SOUNDTRACK: LADAMA-Tiny Desk Concert #853 (May 30, 2019).
There’s a lot to like in this Tiny Desk, but I am immediately drawn to Mafer Bandola’s bandola llanera. Is it see through? Is it hollow? I have so many questions.
Some of which are answered in the blurb.
But what might be even more interesting than the instruments is the international makeup of the band.
During the course of their performance behind the desk, the four core members of LADAMA — Lara Klaus, Daniela Serna, Mafer Bandola and Sara Lucas — had a chance to display their individual cultural and musical roots as part of an engaging and mesmerizing whole. Represented in glorious musical virtuosity are Brazil (Lara Klaus), Colombia (Daniela Serna) and Venezuela (Mafer Bandola), with a dash of New York City (Sara Lucas and bassist Pat Swoboda) thrown in just to make it interesting.
Not to mention all four of them sing lead.
“Sin Ataduras” opens with great sounds from the bandola llanera and some really great bass work Pat Swoboda. Daniela Serna sings, almost raps, the lead vocals. The song is catchy with a middle parts that’s all rim shots from Lara Klaus and clap alongs. Then Sara Lucas adds a little guitar work, but it’s Mafer Bandola’s solo that’s really fantastic.
For the second song, “Elo” Lara Klaus plays the pandeiro and it’s amazing how much sound a little tambourine-looking drum can make. She also sings lead–a very different vocal style. Daniela Serna moved over to the congas and the tambor alegre. Mafer Bandola switches to a more traditional-looking bandola llanera but still plays some amazing leads.
Throughout the songs, Sara Lucas plays quiet electric guitar that acts a foundation to lead bandola. Incidentally, Mafer Bandola is a stage name (I assume Mafer is her first names put together). Her real name is Maria Fernanda Gonzalez.
“Tierra Tiembla” is a much slower ballad. Sarah Lucas sings lead (in Spanish). Has a slow, smooth rhythm with nice echoing sounds form the bandola. Sara Lucas sings lead on this one. Lara Klaus is back on the kit, so with her and Daniela on congas, there’s a lot of percussion. Mafer plays some nice lead lines and everyone sings delicate backing vocals.
The final song is “Inmigrante” this song is for everybody–para todos inmigrantes–we are all immigrants.
It’s the fiery “Inmigrante” that finally raised the BPM meter and got hips swaying in our corner of NPR’s HQ, with its call-and-response back-and-forth and a very enthusiastic audience. T
Mafer Bandola sings this last song. The bandola is a echoed and very cool sounding as she plays an excellent riff. The drums are mostly hi-hat while the congas supply most of the percussion. Sara Lucas puts down her guitar to play the raspa.
The song ends with a clap along and some fast and furious congas from Daniela.
This is yet another great Spanish-language band that enjoyed quite a lot.
[READ: July 1, 2019] “A Love Story”
The Summer 2019 issue of The West End Phoenix was a special all comics issue with illustrations by Simone Heath. Each story either has one central illustration or is broken up with many pictures (or even done like a comic strip).
Each story is headed by the year that the story takes place–a story from that particular summer.
1992: This is the story of tree planting and romance. Claudia and her friend drove to the planting location with dreams of getting rich.
I have heard about tree planters from many different sources (it seems a very Canadian thing to do–I’m not even sure if people do there). All sources suggest it is very hard, physically exhausting and pays little. No matter how romantic the idea sounds, it’s not a fun job.
Claudia adds to this idea and includes that they slept in tents and were sleeping in an area where bears traveled. They could hear the bears every night but the experience planters assured them they were safe (how does anyone do this long enough to become experienced?). (more…)
I Just Read About That... 