Blending their take on the classic Peruvian and Colombian style of cumbia called Chicha, with hypnotic percussion laced with psychedelia, Money Chicha will take you on a journey when the Austin,TX band performs at Lowbrow Palace on February 21st. Bassist Greg González speaks with Fusion.
Fusion: We are practically neighbors, has anyone in the band ever been to El Paso, or is there any ties to you guys and El Paso?
Greg González: We’ve been to El Paso several times with our other/affiliated group Grupo Fantasma, but never as Money Chicha. Myself and Money Chicha guitarist Beto Martinez are both from Laredo, TX so we definitely feel affinity with El Paso and all other border towns.
F: What were some of your early shows like with Money Chicha? How did people react early on?
G: Our early shows were a lot of fun. We did several residencies at a small venue called the Continental Club Gallery in Austin. The space is very small and hot, and feels like someones living room. We would play every Monday and the club would fill up quickly with sweaty dancing bodies. It was a lot of fun.
F: Is there any type of cumbia or Chicha scene in Austin?
G: There is a definite cumbia scene. Chicha not so much. Our other band Grupo Fantasma began playing cumbia in Austin around 18 years ago. At the time we were the only band giving the music our own unique spin on 6th street. There were more Mexican bands that played on the East side, but they were generally Tejano or groups that played covers and such. Now there are a lot of cumbia bands, of all types. There are authentic Colombian bands that pay traditional and Folkloric cumbia, as well as more modern cumbia, and cumbia rock bands as well as the Peligrosa DJs who are a 10 piece DJ collective specializing in cumbia and tropical bass styles.
F: I notice your logo adorns the traditional brilliant colors of the old school Chicha scene from Peru, who are some of your favorite Chicha artist, and who is an underrated artist in that scene?
G: A lot of the original Chicha artists are unknown, but their works are available all over the internet. Our good friend Gerardo Arellano from Monclova, MX does most of the art for us. He is an aficionado of the style. Probably the best guy doing it now is Elliot Tupac from Peru. He incorporates a lot of modern graffiti and street art techniques into the more traditional screen printing and mural styles.
F: You guys find a perfect balance of dance rhythms with psychedelic flourishes, what are important factors to keep such a vibrant consistent groove?
G: You have to have fun and not be afraid to take chances. Everything must serve the rhythm and groove though. If its not funky, it’s not right.
F: Besides your feel-good hypnotic groove, is there an underlying message you are trying to get across?
G: We appreciate the inclusivity of the style of music, it’s embracing of exotic and indigenous melodies as well as psychedelic sounds and weirdness. The music speaks to Carribean, Andean, Amazonian as well as American and European sensibilities.
F: What kind of non Chicha influences are part of the mold of the band?
G: Too many to count! Psychedelic music, salsa, traditional cumbia, tango, lando, surf, rock, and of course funk.
F: Is there any kind of social/political stance that Money Chicha represent?
G: We believe in equality and inclusivity. We support the blending and mixing of cultures, races, sexualities and sexes, sounds and colors and voices. Peace and unity and all of that. We are opposed to nativism, xenophobia, racism and classism.
F: What do you think of our current president and his stance on immigration?
G: We are not fans of his. The man is an embarrassment and a liability, he is surrounded by lying sycophants and cheap opportunists. The man is a narcissist preyed upon by those who wish to oppress and exploit others, and they all promote an exclusionary fairy-tale that has dark fascist and racist overtones. His stance on immigration is terrible. The wall is a terrible idea!
F: With song titles like Echo en Mexico and La Cordillera, what are the ties of the song titles to the music?
G: Echo en Mexico is a play on words. You wouldn’t believe how many times people try to correct that one! They act like we misspelled Hecho. But the whole thing is about the mixing. I am a Mexican American, born on the border in Texas, a state that was once Mexico. My heritage is mixed. Where I grew up everyone from the mayor to the principal [from school] to my neighbors and friends spoke “spanglish”. Our music is also a mix—it draws its inspiration from Chicha music which was a mix of indigenous melodies, Spanish guitar music, Caribbean/African rhythms and psychedelic/surf rock/blues sounds.
La Cordillera was influenced by the icy terrain of the Southern tip of Chile and South America. A very desolate place inhabited by glaciers and penguins and such.
F: What would you like for the listener to take from the Money Chicha live show?
G: Memories and merch ;P
