Money Chicha and Dos Santos On Tour Now

Article Contributed by Press Junkie PR | Published on Thursday, March 1, 2018

After touring in Texas, the Midwest, and along the East Coast, Money Chicha and Dos Santos will convene the 4th installment of the Chicha Summit, and this time they are heading across the Southwest and out to the West Coast. From El Paso to San Francisco, they’re hitting the road in direct support of their “Summit Sessions” 7” vinyl split recently released through (((Sonorama Discos))).

The Chicha Summit began in 2013 and has been picking up considerable steam since. Building on that momentum, both Money Chicha and Dos Santos have been collectively pushing the limits of their cumbia-driven noir psychedelia into deeper vertigo-inducing sonic terrain. Their “Summit Sessions” 7” vinyl split is a testament to this unique collaboration, which grew organically out of the Texas edition of the Chicha Summit, when they stepped into the studio to write and record together. Documentary filmmaker Joe Rocha was there to capture all the action—his short film gives an intimate glimpse into the fellowship between these musicians.

Both bands have been collaborating for years. Dos Santos’ critically acclaimed EP Fonografic (2016) out on Electric Cowbell Records was produced by Money Chicha’s Beto Martinez. Prior to this, Dos Santos’ Alex Chavez (vocals, organ, guitar) appeared on Oozy, the 2012 release by Money Chicha co-founders Greg Gonzalez/Beto Martinez’s world-renowned band Brownout.

Based in Austin, Texas, Money Chicha features members of the Grammy Award-winning Latin orchestra Grupo Fantasma and its offshoots funk outfit Brownout and the Ozzy Osbourne endorsed Brown Sabbath. These long-standing projects have collaborated with the likes of Prince and GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan, among others. Their Full-length 2016 Release Echo en Mexico (Vampisoul Records) illustrates their ability to mix and bend styles while referencing the original chicha sounds which originally inspired the group’s formation. Money Chicha continues this genre melding tradition in teaming up with Chicago-based Dos Santos to record two psychedelic cumbia tracks, resulting in a 21st century U.S.-Latino interpretation of the South American Chicha musical style in all of its fuzzed-out, reverb-drenched, and percussion-heavy glory.

Dos Santos’ Latin funk inflected “Undercover” features members of Money Chicha and offers up social commentary on police brutality upon communities of color in the United States to the sounds of bugalú backbeats with a nod to Juan Tizol’s Caravan. Money Chicha’s Andean-inspired “Martes Negro” (Black Tuesday) features members of Dos Santos and offers its own political commentary on the 2016 U.S. Presidential election and what it means for communities of resistance.

The Chicha summit not only highlights organic heavyweight sounds performed by some of the most talented musicians playing the cumbia genre in the United States, but also represents a communal spirit of camaraderie and creative empowerment through music and fellowship at a political moment when both are desperately needed.

Los Angeles’ up-and-coming La Chamba Chicha will be joining them in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Tour Dates:

Mar 1 — San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar    w/La Chamba Chicha

Mar 2 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo    w/La Chamba Chicha

Mar 3 — San Francisco, CA @ Brick and Mortar    w/La Chamba Chicha + Chulita Vinyl Club

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