Driving to Sam's Burger Joint I had completely missed out on Window, the first band of the evening. At home, I hadn’t checked show times until I was fixing to get ready around 9ish—right about the time Window was set to start—and realized my mistake. I feel badly about having missed their set, especially for a review, but I’ll just have to catch them next time.
Once I had parked and re-parked (according to a security guy, cars parked in the empty lot across the street have been towed before) it was easy to see the genuine party vibe Vallejo and their fans bring to a show. Plenty of people were dressed up as if they were going to a dance club instead of a rock show, and Sam's Burger Joint was busy and buzzing with life. Of course, I'm sure that it being a Friday night didn't hurt either.
Vallejo
Onstage and on disc, Vallejo plays an infectious style Latin Rock. It's in a similar vein as, say, Mana. But what I especially liked about Vallejo's music was that it was a seamless blend of Latin Rock with funk and hard rock influences as well. Some of my favorite songs included the easy-going "Downtown" and the Chicano call-to-arms "Rock Americano," which was especially popular with the audience. Perhaps it's from their years of playing together, but the band really knows how to lay out these thick funk grooves and keep them breathing. Adding the percussion and the professionalism of the musicians (no overplaying, giving songs their space) makes for a unique style of dance music that's impossible to resist.
Last Of Our Kind
Last Of Our Kind were the final band of the evening and were eclectic, to say the least. They label themselves as an "Alternative Rock/Pop - Improvisational Jam Group" which I would say is a pretty accurate description. Although they used a similar quartet setup as Vallejo (two guitarists, bass, drums, percussionist) Last Of Our Kind were much more eccentric and subtle in execution—They have the Santana and Hendrix influences, sure, but seem to incorporate elements of flamenco and world music into their sound as well. In addition, they also have a knack for executing these gentle push/pull rhythms that really gave their songs a unique style. My favorite song of the set had to have been "Rapunzel" the perfect combination of the influences mentioned that benefited greatly from the addition of guest singer Laura Marie.
In short, both of these bands are highly recommended for different reasons. Vallejo, with their smooth mix of Latin, rock, and funk influences make you want to party, make you want to dance, strut, jump—whatever you want you want to do. Last Of Our Kind are making a conscious effort to bring something a little different to the San Antonio rock scene. Although they are considered a rock band, their influences come from places you wouldn’t normally expect; these include acoustic, jazz and world music as well. Whatever your music preferences, both bands will be playing in or around San Antonio within the next few weeks and offer you the perfect soundtrack for the passing of a summer evening. Bring a date or a group of friends just don't go alone.
Show dates
Vallejo
Jun 23 Pegasus Plaza Dallas, TX
Jun 24 Hanover's Draught Haus Pflugerville, TX
Jun 30 Steel Penny Pub San Angelo, TX
Jul 1 Continental Club Houston, TX
Jul 7 Hurricane's Brownsville, TX
Last Of Our Kind
Jun 22 Jacks Patio bar w/special guest Jesse Dominguez San Antonio, TX
Jul 15 Jacks Patio Bar San Antonio, TX
Sep 8 The Cove "Last of our Kind UNPLUGGED!!!" San Antonio , TX
Sep 22 Sams Burger joint w/DEL CASTILLO!!!! San Antonio , TX
Nov 8 The Red Room San Antonio, TX
Feb 24 2007 The Red Room Last of our kind's "Storytellers" show!!! San Antonio, TX