Determined to share and spread their love for the world’s best Latin music, and introduce Australians to hot Latin talent; Guzman y Gomez Mexican Taquería founder Steven Marks and Venezuelan born promoter Frank Madrid; have joined forces to bring a program of top Latin American bands to tour Australia over the coming years.
The first band to kick off the new partnership’s cultural venture, sponsored by Guzman y Gomez, is Latin Grammy Award winning Los Amigos Invisibles (The Invisible Friends) from 09 - 12 March 2010; bringing their funky stuff down under with a national tour beginning at Sydney’s Basement on Tuesday 09 March.
Marks says he’s looking forward to showing Australians some of the biggest Latin bands in the world as part of his push to promote Latin American culture in Australia. “Los Amigos Invisibles are one of the hottest Latin bands in the world right now,” says Marks. And it seems Time Out, New York agrees, heralding the band’s performance as “The global joyride of the year”.
“I’m thrilled to be spreading the band’s infectious blend of Latin rhythms, funk, disco and acid jazz to Australia,” he says. “Most Australians didn’t really understand the difference between a burrito and a quesadilla before we opened GYG. Now we’re going to bring them really top-notch Latin bands, that otherwise would never tour here, to fuel a following for up-to-the-minute Latin music.”
“If you think about it, Latin American culture is all about food and music, so it makes sense for us to bring them together in this way to tell the story of a vibrant and contemporary culture,” Marks says.
The dynamic and sophisticated Los Amigos Invisibles took home the 2009 Latin Grammy for Best Latin Alternative Album with their smash-hit release, Commercial. Their music has been described as hitting “the sweet spot between the heart and the hips,” (Boston Globe); “one part ‘70s crime-drama keyboards, two parts porno flick bass-lines, a dash of
groovy funk guitar riffs and a glaze of hip shaking’ Latin beats,” (Filter).
Uncovered almost two decades ago by Talking Heads’ founding member and lead songwriter David Byrne in New York City after he picked up one of the 20 CDs left in a record shop, Los Amigos Invisibles have been performing for eighteen years, have toured 60 countries and released six albums.
Frank Madrid, who has been scouting Latin music talent for Australian festivals for more than eleven years, says Australians will love these guys. “Combining disco and funk with old-fashioned Latin dance staples like the mambo and bossa-nova, Los Amigos Invisibles takes lounge music to a new level,” Madrid says.
The group has recorded and collaborated with the like of Louie Vega, Dimitri from Paris for “Superpop Venezuela” and Masters at Work for “Venezuelan Zinga Son”. Their sexy and provocative sound is super cool; think the acid jazz of Jamiroquai with the smooth riffs of Santana.