Filed Under: California, Cultura News, Entertainment, Musica, Premium Press Releases, San Francisco
CONVERGENCE MMIX, a mini festival within the Mission Creek Music And Arts Festival, will be presenting a series of 11 events starting July 15th through July 25th. These events will include the premier screening of the Brazilian documentary “Rhythmic Uprising,” an AlterLatino rock showcase, a celebration of South American café culture, and performances by international musical tastemakers and trendsetters Juan Son (former lead singer of Porter), Nacotheque and Pop Noir. Also just added, a Latin Surf Party with The Cuban Cowboys, The Graves Brothers Deluxe and Carne Cruda and a show curated by Catterina Tasso (The May Fire) featuring her new project “Tasso”
After an “ambitious” debut in 2008, CONVERGENCE 2009 returns to Mission Creek Music and Arts Festival with expanded programming and more exciting collaborations. CONVERGENCE 2009 will present, as always, a wide variety of music ranging from the progressive and experimental to the more traditional and familiar. And, for the first time this year, CONVERGENCE will be including film in its programming.
CONVERGENCE 2009 (produced by San Francisco-based Brown Note Productions) will feature special guest performers Juan Son, Nacotheque and Pop Noir. CONVERGENCE MMIX will also include an AlterLatino rock showcase with bands Dezu, Con of Man, Los Valengerg and InkBlots. And, in collaboration with Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, CONVERGENCE MMIX will present the premiere screening of the Brazilian documentary film, Rhythmic Uprising featuring local drumming groups. The South American Café Culture segment, presented at Peña Pachamama in North Beach, will feature a series of intimate music and dance performances featuring World Beat, Flamenco, Rumba and Samba. Additions (and any changes) to the line-up will be announced as they are confirmed. Doors for most shows are 8:00pm or 8:30pm and ticket prices run from FREE – $20.00.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND EVENTS
JUAN SON has established himself as one of the more extraordinary performers to come out of Mexico to date. Formerly the lead singer of the wildly popular band PORTER, JUAN SON now presents his first solo work Mermaid Sashimi. Mermaid Sashimi is composed of songs that were written before and during his time with Porter. Unlike the music that catapulted Porter’s performances before massive audiences at Coachella and Mexico’s Vive Latino, Mermaid Sashimi is a more organic approach at expression that strays from traditional guitar- and drum-driven beats. In this album, music samples created by ambient effects and sounds are enhanced by Juan Son’s trademark ethereal vocals. www.myspace.com/juansonmusic
NACOTHEQUE [NAKO-TEK] The name Nacotheque is made up of the words “Naco” (often used in Mexican Spanish to describe bad-mannered people and “Discotheque”. Nominated by PAPER magazine as the “Best New Party of 2007″ and dubbed as “NYC’s hottest indie rock party en “Español” by URB magazine, Nacotheque has become one of the most unique events in New York City’s underground scene. Nacotheque is an event where one thing is in common: all different types of people, regardless of gender, nationality, profession, or sexual orientation, can get together and all feel welcome. Nacotheque is beating the stereotype of parties that host Spanish-sung music and teaching people what else is out there in the Spanish-sung indie/underground music scene. www.nacotheque.com
POP NOIR Shimmering streams of chiming guitar cascade over deep, dark undercurrents of bass and drums … it’s a unique sound born in the drizzle of Manchester, England, and seasoned in the sunshine of Southern California, as were Joe and Luke McGarry, the 21-year-old British twins who head up Los Angeles indie dancerock trio Pop Noir. In 2004, the brothers debuted at a concert in an abandoned indoor skate park in Costa Mesa, California. Since then, they have played more than 170 shows, headlined L.A. landmarks The Viper Room and have played as far a field as London, Manchester and Paris. Along the way, they have acquired a loyal and rapidly expanding fan base. Luke, the younger by 45 minutes, plays bass and keyboards and takes main vocal duties, while guitarist Joe handles backing vocals and all the programming and production. Onstage, with an array of loop pedals and sequencers, anchored by the thundering drums of Chilean Nico Saavedra, Pop Noir delivers a stunning live performance that crackles with raw energy and pure electricity. www.popnoir.org
RHYTHMIC UPRISINGAround the world, the celebrated Afro-Brazilian region of Bahia is known for it’s vibrant dance and music manifestations. This film takes a look behind the scenes of those grandiose carnaval spectacles to see how local cultural leaders utilize these arts to change lives.
Bahia boasts the largest concentration of African descendants outside of Africa. As shown in Rhythmic Uprising, Brazil’s blacks have used Afro-Brazilian cultural conventions to maintain their African heritage and wage war on poverty, racism, and oppression over the last four centuries. As freed slave communities called ‘quilombos’ did during the time of slavery, cultural leaders featured in the film are dismissing the racist, unbalanced power structures of modern Brazilian society by organizing their own microcosms. They cultivate social institutions based on equality and African heritage that function as refuge for at-risk black youth. In contrast to larger Brazilian society, these groups empower and encourage their youth to pursue brighter futures. For more information about Rhythmic Uprising see the website www.rhythmicuprising.org.
PENA PACHAMAMA Since 1999 Pena Pachamama has served as a San Francisco based center for South American music, food, art and culture. As such, the Pena, or gathering place , has provided community members to experience musicians, dancers and composers who come together to celebrate the multiplicity of cultures of the Americas in a landmark location in the North Beach district of San Francisco. www.penapachamama.com
ALTERLATINO Concert promoter, radio host and ardent rockera, Alex Zepeda presents ALTERLATINO, a showcase of emerging Latin Alternative rock bands. ALTERLATINO is fueled by local band power and showcases the diversity found in the Latino rock scene in Northern California. Headling AlterLatino will be Inkblots, Con of Man, and Dezu. Openers will be Los Valenberg ,Qodice, Tierra y Fuego and Sagaval.
INKBLOTS are a four piece band stemming from Santa Ana, CA. Mixing a variety of styles from folk, blues, to good old fashioned rock and roll, Inkblots provide a sound that is both original and yet strangely familiar. Since their formation in 2005, Inkblots have released two EPs and, in late 2008, their first self titled full length album under Vacant Bunny Records. They have performed headlining shows in such famous venues as the Troubadour and Whiskey A-Go Go and under the same bill as such top acts as The International Noise Conspiracy and Nortec Collective. Inkblots has been featured in Vertigo Magazine, “Good Day Fresno” TV Show, Pirate Cat Radio 87.9FM in San Francisco, Generacion Radio, “Amplitud Alternativa” on 1270am KFUT in Palm Springs, , to name a few. Erin Dewitt of the OC Weekly wrote of the band “Samuel Munoz (vocals, guitar), brothers Jesus (guitar) and Irving Nunez (drums), and Bernardo Rodriguez Jr. (bass) play together with a solidity that surpasses the band’s lifespan of less than three years. Munoz exhibits a distinct tone in his velvety drone, not unlike Paul Banks of Interpol, adding a layer of warmth to Inkblots’ music. Their easy and cool feel is a level usually reserved for groups of a more mature caliber.”
DEZU is a ska/punk rock band from Stockon which was formed by Joaquin Oceguera, Cesar Ramirez, Christian Ibanez, Alex Carmona, Joey, Luke , and Alain Ramirez. Manu Chao, Che Sudaka, Sekta Core, and Jaguares have greatly influenced the band. The band has performed with international ska bands such as Panteon Rococo, Wisecracker from Germany, La Plebe, and more. Dezu has been featured in interviews with Pirate Cat Radio 87.9FM in San Francisco, Generacion Radio, 209 Vibe Magazine in Stockton, “Amplitud Alternativa” on 1270am KFUT in Palm Springs “La Huya” TV show in Fresno, and Otro Mundo TV on Comcast Cable. “Ciudad de Ciegos” (City of the Blind) is the name of Dezu’s first EP released in 2009. The title of the EP as well as the theme song refers to the thousands of unsolved femicides in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. “Ciudad de Ciegos” was released in February of 2009. Also, the song “Hormiguitas Negras” was included in the compilation “Ska Life Volume 4”.Dezu’s music resembles life: there is love, hate, unrest, happiness, and a plethora of other emotions. Dezu’s message is “that all of us possess the power to raise our voice against social injustice, to love, to enjoy life, and to overcome all hatred.”
CON OF MAN emerged from Woodland, California three years ago, Con of Man’s music draws from a variety of influences: from post-punk bands such as Joy Division and The Chameleons to current indie groups including The Strokes and Interpol. Con of Man possesses a charismatic lead vocalist in Ruben Garcia, the passionate drum beats of Cassidy Garcia, thundering bass lines by Roberto Villegas inspired by Peter Hook (Joy Division) and Simon Gallup (The Cure), and diverse guitar riffs ranging from dreamy to caustic by Jorge Villegas. Con of Man released their first demo in late 2008 with great acceptance and praise from fans and media in the Sacramento area. Con of Man has been featured in the Sacramento News & Review, Fringe Magazine, Alice & Kicking Magazine, XM Satellite Radio, Pirate Cat Radio 87.9fm, and Generacion Radio.The band will be traveling to Austin, Texas in the summer of 2009 to record their second EP, followed by a tour of the West Coast throughout the year. It is certain that the Con of Man will not remain a local band for long. This is a band that should be caught now.
LOS VALENBERG This San Francisco trio formed by Hermez Flores (vocals), Omar Prieto (bass), and Joshua Jones (drums) began their musical journey in 2005 with the purpose of exploring and learning-along with their fans- the meaning of music. Over time, Los Valenberg has included guests musicians Matt in the congas and Dolores Avila in the trumpet. Los Valenberg has been featured in several online radio interviews including Generacion Radio, Insane’s Radio, Inche Radio, as well as KSJS 90.5FM in San Jose, and “Amplitud Alternativa” 1270am KFUT in Palm Springs. This learning process has given Los Valenberg an imminent desire to acquire an original sound, a language that reflects what” we, as Los Valenberg, dream & feel about life and our music.” Their music combines a variety of rhythms including rock, ska, reggae,blues,and even metal. Los Valenberg define their sound as “something new & extravagant” A sound as eclectic as the city by the bay.
SAGAVAL is a grunge rock band based out of the San Francisco Bay area. Sagaval was started in the fall of 2002 by Al Dizon and Marck Raymundo who met up online. As the years passed, lead vocals and drummers kept changing but the two original members stuck together. Ricardo Vallin joined as the new drummer in March of 2008. Then in 2009 Diego Zegarra becomes the new lead vocalist and the journey continues. Sagaval is currently in the studio doing new recordings. Sagaval has been featured on the “Myxology” on Myx TV Channel in the US and the Philippines, Ex’Pression College’s private concert series in Emeryville , Generacion Radio, and Pirate Cat Radio 87.9 FM in San Francisco.
QODICE was born in Oakland, California on November 11, 2007. It started when friends Gerardo Romo (drums), Cesareo Garibay (guitar), Fernando Lazaro (guitar),Edwin Rodriguez (bass), Jesus Ruiz(keyboard & back-up vocals), and Raul Luna (vocals) decided to get together & share their desire to transmit their love and passion for music to their audience. After a year of growth and change, Qodice quickly moved on to writing their own material and has just released their first original demo. The name Qodice derives from the ancient Mexican indigenous scriptures of our ancestors. Just like the name says, it is up to our audience to decipher the message within our songs
TIERRA Y FUEGO is a band from Berkeley consisting of Isabel Espinoza (lead vocals), Gabriel Sandino (guitars), Rafael Turincio (bass and vocals) and Enrique Sepulveda (drums and percussion).Their music combines different styles of Latin American, reggae, pop and rock rhythms. Tierra y Fuego’s lyrics represent an allegory that is marked by a socially strong content and a humanly artistic point of view. It is the perfect blend between experience & freshness. Tierra y Fuego’s sound is very diverse, the vocal harmonies give grace and beauty to the interpretation, its rhythms invite dance and interaction.
THE GRAVES BROTHERS DELUXE Bela Lugosi and Elvis Presley both died on Stoo Odom’s birthday. (This is true.) The GRAVES BROTHERS DELUXE, disembodied musical spirits from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, thus chose Odom eagerly when looking for host bodies to express themselves. New Orleans native/ bassist/ vocalist/ recovering archaeologist Odom shares the current possessée duties with San Franciscans Willy the Mailman and Marco Villalobos. www.myspace.com/thegravesbrothersdeluxe
THE CUBAN COWBOYS Que es/What is un Cuban Cowboy? A berry good question. The Cuban Cowboy is not a tipico cowboy in the mold of a cheesy-quesoso Hollywood Western. Horses? He has none. His bovine encounters are limited to the meat aisle. He (or she) sleeps on a mattress, rides a subway train, and owns no rifle. The Cuban Cowboy is a breed apart–a hy-breed. The tools of his trade are a musical instrument, a silvery tongue and a pair of twitchy hips. He is the bastard love-child of Ricky Ricardo and Tom Waits, Elvis eats azucar.
The musical estilo of The Cuban Cowboys is as itinerant as the elusive creatures who spawn it. A capricious mixture of tradition and revolt, it features tasty rhythmitos of Montuno and Guajira served up under swooning surf guitar and dark post-punk power chords. An occasional hillbilly root thrown in the pot not only justifies the wearing of cowboy hats, but also makes an excellent garnish.
Armed with intelligent lyrics and catchy mambo riffs The Cuban Cowboys swivel forth to enclose their audience en un rock ‘n’ roll abrazo: suave, firme y muy—¿como se dice?—SEXXAY.
Today the band is busy wreaking havoc on cultural assumptions and rocking their culos off along both U.S. coasts: spreading the word, playing the tunes, and promoting the traditional Cuban values of Ritmo, Amor, y el Consumption of Pork Products. The Cuban Cowboys may not know joo yet, but already they burn with lob for joo…www.myspace.com/cubancowboys
CARNE CRUDA Exploring the intersection of Surf and Latin music, Carne Cruda isn’t afraid to mash The Ventures against the Buena Vista Social Club and see what comes out. As reverb springs from the twangy guitar latin-funk horns blare against the rocking rhythm section causing dancefloors to explode from Oakland to Poland, from Cali, Colombia to California. The tongue-in-cheek humor of Carne Cruda’s lyrics and the good old-fashioned sense of fun that exudes from the stage has propelled Carne Cruda on four European tours and beyond, and the tight musicianship mixed with a playful attitude and rocking musical numbers has opened the doors to countless listeners around the world. Produced by four-time Grammy®-nominated producer Greg Landau, Carne Cruda is raw and rocking and coming your way. www.carnecruda.com
TASSO – Chilean singer/guitarist Cat Tasso teamed up with LA drummer Danny Hutchinson form this moody, raw, and intense rock and roll duo. Characterized by loud and aggressive playing, the pair is reminiscent of the show spirit and attitude of yesterday. Simplicity and raw energy give them their signature huge sound.
FANCY GUEY Un DJ en Los Angeles de la música electrónica-pop en Espanol synth-electro Los Sonidos DeTune, DJ Residente de la fiesta que sigue quebrando records, Metropoli! En tan solo nueve meses de produccion lleva formando una historia que traspasara años, ya reconocida por la nueva generacion de fiesteros modernos como un evento en cual se escucha la mejor musica del nuevo movimiento y la nueva onda e indudablemente trayendo los mejores actos musicales al sur de California. Musica simplemente en Español, de todo el mundo! www.myspace.com/fancyguey
ABOUT THE PRODUCER AND CONVERGENCE
ANN BLANKENSHIP, founded Brown Note Productions in 2007. In 2008 she produced the first CONVERGENCE festival in partnership with the Mission Creek Music And Arts Festival. CONVERGENCE was established to further Blankenship’s support of contemporary Latin-origin music. CONVERGENCE strives to support emerging Bay Area and international talent, to firmly establish continuous “indie-national” programming in the San Francisco Bay Area and to encourage collaborations and foster community between alternative and independent rock artists locally, nationally and internationally.
Brown Note Productions is pleased to partner with community organizations Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, La Pena Pachamama and Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival in presenting CONVERGENCE MMIX.
ABOUT MISSION CREEK MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
MISSION CREEK MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL is an annual collaborative effort presented by a consortium of local independent concert promoters, musicians, artists, filmmakers, dancers and multi-media performance artists. Through this forum, MCMAF strives to foster community among local Bay Area artists; showcase emerging artists and musicians and bring innovative and diverse programming to a wider audience. The festival strives for ethical programming and sponsorship–selecting music and art in a fair and democratic way, and using green and sustainable technology wherever possible. Bay Area artist and musician, Jeff Ray, is the Founder and Executive Producer.
CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
EVENT FAST FACTS
-
- Event: CONVERGENCE MMIX
- Venues: Pena Pachamama, Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, Bollyhood Café, The Blue Macaw and The Oakland Metro Opera House
- Dates: Wednesday July 15, 2008 through Saturday July 25, 2008
- Websites: CONVERGENCE www.myspace.com/brownnoterocks and Mission Creek www.mcmf.org
- CONVERGENCE MMIX Schedule: N.B Lineups are subject to change
7/15-18 |
7/17 |
7/18 |
Pena Pachamama |
Oakland Metro Opera House |
The Blue Macaw |
|
7/15 – World Beat w/ Freddy Clark 8:00pm $12
7/16 – Carola Zertuche Flamenco 8:00pm $12 7/17 – Cuban Nites-8:30pm $15 7/18 – Carnaval del Mundo 8:30pm $15 |
Los Valenberg
InkBlots Dezu Con of Man Sagaval Tierra y Fuego Qodice Tix: $15 Doors: 8:00pm Show: 8:30pm |
Juan Son
Nacotheque Pop Noir DJ Fancy Guey Tix $15 Adv $20 Door Doors: 8:30pm Show: 9:00pm |
7/18 |
7/22 |
7/23 |
7/25 |
Bollyhood Café |
The Blue Macaw |
The Blue Macaw |
MCCLA |
|
Rhythmic Uprising Pre-Screening Party
FREE 7:00-10:00pm |
Show Curated by
Cat Tasso (The May Fire) Details: TBA |
The Cuban Cowboys
The Graves Bros Deluxe Carne Cruda Tix: $10 Doors: 7:30pm Show: 8:30pm |
Premier Screening
Documentary: Rhythmic Uprising Tix: $7 Doors: 3:00pm Show: 3:30pm |
CONVERGENCE MMIX INFO & CONTACTS:
- For CONVERGENCE MMIX information and updates please visit:
- CONVERGENCE MMIX
- Ann Blankenship – Producer/Sponsorships
- Cell (415) 244-8250 :: E-mail brownnoterock@earthlink.net
- CONVERGENCE MMIX Publicity
- Ilka Erren Pardiñas
- Tel (323) 667-1344 :: E-mail flypr@flypr.net
- CONVERGENCE MMIX Marketing
- Christi Crowe
- Tel (415) 566-8628 :: E-mail christi@flagmarketing.com
MISSION CREEK MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL INFO & CONTACTS:
- For Mission Creek Music And Arts Festival information and updates please visit:
- Jeff Ray – Founder/Executive Producer/Sponsorships :: ray7@pacbell.net
- Neil Martinson – Co-Producer :: herrneilson@gmail.com
For press materials or additional information on CONVERGENCE MMIX, Mission Creek Music And Arts Festival or any CONVERGENCE MMIX artists please contact Fly PR: T. (323) 667-1344 or flypr@flypr.net.
Knowledge is Power and this page is just the start. Hispanics/Latinos are a growing diverse force in this country. Check out some of the 59,016 items found on this site below or dig into the Site Map
News Summary: Hispanic y Latino News Summary :: March 12th, 2010 (view past ones) --»
Essentials –»
Immigration grassroots activists who met with Obama reveal what went down at the White House :: from www.latinalista.net
CALLE OCHO – ‘World’s biggest’ Latin street party will take over Miami Sunday :: from www.miamiherald.com
The nation’s immigration courts are choked by the largest backlog of pending deportation and asylum cases in history, more than 18,000 of them in Texas – with a national backlog of ONLY 228,400 cases :: from www.chron.com
Obama Says He’s Committed to Immigration Overhaul – Obama tells lawmakers, advocates his commitment to immigration overhaul is ‘unwavering’ :: from abcnews.go.com
Study: Median Wealth for Single Black Women: $100, Single Hispanic Women: $120, Single White Women: $41,000 :: from www.democracynow.org
A longtime State Board of Education member, Mary Helen Berlanga, accused her colleagues of “whitewashing” curriculum standards Thursday and walked out of the panel’s meeting in frustration amid heated debates about race and the inclusion of Hispanics in lesson plans. :: from www.kfdm.com
Homicides in Venezuela have quadrupled during President Hugo Chavez’s 11 years in power, with two people murdered every hour :: from www.washingtonpost.com
A powerful drug cartel is buying off journalists in northern Mexico to work as spies and smother coverage of a spike in killings on the U.S. border in the latest attack on the media in Mexico. – an almost total muzzle on reporting violence from Nuevo Laredo to Matamoros. :: from www.reuters.com
Best of the Rest Hispanic/Latino News –»
Hey, the Census Can Be Fun! WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Proves It on a Show on Hard-To-Count Immigrants :: from news.feetintwoworlds.org
The healthcare bill’s immigration provisions are enough to spur Hispanic members of Congress to vote against it, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said Thursday. :: from thehill.com
Linda Chavez Thompson “What it means when the last bookstore closes…” – in Laredo, TX :: from blog.latinovations.com
Sean Penn Wants Journalists Arrested For Badmouthing Hugo Chavez :: from guanabee.com
Latino-grocery boom likely to slow as second-generation shoppers surge :: from www.denverpost.com
Backlogged Immigration Matters Climb, Details by Court Location and Nationality :: from lawprofessors.typepad.com
Latino culture a key to childhood obesity :: from blogs.usatoday.com
Obama Links Immigration Overhaul in 2010 to G.O.P. Backing :: from www.nytimes.com
Activists tell Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno a new birth certificate law harms mainland residents :: from latimesblogs.latimes.com
Hispanic/Latino Cultura News –»
CALLE OCHO – ‘World’s biggest’ Latin street party will take over Miami Sunday :: from www.miamiherald.com
Placido Domingo Recovering “at a Good Pace” from Cancer Surgery :: from www.laht.com
KLRN, V-ME to honor ‘Latina Firsts’ March 25 at Museo Alameda :: from blogs.mysanantonio.com
Nortec Collective’s Clorofila to Release Debut Solo Album in April :: from www.shoutcastblog.com
Hey, the Census Can Be Fun! WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Proves It on a Show on Hard-To-Count Immigrants :: from news.feetintwoworlds.org
Q&A with Banda de Turistas :: from latina.com
The Revolutionary Puerto Rican Woman – NYC Event – Friday March 19th at 7pm :: from www.literanista.net
Irish/Mexican history a moment too many want to forget :: from southchicagoan.blogspot.com
StoryCorps Historias – Rob Sanchez and Felix Aponte :: from storycorps.org
Mexico City hosts nation’s first gay marriages :: from www.latimes.com
Hispanic/Latino Business News –»
Latino-grocery boom likely to slow as second-generation shoppers surge :: from www.denverpost.com
Study: Median Wealth for Single Black Women: $100, Single Hispanic Women: $120, Single White Women: $41,000 :: from www.democracynow.org
Cesar Aldama has been named news director at WFOR-4 (CBS) in Miami :: from mediamoves.blogspot.com
Brands to be organically integrated into Univision’s Nuestra Belleza Latina. :: from hispanicad.com
Thorp Reed & Armstrong’s Lourdes Sanchez Ridge is Honored with Women of Achievement Award
Eighth Annual Hispanic Television Summit To Be Part of Advertising Week NY 2010
‘El Magic’ Reach Out To Latino Community – Orlando :: from www.cfnews13.com
Welcome to the inaugural blog post from Destination Casa Blanca, the Latino Voice in Politics, carried since 2008 on Hispanic Independent Television Network, HITN. – covering obesity :: from www.huffingtonpost.com
More US Hispanic/Latino News –»
Local Census Volunteers Prepare to Hit the Streets – Their goal is to make sure everyone is counted – East LA :: from egpnews.com
Lucia Ballas-Traynor: “Beauty and Style at the Core of Latina’s Identity” :: from www.portada-online.com
Farmingvillle Redux :: from lawprofessors.typepad.com
Hispanic aldermen press for support of immigration reform – Chicago :: from www.wbbm780.com
International News :: English + Español –»
USCIS Reminds Chilean Nationals of Immigration Benefits Available :: from www.uscis.gov
Mexico City hosts nation’s first gay marriages :: from www.latimes.com
Chile’s Students Lead Latin America in Marijuana and Tobacco Consumption :: from www.americasquarterly.org
Homicides in Venezuela have quadrupled during President Hugo Chavez’s 11 years in power, with two people murdered every hour :: from www.washingtonpost.com
A powerful drug cartel is buying off journalists in northern Mexico to work as spies and smother coverage of a spike in killings on the U.S. border in the latest attack on the media in Mexico. – an almost total muzzle on reporting violence from Nuevo Laredo to Matamoros. :: from www.reuters.com
NCLR Urges Swift Confirmation of Yzaguirre as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic

JUAN SON has established himself as one of the more extraordinary performers to come out of Mexico to date. Formerly the lead singer of the wildly popular band PORTER, JUAN SON now presents his first solo work Mermaid Sashimi. Mermaid Sashimi is composed of songs that were written before and during his time with Porter. Unlike the music that catapulted Porter’s performances before massive audiences at Coachella and Mexico’s Vive Latino, Mermaid Sashimi is a more organic approach at expression that strays from traditional guitar- and drum-driven beats. In this album, music samples created by ambient effects and sounds are enhanced by Juan Son’s trademark ethereal vocals.
ANN BLANKENSHIP, founded Brown Note Productions in 2007. In 2008 she produced the first CONVERGENCE festival in partnership with the Mission Creek Music And Arts Festival. CONVERGENCE was established to further Blankenship’s support of contemporary Latin-origin music. CONVERGENCE strives to support emerging Bay Area and international talent, to firmly establish continuous “indie-national” programming in the San Francisco Bay Area and to encourage collaborations and foster community between alternative and independent rock artists locally, nationally and internationally.
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