Bombasta Returns Home to Luna August 4th

BOMBASTA RETURNS HOME TO LUNA
SATURDAY AUGUST 4TH
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
CERRONATO (ATX) & MEXICAN STEPGRANDFATHER (SA)

      San Antonio's Bombasta has been busy over the summer touring the state while continuing to record their upcoming CD.  Saturday, August 4th will mark their return home to San Anto with a special night of music and dance at Luna Fine Music Club on San Pedro.  Continuing in their attempt to expose San Antonio to new and unique performances, Bombasta will be joined on stage by the traditional Cumbia/Vallenato sounds of Austin's Cerronato, as well as the skillful turntablism of San Antonio DJ, Mexican Stepgrandfather.  This unique mix of performers will serve as a balanced highlight of old school traditionalism, new school DJ culture and Bombasta's own unique take on Latino music and politics.  Doors open at 8PM; Music at 9PM; 21+; $7 Cover

BOMBASTA BIO  

      Sparking an uprising where ever they travel, this post modern collective is the sound of their times, the sound of a generation who grew up on both Hip Hop and Cumbias, Reggae and Rancheras, Soul and Salsa.  These are the new sounds from the street, the underground beats, horn lines out of a passing car- a call to resistance. 

      Originating out of the art warehouses and late night parties in the barrios of San Antonio in the summer of 2003, Bombasta quickly progressed to spreading their vision of positivity, liberation and good music throughout Texas.  From the stage of some of the choicest venues in the region, to the streets at political marches, Bombasta crosses borders and speaks the truth as they see it- from the bottom looking up. 

      This collective mixes styles and instrumentations as effortlessly as their lyrics travel between Spanish and English, balancing the traditional with the innovative, developing their own unique sound that reaches far beyond the typical.  Over the past few years Bombasta has forged a new musical path, taking various influences, including Reggae, Cumbia, Hip Hop and Latino Funk and has created a new sound that can most easily be described as 'Bomba Stilo.' 

      This musical co-op brandishes a full horn-section along with accordion, samplers, turntables, guitars and lots of rhythm.  Bombasta has been hard at work touring the region and developing a large family of friends, fans and collaborators.  With a strong mix of Spanglish politics and roots passion, Bombasta tackles various lyrical topics with sincerity and perspective, flowing with ease between syncopated rhymes and melodic anthems. 

      Bombasta has enjoyed helping various community activists in their struggles by performing at numerous fundraisers, marches and community events.  They have worked closely with the ACLU of Texas, Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Red Salmon Arts Project and Southwest Workers Union, to name a few.  Joining in a movement towards involvement and activism, Bombasta has continued to call for unity, organization and positivity- taking it from the streets to the stage.

CERRONATO BIO

     Austin, Texas band Cerronato plays an authentic yet innovative version of Colombian vallenato and cumbia. Their poignant and energetic music attracts a diverse fan base of young and old, many of who dance enthusiastically to Cerronato's lively, captivating sound. That sound merges ornate, tantalizing melodies from the accordion with rumbling and quirky bass lines, the eccentric syncopation of the guacharaca or scraper, the steady beat of the small drum, and the frenzied flourishes of the bongo. High, plaintive cries punctuate the poignant and passionate four-part harmonies of Cerronato on a mix of traditional and original tunes.

     The style vallenato, which is believed to be over 100 years old, draws its name from Valledupar, a Colombian city in the area where it originated. The word vallenato can be translated as "native to the valley." In seeking a name for his new group, founder Mike Maddux looked for a word connected with hills, since Austin is located on the edge of the Central Texas Hill Country—an area renowned for its creative spirit. Echoing the name of the musical style the group plays, the invented name Cerronato means "hill born" or "native to the hills."

     Describing the experience of playing with Cerronato, Maddux enthuses: "It's the biggest thrill—sort of like skydiving or driving a race car. It has that same kind of excitement that people want to get out of driving fast. You have to be skillful; it demands that you be aware and alert and doing the right thing at the right time. If you succeed, the result is something good. One nice thing is that you don't actually die if you make a mistake."

     True to its musical roots deep in Colombian history, Cerronato creates music for people who live their lives passionately, treasuring every moment—especially those spent celebrating. Every time they perform, Cerronato strives to recreate the fervid spirit of the Colombian parranda (translated as revel or jam session). Cerronato has taken their music to surprising new places, appearing twice on national television. In addition to clubs and parties, Cerronato has performed festivals around the state, including the Texas Folklife Resources-sponsored Accordion Kings festival in Houston and the Viking Festival in Waco, where they donned horned helmets to perform—certainly a first for a vallenato group.