La Plebe (band)
Encyclopedia
La Plebe is a Mexican/American punk rock
band from San Francisco, California
. Formed in early 2001, the band has been a consistent part of various music scenes ever since, marked notably by multiple tours of Mexico
, and The Balkans. Their latest album, Brazo en Brazo, was released in the U.S. on November 9, 2010 by Koolarrow Records
.
), and Mark T. Harris (drums) and subsequently started playing shows around the San Francisco Bay Area
. Raytis left at the end of 2001. Soon after, Alberto’s brother Antonio joined to play valve trombone, thus rounding out the horn section, and solidifying the line-up for the next 2+ years. From early 2002 through mid 2004, La Plebe played 180+ shows throughout California, and into Northern Baja California
, Mexico
(Tijuana
, Ensenada
, Tecate
, and Mexicali
). They also twice ventured further south into central Mexico to play in Mexico City
, Guadalajara
, along with many other smaller cities.
In 2003 La Plebe released their first recording, Conquista 21, A 6 song EP
which included the popular “La Posta” as well as the cover “Vahos Del Ayer”, by the late Argentina punk band Flema
. In 2004 they release a 4 song EP named Exploited People, produced by Billy Gould
(Faith No More
).
Augie left the group in September 2004.
, after which the band got back to playing shows as much as possible, including a third tour of central Mexico.
In July 2005, they released the 8 song EP Entre Cerveza, Ritmo, y Emoción..., again produced by Billy Gould. Songs included “Que Barbaridad”, “Enfadada”, and “Hijo Mio”, as well as a cover of the Ewan MacColl
song “Dirty Old Town
” (known best as done by The Pogues
).
In 2006, the band embarked on their first trip to The Balkans, playing in Bulgaria
, Romania
, Serbia
, Kosovo
(prior to their declared independence), and Macedonia
.
In July 2007, they released their first full-length album ¡Hasta La Muerte!. Again produced by Billy Gould, the album was released on Red Scare Records in the U.S., and on Gould’s own record label Koolarrow Records
in Europe. The album contains the songs “Mi Tierra”, “Pinches Fronteras”, “Plebe Por Vida”, as well as the band’s version of the Louis Jordan
song “Run Joe”. The tour that followed had the group playing two weeks back in central Mexico, then flying from Guadalajara to Bucharest
, Romania for another two week tour of The Balkans, where they added shows in Croatia
and Slovenia
.
2008 saw La Plebe returning to The Balkans for a third time, but also touring for the first time in Western Europe
, playing in London
, Germany
, France
, Belgium
, Italy
, Switzerland
, Czech Republic
, and The Netherlands. At their first ever show in London they were joined on stage by The Clash
’s Mick Jones
to sing the song “Guns Of Brixton”.
La Plebe played their 500th show in December 2009.
, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
On July 27, 2010, La Plebe was voted "Best Poder to the People" an editors' award in the San Francisco Bay Guardian
's Best of the Bay issue.
The Band released their newest full-length recording Brazo En Brazo on November 9, 2010 through Koolarrow Records. This was the first time that the band released a recording on vinyl.
On May 24, 2011, the band will embark on their "Barrio Cantina" tour, taking them to Spain for the first time. Other countries include France, Germany, Switzerland,Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia.
due to the presence of the horns. Song subjects are usually politically or socially motivated, covering topics ranging from class struggle, border issues, immigration, unity, vice, oppression, and more. Pags and Lupe share lead vocal duties. Their lyrics were initially written 50/50 English to Spanish, but more recently have leaned more to Spanish.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Formed in early 2001, the band has been a consistent part of various music scenes ever since, marked notably by multiple tours of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and The Balkans. Their latest album, Brazo en Brazo, was released in the U.S. on November 9, 2010 by Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
.
The First Years: 2001-2004
La Plebe was formed in early 2001 by childhood friends Guadalupe (Lupe) Bravo and José (Augie) Aguilera. The duo was joined by Mike Raytis (percussion), Alberto Cuéllar (trumpetTrumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
), and Mark T. Harris (drums) and subsequently started playing shows around the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Raytis left at the end of 2001. Soon after, Alberto’s brother Antonio joined to play valve trombone, thus rounding out the horn section, and solidifying the line-up for the next 2+ years. From early 2002 through mid 2004, La Plebe played 180+ shows throughout California, and into Northern Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California
Ensenada is a coastal city in Mexico and the third-largest city in Baja California. It is located south of San Diego on the Baja California Peninsula. The city is locally referred to as La Cenicienta del Pacífico, or, The Cinderella of the Pacific...
, Tecate
Tecate
Tecate is a small city in Baja California, Mexico and the municipal seat of Tecate Municipality. It is located on the border with Tecate, California, United States in the San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. There is a small port of entry betwixt the sister cities that serves as a calmer...
, and Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
). They also twice ventured further south into central Mexico to play in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, Guadalajara
Guadalajara
Guadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
, along with many other smaller cities.
In 2003 La Plebe released their first recording, Conquista 21, A 6 song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which included the popular “La Posta” as well as the cover “Vahos Del Ayer”, by the late Argentina punk band Flema
Flema
Flema was an Argentine punk rock band, that managed to find a unique style among other punk bands.The last configuration of the band was: Ricardo Espinosa , Fernando Rossi , Luis Garibaldo , and Pepe Carvallo . Their songs usually deal with loneliness, alcohol and drugs, friends, women, politics,...
. In 2004 they release a 4 song EP named Exploited People, produced by Billy Gould
Billy Gould
Billy Gould is an American musician and producer. He is noted for playing bass in the band Faith No More.- Faith No More :...
(Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
).
Augie left the group in September 2004.
Pags Joins, Entre Cerveza, Ritmo y Emoción..., ¡Hasta La Muerte!: 2005-2009
After Augie’s departure, Adam (Pags) Paganini joined La Plebe in October 2004, to which they started writing new music. Their first official show back was in March 2005 at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, after which the band got back to playing shows as much as possible, including a third tour of central Mexico.
In July 2005, they released the 8 song EP Entre Cerveza, Ritmo, y Emoción..., again produced by Billy Gould. Songs included “Que Barbaridad”, “Enfadada”, and “Hijo Mio”, as well as a cover of the Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl
Ewan MacColl was an English folk singer, songwriter, socialist, actor, poet, playwright, and record producer. He was married to theatre director Joan Littlewood, and later to American folksinger Peggy Seeger. He collaborated with Littlewood in the theatre and with Seeger in folk music...
song “Dirty Old Town
Dirty Old Town
"Dirty Old Town" is a song written by Ewan MacColl in 1949 that was made popular by The Dubliners and has been recorded by many others since.-History:...
” (known best as done by The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
).
In 2006, the band embarked on their first trip to The Balkans, playing in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
(prior to their declared independence), and Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
.
In July 2007, they released their first full-length album ¡Hasta La Muerte!. Again produced by Billy Gould, the album was released on Red Scare Records in the U.S., and on Gould’s own record label Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records
Koolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
in Europe. The album contains the songs “Mi Tierra”, “Pinches Fronteras”, “Plebe Por Vida”, as well as the band’s version of the Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
Louis Thomas Jordan was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the...
song “Run Joe”. The tour that followed had the group playing two weeks back in central Mexico, then flying from Guadalajara to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Romania for another two week tour of The Balkans, where they added shows in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
2008 saw La Plebe returning to The Balkans for a third time, but also touring for the first time in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, playing in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, and The Netherlands. At their first ever show in London they were joined on stage by The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
’s Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
to sing the song “Guns Of Brixton”.
La Plebe played their 500th show in December 2009.
2010-Current
In January 2010, the band did a small tour of the Southwest U.S. and Northern Mexico. Then in July they ventured back over to The Balkans for the fourth time, playing a few new cities, including their first time in SarajevoSarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, Bosnia & Herzegovina.
On July 27, 2010, La Plebe was voted "Best Poder to the People" an editors' award in the San Francisco Bay Guardian
San Francisco Bay Guardian
The San Francisco Bay Guardian is a free alternative newspaper published weekly in San Francisco, California. The paper is owned mostly by its publisher, Bruce B...
's Best of the Bay issue.
The Band released their newest full-length recording Brazo En Brazo on November 9, 2010 through Koolarrow Records. This was the first time that the band released a recording on vinyl.
On May 24, 2011, the band will embark on their "Barrio Cantina" tour, taking them to Spain for the first time. Other countries include France, Germany, Switzerland,Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia.
Musical Style
La Plebe describes their music as “bilingual punk with horns 'n vomit...” alluding to their early days where members sometimes vomited on stage due to overexertion. Their high energy music is based in early punk rock and hardcore, mostly played fast, with melodic overlays from the trumpet and trombone. They consider themselves a punk band, though often mis-categorized as skaSka
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
due to the presence of the horns. Song subjects are usually politically or socially motivated, covering topics ranging from class struggle, border issues, immigration, unity, vice, oppression, and more. Pags and Lupe share lead vocal duties. Their lyrics were initially written 50/50 English to Spanish, but more recently have leaned more to Spanish.
Current Lineup
- Guadalupe (Lupe) Bravo - bass and vocals (2001–present)
- Adam (Pags) Paganini - guitar and vocals (2004–present)
- Alberto Cuéllar - trumpet (2001–present)
- Antonio Cuéllar - valve trombone (2001–present)
- Mark T. Harris - drums (2001–present)
Past members
- Jose "Augie" Aguilera - guitar and vocals (2001–2004)
- Mike Raytis - percussion (2001)
Discography
- Conquista 21 (self-release, 2003)
- Exploited People (self-release, 2004)
- Entre Cerveza, Ritmo, y Emoción... (self-release, 2005 / Re-released on Koolarrow RecordsKoolarrow RecordsKoolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
, 2009) - ¡Hasta La Muerte! (Red Scare IndustriesRed Scare IndustriesRed Scare Industries is a punk rock record label. The label was started in San Francisco by former Fat Wreck Chords employee Toby Jeg....
/Koolarrow RecordsKoolarrow RecordsKoolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
, 2007) - Brazo En Brazo (Koolarrow RecordsKoolarrow RecordsKoolarrow Records is an independent record label based in San Francisco, set up by Faith No More's Bass Guitarist Billy Gould.- Current artists :The Talking Book*Como Asesinar a Felipes*Alexander Hacke*Brujeria*Don Cikuta*Dureforsog*Flattbush...
, 2010)