The first time I saw Roncovacoco on stage was at the Skawars Festival a couple of months ago and although I was not familiar with their songs, I was impressed by their sound, their musical ability and their stage presence.
So when I was asked to review their first cd, Presenta…, Roncovacoco’s first album, I was excited to hear if the band would be able to capture the energy and sound of their stage performances, in digital form.
With band leader Alex Villanueva, the rest of the members were also involved in the sound mixing and production of the album, which is perhaps the reason why they captured all of their musical abilities to the fullest and were also able to transfer the energy of their live performances onto the album.
Presenta... is charged with killer ska riffs, addicting horn notes, blistering protest lyrics and a drum and percussion assault that will get you skanking from the very first chords.
Featuring Locos Por Juana with a smooth ska/reggae, the opening song sets the tone for the rest of the album. With lyrics reminiscent of Tijuana No or The Clash, “Buscando Solucion” is a call for Latinos to join forces and ideas, instead of competing with and fighting one another.
The album follows with a cover of the The Pretenders’ hit “Back on the Chain Gang”, which was made famous in the Latin world by the late Tejano singer Selena under the name “Fotos Y Recuerdos”. With a steady beat and a superbly arranged horn section, this songs takes on a whole new life allowing it to make a brand new name for itself in the ska community.
With 15 cuts on the album, ranging from classic ska riffs, skacore, smooth swing, to slow grooving reggae, and from thought provoking lyrics, to those of love and fun, Presenta.. has something for everyone.
You can purchase the album through the band’s website, Amazon.com and iTunes.
Roncovacoco will present the new album in Orange County at the House of Blues at Downtown Disney in Anaheim on Thursday April 5th, with special guests Red Store Bums, Cafe Con Tequila, and Mula.
*Photos by 85 Photography
