Albuquerque, NM

Brave Combo
Nearly thirty years ago, someone
classifi ed Denton, Texas’ Brave Combo as a
new wave polka band, which they are. Th ey
even won two Grammys for playing polka. But they’re so much more. Brave Combo
is the best klezmer surf rock, Tex-Mex, Cumbia, Cha-Cha, Muzak, Mosh-Pit
Polka band in the history of the world. ‘Nuff said.
Brave Combo plays Albuquerque’s
Fourth of July celebration at Balloon Fiesta
Park. Tickets cost $1. Seattle triphop, electroacoustic duo Two Loons For Tea
opens for Brave Combo at the KTAOS
Solar Center on Saturday, July 5. Tickets
for the Taos show are $10 in advance.
brave.com
ktao.com
Joan Armatrading
KTAOS Solar Center Sunday, July 6.
See story page 6
Los Pinguos
Using a Peruvian cajón box drum, a Cuban tres, and Spanish guitars, the
Argentinian band Los Pinguos has
become one of the most popular Latin
acts in Los Angeles. After achieving a fair
amount of success in their native city of Buenos Aires, the members of Los Pinguos
moved to Southern California in search of international recognition in 2001. Th ey’re
getting it. Th ey have a huge following
of Angelinos, they won the grand prize
on the Ed McMahon-hosted television
show Th e Next Big Star, their songs have
appeared on three Putumayo World Music
compilations, and they’ve toured the world.
Los Pinguos mix a number of Latin
rhythms with wonderful harmonies. See
their much talked about live show at the
Los Alamos Summer Concert Series on
Friday, July 11 and at the Santa Fe Brewing
Company on Saturday, July 12.
lospinguos.com
santafebrewing.com
gordonsconcerts.com
Del Castillo
In 2000, Mark and Rick del Castillo
made a recording of Latin and fl amenco
songs for their parents and friends in
Brownsville, Texas. It was the fi rst time
the brothers had ever played together. Alex Ruiz later began adding vocals and
soon del Castillo became a complete band. Within just a few short months, they had
made a name for themselves in Austin. In
2003, del Castillo won seven Austin Music
Awards, including “Band of the Year” and
“Album of the Year.” Del Castillo has taken
its mix of fl amenco, Latin, rock and world
music to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar
Festival and on the road with Los Lonely
Boys, Los Lobos, Kinky and de Sol.
Del Castillo plays the KTAOS Solar Center on Saturday, July 12.
delcastillomusic.
com
ktao.com
Billy Bob
Th ornton and
the Boxmasters
Th ornton was
a musician long
before he hit it
big-time with
Sling Blade. As
a drummer, he
knocked around in
a number of bands, including a ZZ Top
tribute band called
Tres Hombres. Th ornton’s
current band is
the Boxmasters. Th eir offi cial bio says
Th ornton met fellow Boxmaster J.D. Andrew in a dispute over some cole slaw at
a fast food chicken restaurant. Th e dispute
ended quickly, with Th ornton and Andrew
becoming fast friends. A shared love of 1960s rock and roll and Buck Owens-style
country led them to form a band. Th ey
recruited Mike Butler, a friend of Andrew, to play lead guitar. Two things about the Boxmasters are
certain. One is that the core of the band is
made up of Th ornton, Andrew and Butler – they’re joined onstage by a number of top-
notch musicians. And two, a Boxmasters show is as much a party as it is a musical performance. Th e actor and Oscar-winning screenwriter has an intimacy with his audience that’s hard to match. Billy Bob Th ornton and the Boxmasters
play the Santa Fe Brewing Company on Wednesday, July 16 and the KTAOS Solar Center on Th ursday, July 17.
Summer Music Preview
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