beginning as an experimental songwriting workshop in 2005, the group have evolved into a sophisticated [...]

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Anaheim’s My Machete Stays Sharp!

Anaheim’s My Machete have been making strikingly moody, nuanced indie rock for the better part of the past decade. Chemical bursts of energy propel the band’s repertoire, but they are also capable of slowing things down—“Endo Zendo Nintendo” slithers along a catchy riff reminiscent of Quinto Sol’s “Mi Vida Loca.” Though the quartet— Jessica Escobedo [...]

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Pacha Massive – If You Want It

[CD Review] Pacha Massive, ‘If You Want It’ (Nacional)
BY GABRIEL SAN ROMAN
As the group are based in New York, it makes sense that Pacha Massive have made their musical mark by mixing the genres of a city that’s a true global center. The then-duo of Dominican-born Ramon Nova and Colombian cohort Maya Martinez debuted to [...]

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Murder Was The Case…

Forty years ago the historical fault lines in Orange County shifted forever. In a nearly forgotten chapter of its history, the city of Santa Ana in the summer of 1969 was the closest OC ever came to ‘Watts ‘65.’ Nelson A. Sasscer, a rookie of the year police officer, was shot on June 4th with [...]

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Cordero Returns to the West Coast!

Based in New York City, the band Cordero has been quietly perfecting its unique blend of indie-rock rhythms infused with the infectious sounds of Latin music. Fronted by Puerto Rican songstress Ani Cordero and featuring members of various ethnic backgrounds, the band’s songs intermingle her soothing vocals with musical arrangements that are irresistibly danceable on [...]

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