Los Pericos, Chicano Batman, La Vida Bohéme in association with the Latin Alternative Music Conference

An afternoon of Alt-Latino music melding reggae-rock, funk & pop

Los Pericos

If you’re a professional musician from Argentina, and you have an everlasting proclivity for reggae-rock music, there’s a good chance that you’re part of Los Pericos. Indeed, an entirely new sound was formed in Buenos Aires when a group of friends got together and created this groundbreaking group in 1986, the first Latin-Reggae band of its kind. Their principal record was a smash-hit; the number-one selling album in the country and a Triple Platinum Award recipient. The ‘90s saw the popularity of Los Pericos spread like wildfire, as their album Big Yuyo could be heard positively pulsing throughout Latin America. As they toured throughout the continent, Los Pericos exponentially grew their reach and audience. In the early 2000s, the band undertook a major sonic shift, as they switched lead vocalists. With a reinvigorated, fresh sound, they took the new millennium by storm. 2016 saw the culmination of years of harmonious work together (with 3 million records sold and over 2,500 performances in the books), in the wonderfully rich album Sound America, a testament to this gang of pals’ love of playing reggae together.

Chicano Batman

Banded together in 2008, Chicano Batman has been formulating a one-of-a-kind blend of plush romance-filled pop laced with ‘70s psychedelic themes, and spiced with Brazilian Tropicalía flavor. Stemming from the vibrant Los Angeles music scene, this stylish crew (often clad in vintage formal-wear, like a superfly wedding band of another era) has released three albums to date, each stellar in their own right. Their self-titled debut, 2014’s Cycles of Existential Rhyme and most recently, the electrifying Freedom is Free, which lets elements of their origins, namely soul and R&B take center stage. Attracting fans (and professional-artist admirers) from all walks of life, Chicano Batman has played alongside Jack White, Alabama Shakes and a slew of other big and varied names, on stages all over the country (including the massively popular Coachella). The smirking throwback look and sound of Chicano Batman is derived from old-time bands like Los Angeles Negros and Los Pasteles Verdes – slathered with their own special sauce of modern west coast funk.

La Vida Bohéme

Vivacious Venezuelan band La Vida Bohéme has already claimed two Latin Grammy’s in their relatively short musical lifespan. Their first album Nuestra was an immediate crossover hit, as singles “Radio Capital” and “Danz!” brought them international recognition and a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop, Rock and/or Urban Album. Stellar performances at SXSW, LAMC and Vive Latino in 2012 kept them on the bohemian life express train to success. A much-heralded second record, Sera, including the award winning “Flamingo,” was critically well received and adored by the Latin music community. The fiery crew moved their operation to Mexico City, where they primarily laid down their third effort, the scintillatingly fun La Lucha. Their most current album Nuestra Será La Lucha, completes a perfectly executed trilogy (translated to “Ours Will Be the Struggle”), and is their most message-wrought and thoroughly substantial record to date. They have been touring Europe and South & North America promoting this powerhouse of authentic Latin música.