Music as a platform to affect compassion and mobilize us in a unified front against social injustices is one of Frontera Bugalú’s main goals. The other? To write those thumping, rump-shaking numbers the band’s become synonymous with.
Songs that deal with tragedies like immigrant deaths, police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, along with lighter party numbers will roll out at the band’s fundraiser, Saturday, February 24 at Star City Studio Production, 120 W Castellano Dr.
They aim to raise at least $5,000 to offset production costs for their as yet untitled record, due out this April. The album follows up the ultra-successful 2016 work Alma De Jaguar.
Co-founder, front man and guitarist/accordionist Kiko Rodriguez revealed the record takes a slight detour from Jaguar and previous works in terms of sound and thematic elements.
“We didn’t put any limits on what we were going to write this time,” he explained. “A lot of it [deals with] current things happening that affected me.”
In particular, the deaths of dozens of immigrants in Texas who’d succumbed to the sweltering heat in the confines of a semi-truck trailer while being smuggled to the U.S. had a profound impact on Rodriguez. In an effort to sublimate those feelings and create a dialog about the tragedy, he wrote “Respirar.”
“Filando” tells of a mother’s despair over the loss of her child, and pays homage to Philando Castile—the black man who was gunned down on camera by police in a suburb of Saint Paul, MN.
“A lot of our fans don’t know what’s going on in other places; I want them to know and feel connected to it, and see how that’s connected to the murders on the border,” Rodriguez said. “I want people to try to put themselves in another person’s shoes and tap into that. As painful as it might be, it’s something I think people need to hear.”
To help deliver the message of “Respirar,” the band decided to opt for a Grand piano (played by co-founder Joel Osvaldo), and incorporate a Son Cubano bassline to create what Rodriguez terms “a huge fusion of elements and a very dramatic song.”
“This album departs from a lot of things, and we’re trying out new things with new instruments,” he explained. “I’m playing these traditional Mexican guitars (Son Jarochos) that I haven’t done live yet. Also, there’s a little more Son and Caribbean type stuff on it.”
The band is also close to confirming a live online broadcast of the show as well. Along with that they’ll be doing an art auction with paintings donated by some of the area’s premier artists. Los Dos, Jellyfish Colectivo from Juárez, Zeke Pena and others are collaborating with the band to provide some of their work. Proceeds will be split between the artists and Frontera Bugalú. Auction winners will be announced at midnight.
The band will play 3 sets throughout the night, incorporating new songs into each. DJ Birth DFX will spin between sets.
Big Bend Brewing Company and Deadbeach Brewery are also donating beer for the event, which will be provided with the cost of the ticket. Tickets are limited to the first 125 people.
Saturday, February 24, 9 pm @ Star City Studio.
For more information see the events on the band’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fronterabugalu/