Countdown to the LAMC

The 9th annual Latin American Music Conference (LAMC) is less than 2 months away and LA fans across the globe are tense with anticipation over who's coming, who's playing, and where (or maybe that's just me...), but as July 8th gets closer and closer more and more clues are being released as to what we can expect from the cutting-edge music conference.

The purpose of the five-day conference is to provide networking opportunities for Latin Alternative artists, label executives, journalists, marketers, managers, retailers and programmers. However, the LAMC is also a great opportunity to acclimate LA fans with their favorite artists and those new to the scene.

The conference will be headquarter-ed at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City from July 8th - July 12th. Past conferences have avereaged over 1,250 antendees from the music industry, and approximately 25,000 fans who have frequented LAMC events each year.

The conference is great for fans of all budgets as there will be free concerts at Central Park SummerStage and Celebrate Brooklyn Festivals, and paid events including a variety of showcases, industry panels, film screenings, and art exhibits for those registered for the LAMC.

Though the list of 2008 artists isn't avaible, here is a list of the artists who appeared past LAMC's:

Manu Chao
Aterciopelados
Bebe
Cafe Tacvuba
Calle 13
Austin TV
Plastilina Mosh
Enrique Bunbury
Gustavo Cerati
Los Bunkers
Pacha Massive
The Pinker Tones
Kinky
Mexican Institute of Sound
Julieta Venegas
Nortec Collective
Pitbull
Chetes
Tres Coronas
La Ley
Allison
Mala Rodriguez
Yerba Buena
Zoe
Ivy Queen
Autenticos Decadentes
Coheed and Cambria
Los Amigos Invisibles
Tony Touch
Si*Se
El Gran Silencio
Babasonicos
Pericos
Maria Epumer
Kevin Johansen
Erica Garcia
Lucybell
Skank
Leo Garcia
Sidestepper
Motel
Natalia Lafourcade
Titan
Jumbo
Monareta
Ely Guerra
Jorge Drexler
Pistolera
Belanova
Orixa
Pecker
Fermin IV
Sergio Lagos
Nicole
Panda
Liquits
Ultrasonicas
Los de Abajo
Rabanes
Circo
Panteon Rococo
Superaquello
Spigga
Go Betty Go
Volumen Cero
Tatiana Klauss
Estopa
Kronos Quartet
Amaral
SFDK
Mastretta
Vallejo
Delinquent Habits
Frederico Aubele
David Garza
Kelvis
Cielo Ceniza
Candela Soul
Los Pinguinos
Contramano
Hip Hop Hoodios
Cuarto Poder
Acida
Los Rumbers
Los Abandoned
Bengala
B Side Players
Ceci Bastida
The Dey
Pambo
Upground
La Sista
Santos De Los Angeles
Jorge Moreno

Manu Chao to Release New EP

Manu Chao will be releasing a new Politik Kills EP digitally this Tuesday, April 22nd before releasing the EP in stores on June 3rd. The new release will feature a collection of reggae remixes of 'La Radiolina" by artists like UK icons Linton Kwesi Johnson and Dennis Bovell and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell

MANU NEWS:

Don't forget to catch Manu Chao at the Outside Lands Music Festival on August 22nd and the Austin [Texas] City Limits Festival on September 26th!

Voto Latino Debuts at #1 on iTunes

Voto Latino, a 15-track album to benefit the leading non-partisan organization for Latino youth voter empowerment - Voto Latino, debuted at #1 on the iTunes Latino Album Sales Chart, on its first day of sale.

The album features songs by Pitbull, Don Omar, Aterciopelados, Aventura, David Garza, and Ozomatli and costs a mere $3.99 to purchase on iTunes. The song, "Across the Waters," is a previously-unreleased song by Miami's on rapero, Pitbull, based on the strugglees faced by Cuban Immigrants. This is a song the hip-hop hero feels emotionally connected to.

"To me it's great to have a record like 'Across the Waters' involved with Voto Latino/iTunes because it represents everything we [Latinos] stand for, which is the struggle for freedom and opportunity," says Pitbull in a press release by Nacional Records, the label who released the album.

Hollywood starlet Rosario Dawson, and That 70's Show's Wilmer Valderrama are the co-founders of Voto Latino. Both starred in a widely circulation telenovela parody public service announcement to get the word out on their organization and the power of the Latino vote.

The organization was founded in 2004 as a non-partisan organization "that works to promoe an enfranchised America by leveraging celebrity voices, the latest technology and youth themselves to promote positive change and voter empowerment throught the Latino community."

Voto Latinos hopes to reach the 7 million American Latino voters ages 18-29/18% of the American youth vote and get them out to the polls for Novembers' 2008 elections.

Nacional Records and iTunes will donate the proceeds from the album to Voto Latino's voter registration, education, and empowerment initiative.

TRACKS:

1. Notch - Aquí Me Quedo
2. Pitbull & Kurse - Across The Waters (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
3. Ozomatli - (Who Discovered) America?
4. Don Omar - Angelito
5. Los Amigos Invisibles - All Day Today
6. Salvador Santana Band - My One True Love
7. Ceu - Roda (Bombay Dub Orchestra's Grateful Dub Mix)
8. Aterciopelados - Cancion Protesta
9. Aventura - Mi Corazoncito
10. Chingo Bling - They Can't Deport Us All
11. Ceci Bastida - Empieza A Amanecer
12. David Garza - There Go The Weirdos
13. Volumen Cero - El Mar
14. B-Side Players - Nuestras Demandas
15. Hip Hop Hoodíos - Viva La Guantanamera

RECUERDA: Don't forget to "Rock the Vote" in November

La Otra Puerta Concert Series: Coming to NYC

La Otra Puerta Concert Series kicks off this Wednesday, April 23rd at Crash Mansion in New York City. The who-to-know and where-to-go Latin hipster site, Remezcla.com, and MySpace's newest addition, MySpace Latino, will be hosting the concert series that's slated to bring the best and brightest LA artists together on one stage.

Here's the lineup:

MONARETA - straight from Bogota, Colombia [MySpace.com/monareta]

ZIGMAT - hails from the NYC underground [MySpace.com/zigmat]

ULI AND THE GRINGOS - Representing the three LA capitals of the world: Los Angeles, New York City, and Mexico City
[MySpace.com/uliandthegringos]

Special Guests:

DJ AFRO (LOS AMIGOS INVISIBLES)
[MySpace.com/elafro]

DJ UPROOT ANDY (MEHANATA)
[MySpace.com/andygillis]

The event will be hosted by one of MTV Tr3s' top VJ's, CARLOS SANTOS, host of MTV Tres' Mi TRL
[MySpace.com/carlos_santos]

La Puerta will also celebrate the world premiere of the Mexican Film "Amor, Dolor y Viceversa" (Love, Pain and Viceversa), starring Barbara Mori - Official Selection for the Tribeca International Film Festival 2008

The concert series will pick-up in San Francisco on May 17th with VOLUMEN CERO, THE MAYFIRE, CHANA AND DJ EKG, and BERSA DISCOS DJS. Remezcla and MySpace.com plan to take La Puerta to Miami and Chicago in June (more details to come)

* For all you NYC Residents: Doors open at 8PM and the concert is free of charge BUT you must be 18 or over and REGISTER (via email) at rsvp@nyremezcla.com in order to guarantee entry.

Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival - Coming Soon

If you happen to be in San Francisco on August 22nd be sure to check out the Outside Lands Music Festival. All the blogs are raving about it from Pitchfork to all the Go-Green blogs. Manu Chao will be playing but also joining him in the Latin Alternative department will be Cafe Tacvba, and Rodrigo & Gabriela.

If that's not enough of a draw the LIVE concert will also include Radiohead, Wilco, Beck, Tom Petty, Jack Johnson, y mucho mas! So grab your best blanket and get ready for what's hailed to be an amazing concert.

FELICITACIONES MANU Y JULIETA

Congrats to Manu Chao and Julieta Venegas. The two are known staples of the Latin Alternative music genre and both left the 2008 Latin Billboard Awards with un premio.

Manu Chao won for Latin Rock/Alternative Album Of The Year for "La Radiolina" (Because/Nacional) - This amazing album features the award-winning song, "Me Llaman Calle"

Julieta Venegas stole our hearts (well...my heart) with her break-out hit, "Me Voy" but snatched this award for her addictive, pop-infused hit, "Eres Para Mi" (Sony BMG Norte)

Felicitaciones you two!

Check out the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards TONIGHT because Manu is up for another award. We have our fingers crossed!

Tijuana Sound Machine Tour!

For all of you who can't wait to own your copy of Nortec Collective Presents: Bostich + Fussible "Tijuana Sound Machine" -- Catch their west coast tour:

NORTEC TOUR DATES:
May 1st – Pomona, CA - The Glass House
May 3rd - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo
May 5th - Las Vegas, NV - Dos Caminos Restaurant at the Palazzio
CINCO DE MAYO BEBES!!
May 5th - Los Angeles, CA - La Cita - The Official LA Listening Party
May 17 - Tijuana, MX - Official Release Party for "Tijuana Sound Machine" (details to come)
May 24th - Mexicali, MX (details to come)
May 25th - Mexico City, MX - Vive Latino Festival, Foro Sol

European Summer Tour Dates - Coming Soon

When It's Good To Be Bad...

Check out the new Molotov video for "Guacala Que Rico" on youtube. It's like the Mexican version of Hot Action Cop "Fever For the Flava" - except 100x better. Youtube considers it too explicit to let me embed so you'll have to enjoy it on your own...if you're over 18 (of course). However, for your listening and viewing pleasure here is "Fever for the Flava."

LFC Back on Tour

After lots of rumors and speculations, the iconic Argentinian band Los Fabulosos Cadillacs is back on tour. They are also going back to the studio to record a new album! Since they never really broke up the band is not calling it a comeback but it looks a lot like one. It's an exiting time in Rock en Español and Latin Alternative with all these important old bands (Soda Stereo, Heroes del Silencio, LFC) back on the stage. LFC is my personal favorite Spanish band and I'm extremely exited that they are back. I've seen them live and they put one hell of a show. Plus they have a new kicking myspace!

-- Wilfredo Jose Rodriguez
Wilfredo is a DJ and blogger for the radio show Bilingual Distortion. His show offers a different approach to diversity and a rare look at alternative music from around the world. It's a show without a genre, in a different language, and with a rhythm of its own. Don't miss it! Check his show out @ WERW 1570 AM - Syracuse, New York from 4PM to 7PM or listen ONLINE @ werw.org.