Ozomatli to Release New Album

I haven't posted in nearly two weeks here on NELA.  Let me assure you Angelenos, it is not because of the swift retribution enacted upon me by Cheryl Johnson for my hate speech against an LA institution.  The hard fact is that I'm bored lately with all of this mortgage stuff.  I imagine you are also.  I'll still throw up the mortgage stuff for you but I'm going to pepper it with some issues that might not lull you to sleep.

Ozomatli is a twelve year old band out of Los Angeles that rocks San Diego when they visit us.  They're a mash-up of musical genres I dig:  Hip Hop, Latin, Funk, and a little bit of Middle Eastern.  If you can imagine the Black Eyed Peas with more street cred, you get Ozomatli.   They've played at the Coors Ampitheatre, The Del Mar Fair (right near my home), and will be at the Belly-Up Tavern in Solana Beach (my hometown) on March 9-10.   The Belly-Up is my all-time favorite concert venue and where I met OZO some 4-5 years ago.

Ozomatli releases it's newest album, Don't Mess With the Dragon,  in April, 2007 on the Concord label.  OZO is known for their political activism and the group promises that Don't Mess With the Dragon won't hold back.  The new album features Latin track, La Gallina and their driving anthem to their hometown, City of Angels.   Here is a link to a 2-3 minute video about the new album.

Anybody who's been to an OZO show knows how hard working this band is.  The end of the concert is marked by the band mixing with the crowd in an impromptu sing-a-long of mindless diddies.  OZO fans love this band and for good reason.  One look at trombonist, Shef, shaking his thing when not playing gives middle-aged, suspender wearing, mortgage brokers hope that, we, as goofy as we are, still got it goin' on.

Comments

[Dave Kerlin]

I love to go to Austin, Texas to listen to live music. Been there 9 times the past few years on ahem . . . business . . . errr . . . music discovery trips. Went to a Texas Music Museum that had an exhibit all about the history of Austin City Limits, the longest running PBS show in history. They had great photos blown up and some machines where you could listen to many of the bands over the years that had played ACL. I discovered Ozomatli there. Bought one of their CDs and really like it. Can't figure out what kind of music they really play but who cares . . . I like when that happens. I also have been down to the Belly Up. Love the place. I take the train down there from Orange County, listen to some music and go home the next morning.

[Brian Brady]

I agree, Dave. What kind of genre is Ozo? Who cares? How about they are the "party" genre?

I'm psyched for March 10