Album Review: Austin Music Mezcla 09

Rock y Roll Radio purchased the Latino Music Month/Austin Music Mezcla 09/ Latino Music Sampler at the Pachanga Latino Music Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2009. After listening to the CD numerous times for careful analysis, Rock y Roll Radio stronly recommends you add this sampler to your music library.

This CD is an exceptional compilation of Latin music featuring Austin's best artist and talent. If you're familiar with the Austin Latin music scene, this sampler will give you music from some of our favorite local artist like Brownout, Alejandro Escovedo and also introduce you to new emerging talent like AJ Castillo. If you're not familiar with Austin's Latin music or would like to know what that music sounds like, this sampler will give you a quick but thorough education.

The sampler covers Latin Funk, Tejano, Conjunto, Latin Pop and Rock, Latin Fusion and more.

The titles include:
1. Terre Moto -" Oye Mama"
2. Brownout - "Con El Brownout no se Juega"
3. AJ Castillo - "Todo Me Gusta De Ti," Remix Featuring Lo-Que Dar
4. Los Bad Apples - "El Ritmo Me Manda"
5. Brian Ramos & Michael Ramos - "Tinieblas"
6. Alejandro Escovedo - "Sister Lost Soul"
7. Tortilla Factory - "Niña Linda"
8. Bocastria - "Encanto"
9. Patricia Vonne & Rosie Flores - "Austin Rocks"
10. Vallejo - "Tu Corazon Es Para Mi", Featuring Del Castillo and Zayra Alvarez
11. Conjunto Aztlan -" Rosario"
12. The Executive Life - "Obligatory Movie Qoute"
13. Myrna Cabello -" Un Dia", Featuring Haydn Vitera
14. Frank Gomez -" Candy", Featuring Ruben Ramos
15. The Sweethearts - "Slipping Away"

Rock y Roll Radio's Top Five Artist/Picks:

1. AJ Castillo - Exceptional Accordian musician and Tejano artist. Remix Rocks!
2. Los Bad Apples - A local favorite Latin/Rap mix band with "El Ritmo Me Manda" being their best song to date
3. Brian Ramos & Michael Ramos - Have teamed up and are moving Michael Ramos' melodic Cumbia Lounge music to the next level
4. Tortilla Factory - A Texas legend with a Salsa tune that makes you want to dance
5. Frank Gomez featuring Ruben "El Gato Negro" Ramos - Old school song that makes you want to dance with your best girl and impress her with your best dance moves

If Rock y Roll Radio were to compile a playlist of Austin's best Latin music, the playlist would be identical to the Austin Music Mezcla 09. Thank you Stephanie Bergara . You know what they say, " Great Minds Think A Like." I look forward to next years Mezcla.

The CD is available at Waterloo Records and Resistencia Book Store.

Produced by Austin Latino Music Association (ALMA) and Austin Convention Visitors Bureau (ACVB). Mastered by Michael Ramos for Cumbia Lounge Productions. Artwork by TKO. This Project was produced by ALMA (www.austinlatinomusic.com) and ACVB (www.austintexas.org) with sponsors support from The City of Austin, Gibson, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), Texas Gas Service and The Pachanga Festival.

ALMA Latin Music Month Kick-off Party Video

Latino Music Month - Austin Latino Music Association

May is Latino Music Month in the "Live Music Capital of the World" Austin, Texas. Austin Latino Music Association (ALMA) in association with other entities take this month to heart.

"The mission of ALMA (meaning "soul" in English) is to increase knowledge and awareness in the community about local musicians and important historical figures in Austin’s Latino music scene, provide exposure and resources to local musicians, and to foster the development of young musicians who will keep Latino musical styles and traditions alive in the Capitol City."

Below is the ALMA calender of events for May. Please check out the numerous events and support those events that you can. Also please visit ALMA's website.

May 2009

May 1

LMM 2009 Kick-Off & Austin Music Mezcla CD Release Party, Gibson Guitar Showroom, 7 pm, featuring Vallejo y Los Bad Apples.

Limited Space. Please RSVP to AustinLatinoMusic@gmail.com. A $15 Donation Gets You Entry, a CD, Food and Drinks

Austin Music Mezcla 2009 CD Featured Artists: Terremoto - Brownout - A.J. Castillo - Los Bad Apples - Michael Ramos & Brian Ramos (collaboration) - Alejandro Escovedo - Tortilla Factory - Bocastria - Vallejo & Del Castillo (collaboration) - Rosie Flores & Patricia Vonne (collaboration) - Conjunto Aztlan - The Executive Life - Myrna Cabello & Haydn Vitera (collaboration) - Frank Gomez & Ruben Ramos (collaboration) - The Sweethearts

CD Available Soon at Waterloo Records, Resistencia Bookstore & cdfuse.com

Austin Cinco De Mayo Celebration @ Fiesta Gardens, AT Boyz (7: 00 pm), Da Crazy Pimps (8: 30 pm), Gary Hobbs (10:00 pm)

Grupo FLHAS, Grupo Varonil, Grupo Em0cion, DJ Casanova and DJ Murna @ La Rumba Disco, 8:00 pm

DJ Figgs at Copa, 9 pm
Mariachi Night at Las Palomas Restaurant, 7pm
Kalua @ Live at the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
DJ Orion and Special Guests @ Creekside Lounge 10:00 pm
Cadaques @ ABIA**
Manuel "Cowboy" Donley y Las Estrellas at El Sol y La Luna - 10 pm to 1 am
Mariachi Estrella @ Casa Garcia 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila 9:0 pm
Mariachi Cocula @ La Terraza Restaurant, 8:30 pm

May 2

Austin Cinco De Mayo Celebration @ Fiesta Gardens, Levelhill Band (1:15 PM), Blues Mafia Band (3:00 PM), The Daze Band (4:00 PM), The Knights Band (5:00 PM), Ballet Folklorico (6:00 PM), AJ Castillo (8:00 pm), Jimmy Gonzales y Grupo Mazz (9:00 pm)

Old Pecan Street Festival on Austin's Historic Sixth Street featuring El Tule (4 PM), La Guerrilla (5 PM), Spirit of Flamenco (6 PM), Latin at Heart ( 7 PM).

DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa 9 pm
Ritmo 3 @ El Sol y La Luna - 10pm-1 pm
The Sweethearts @ Trophys, 10:00 pm
Cienfuegos For Salsa Esperanza @ Jovitas, 9:00 pm
El Tule @ Pecan Street Festival, Sixth Street, 4:00 pm
Gina Chavez singing the National Anthem at the Annual Bun Run
Frank Gomez Band at Baby Acapulco #5, 7:00 pm

May 3

Old Pecan Street Festival on Austin’s Historic Sixth Street, Frenetica (11:00 am), Foco Rojo (Noon), Omar Lopez (1:00 pm), Grupo Energia (2 PM), Haydn Vitera (3:00 pm), La Distancia (4:00 pm), AT Boyz (5:00 pm), Los Bad Apples (5:00 pm), Santiago Jimenez Jr. (6:00 pm), Leti De La Vega, (7:00 pm)

19th Annual Austin Conjunto Festival @ Fiesta Gardens, Los T-Birds (12:45 pm), *George and Mague (2:00 pm), Letti y El Conjunto Central de Corpus (3:30 pm), Johnny Degollado y su Conjunto (6:30 pm), Los Fantasmas del Valle (7:45 pm), Santiago Jimenez Jr. (9:15 pm)

Sunday Brunch with Guanahani @ Manuels (Jollyville Rd.), 11:30 pm
The Brew @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ The Place, 8:30 pm
Trio Los Vigilantes Reunion @ The Mexican American Cultural Center, 6:30 PM
Tito and Tarantula at Emo’s, 10:00 pm

May 4

Gina Chavez @ El Sol y La Luna, 8:30 pm
Vitera@ Lucky Lounge 9 pm

May 5

Myrna Cabello at KLBJ Local Licks Live, 10:00 pm
Frank Gomez @ Baby Acapulco, Cinco de Mayo Celebration**
Pinata Protest, Ultratumbados, Deskonocidos @ Emo’s, 10:00 pm
DJ Manny @ Red Fez, 10:00 pm
The Brew @ Speakeasy, 9:30 pm
Los Bad Apples @ 2nd Street Cinco De Mayo Party, 9:00 pm
Sarah Temple @ ABIA**

May 6

Latin Jazz at Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
La Mona Loca at Ruta Maya, 9:00 pm
Kalua @ Beso Cantina, 10 pm
Gabe Nieto @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm
Los Lonely Boys at the Solar Powered Concert Series, Republic park, 5:30 pm

May 7

The Brew @ Copa 9:30 pm
Mariachi Night@ La Feria, 7 pm
Jonas Alvarez @ Whole Foods, 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila, 7:00 pm

May 8

Grupo Fantasma @ Antones, 9:00 pm
DJ Figgs at Copa, 9 pm
Mariachi Night at Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
Tiburon @ El Sol y La Luna, 10pm-1 pm
Krum Bums at Red 7, 9:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella at Live from the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
Kalua @ Live at the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
DJ Orion and Special Guests @ Creekside Lounge 10:00 pm
Danny Santos @ ABIA**
Mariachi Estrella @ Casa Garcia 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila 9:0 pm
Mariachi Cocula @ La Terraza Restaurant, 8:30 pm

May 9

DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9 pm
Grupo Fantasma @ Antones, 9:00 pm
Este Vato @ Beauty Bar, 9:00 pm
La Guerilla @ Momo's 10:30 pm

May 10

Sunday Brunch with Guanahani @ Manuel’s (Jollyville Rd.), 11:30 PM
Sunday Brunch with Leticia Rodriguez @ Manuels Downtown, 11:30 PM
Ritmo 3 @ Ruta Maya, 7:00 pm
The Brew @ the Oasis, 7:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ The Place, 8:30 pm

May 11

Vitera @ Lucky Lounge, 9 pm
Deskonocidos @ Club 1808, 9:00 pm
Gina Chavez @ ABIA**

May 12

DJ Manny @ Red Fez, 10:00 pm
The Brew @ Speakeasy, 9:30 pm

May 13

Latin Jazz @ Las Palomas Restaurant, 7:00 pm
La Mona Loca @ Ruta Maya, 9:00 pm
Gabe Nieto @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm

May 14

DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9:00 pm
Frank Gomez Day @ City Hall 5:30 pm
Frank Gomez @ Baby Acapulco North**
Mariachi Night @ La Feria, 7:00 pm
Linton Mancilla @ ABIA**
The Brew @ Copa 9:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila, 7:00 pm
Justin Vasquez @ Flamingo Cantina, 9:00 pm
Joel Guzman & Sarah Fox @ Saxon Pub**

May 15

ALMA's Viva! Jose Alfredo Jimenez Mariachi Showcase at El Sol y La Luna 8 PM, featuring Los Castros, Mariachi Mexico Lindo, Karaoke y mas, Free Show

Del Castillo @ Nutty Brown Cafe, 7:30 pm
DJ Figgs @ Copa, 9 pm
Mariachi Night @ Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
AJ Castillo @ Live from the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
Kalua @ Live at the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
DJ Orion and Special Guests @ Creekside Lounge 10:00 pm
Haydn Vitera @ ABIA**
Mariachi Estrella @ Casa Garcia 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila 9:0 pm
Mariachi Cocula @ La Terraza Restaurant, 8:30 pm
Hydn Vitera @ Hanovers

May 16

Chikas Del Barrio with Rosie Flores, Myrna Cabello, Cerronato, Bocastria, Gina Chavez & 32 Flavors @ Jovitas, 6 PM, $10

Frank Gomez @ Monarch Events Center – (Celebration of Love Benefit), 7:00 pm
DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9 pm
El Tule @ El Sol y La Luna, 10pm-1 pm
Pinata Protest, De Los Muertos and Frenetica @ The Parlor, 9:00 pm
The Nash Hernandez Orchestra @ Donn's Depot, 9 pm
La Guerilla @ Austin Farmers Market (4th & Guadalupe), 9:00 am

May 17

Sunday Brunch with Guanahani @ Manuels (Jollyville Rd.), 11:30 pm
Sunday Brunch with Cienfuegos @ Manuels Downtown, 11:30 pm
Bert Rivera @ Artz Rib House**
The Brew @ the Oasis, 7:00 pm
Nelson Saga y Arma del Alma 10:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ The Place, 8:30 pm

May 18

Vitera and Kalua @ Lucky Lounge, 9 pm

May 19

DJ Manny @ Red Fez, 10:00 pm
The Brew @ Speakeasy, 9:30 pm

May 20

Latin Jazz @ Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
La Mona Loca @ Ruta Maya 9:00 pm
Gabe Nieto @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm

May 21

Myrna Cabello CD release party @ The Long Center 7:00 pm
Frank Gomez @ Serrano’s Southpark Meadows, 7:00 pm
DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9:00 pm
Mariachi Night @ LA Feria, 7:00 pm
Cerronato @ Whole Foods, 6:30 pm
The Brew @ Copa, 9:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila, 7:00 pm
Buzz Guerra Day @ Austin City Hall, 5:30 pm

May 22

Frank Gomez @ Baby Acapulco North**
DJ Figgs @ Copa, 9 pm
Mariachi Night @ Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
Cienfuegos @ El Sol y La Luna, 10pm-1 pm
Gina Chavez @ Live From the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
Del Castillo @ Southpark After Dark, 7:30 pm
Kalua @ Live at the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
DJ Orion and Special Guests @ Creekside Lounge 10:00 pm
Los Trios Panchos @ One World Theater - 7 pm & 9:30 pm
Rick Trevino @ 10th Anniversary Airport Celebration**
Mariachi Estrella @ Casa Garcia 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila 9:0 pm
Mariachi Cocula @ La Terraza Restaurant, 8:30 pm

May 23

Conexion Rockera DJ Showcase with Peligrosa DJ's and DJ Chorizo Funk @ Beauty Bar, 9 PM

40th Annual Fiesta Amistad @ Behind the Municipal Building on 301 W. Bagdad, Opening Ceremonies at 6 PM, featured artists are Los Padinos, Kristen Mari, Jalapeno Express & Little Joe

XYX @ Emos, 10:00 pm
DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9 pm
Sister Sister @ El Sol y La Luna, 10pm-1 pm
El Tule @ Copa Bar & Grill, 10:00 pm
Este Vato, Kanko and Bombasta @ Flamingo Cantina, 8:00 pm
Frank Gomez Band @ Baby Acapulco #5, 7:00 pm

May 24

40th Annual Fiesta Amistad @ Behind the Municipal Building on 301 W. Bagdad. Princess will be crowned at 6:30 PM, featuring Los Texas Wranglers, the Latin Expres with Special Guest Alfonso Ramos and Grupo Fantasma

Sunday Brunch with Triana and Friends @ Manuels Downtown, 11:30 PM
Sunday Brunch with Guanahani @ Manuel’s (Jollyville Rd.), 11:30 PM
The Brew @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm
Ritmo 3 @ Ruta Maya, 7:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ The Place, 8:30 pm

May 25

The Sweethearts at Emo's 10:00 pm
Vitera @ Lucky Lounge, 9 pm

May 26

DJ Manny @ Red Fez 10:00 pm
The Brew @ Speakeasy, 9:30 pm

May 27

Rick Trevino @ Hills Cafe 7:00 pm
Latin Jazz at Las Palomas Restaurant, 7:00pm
Gabe Nieto @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm
Cienfuegos @ Ruta Maya, 9:00 pm

May 28

Myrna Cabello at Whole Foods, 6: 30 pm
DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa 9:00 pm
Mariachi Night @ La Feria 7:00 pm
The Brew at Copa, 9:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila, 7:00 pm
Stefani Montiel and Lush @ Serranos Southpark Meadows, 7:00 pm
Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox at Saxon Pub

May 29

Frank Gomez at Baby Acapulco North**
DJ Figgs at Copa, 9 pm
Mariachi Night at Las Palomas Restaruant, 7:00 pm
Tiburon @ Live From the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
Kalua @ Live at the Plaza, Austin City Hall 12:00 pm
DJ Orion and Special Guests @ Creekside Lounge 10:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Casa Garcia 6:30 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ Azul Tequila 9:0 pm
Mariachi Cocula @ La Terraza Restaurant, 8:30 pm

May 30

Pachanga Music Festival, Fiesta Gardens, Day-Long Event, featuring Michael Salgado, Mexican Institute of Sound, Brownout, Plastilina Mosh, and many more. Gates open at noon.

DJ Alvaro Aguilar @ Copa, 9 pm
Ritmo 3 at El Sol y La Luna, 10pm-1 pm
Nakia @ Jovitas, 10:00 pm
Danny Santos @ Artz Rib House**
El Tule @ Central Market North Lamar, 6:30 pm
Frank Gomez Band at Baby Acapulco #5, 7:00 pm

May 31

Sunday Brunch with Guanahani @ Manuel’s (Jollyville Rd.), 11:30 PM
The Brew @ The Oasis, 7:00 pm
Mariachi Estrella @ The Place, 8:30 pm

Source: ALMA Website