October 16, 2019 | UHCL Staff
For those who have never been to a Las Cafeteras concert, vocalist Hector Flores says it is easy to describe what it is like to experience a live performance. “It’s like the best backyard party you’ve ever been to, times two,” he said. The six-member group based in Los Angeles will use traditional instrumentation to perform “everything from Caribbean to California” at the university’s Bayou Theater on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
“A person who’s never been to our show will travel to the past, think about the present and fly to the future,” Flores said. “We play 400-year-old African traditional music, but we also love our oldies. We play everything from cumbia to punk and hip hop and Son Jarocho. If Lila Downs and Manu Chao had a baby, that would be us.”
Flores said that he and his five bandmates met in college and solidified their bond through their respective works in social activism. “We learned music together and we used it to build community and have parties,” he said. “We wanted to use music to flip what made us angry and create joy. We want to create connection between everyone. You don’t have to understand Spanish to dance.”
Las Cafeteras is releasing a series of covers, including “Angel Baby,” first released by Rosie and the Originals in 1961, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 1991 hit, “Under the Bridge.” Flores said they would perform both singles and the audience would hear their love for the “oldies” they grew up listening to.
He said all the members of the band are passionate about social activism, participating in causes including gender justice and the sanctuary city movement in Los Angeles. “We use our music to break down borders. That’s our work,” he said. “Our message is about positivity and joy. We want to break down barriers so people can dance. Because if we can’t dance together, how can we build a country? Let’s start with a two-step.”
Find more information or purchase Bayou Theater tickets online.
