Indie band Chicano Batman has won over audiences with a blend of various forms of Latin music—combined with American soul music. Now, Goldenvoice has taken notice: Chicano Batman earned a slot at Coachella, and will be playing on Sunday, April 12 and 19. Learn more at chicanobatman.com. Bassist Eduardo Arenas was kind enough to take some time out of the band’s busy touring schedule to answer the Lucky 13.
What was the first concert you attended?
Metallica, 1996, at The Forum in Los Angeles, on the Poor Touring Me Tour, in support of the Load album.
What was the first album you owned?
Ice Cube’s single of “It Was a Good Day.”
What bands are you listening to right now?
Nick Drake, Johnny Ventura y su Combo, King Diamond, Señor Loop, Cortijo y su Combo, Slumgum, Lo Borges, Los Beachers de Bocas del Toro, Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz, and Opeth.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
Morrissey and The Smiths. I can’t stand them.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
D’Angelo, big time! Preferably with Pino Palladino on bass, and Chris Dave on drums. Oh man!
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Human Clay by Creed! I know; it’s embarrassing! But take out “Higher” and “With Arms Wide Open,” and you have yourself a great album with dope songs, crazy tunings and crafty riffs. I know. I said Creed.
What’s your favorite music venue?
La Cita in downtown Los Angeles.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“Red, Red, Wiiiiiiiiiine!!!” from UB40. Next up is “Paaaaaaaaanama!” from Van Halen.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Candiria, a hardcore/jazz/grindcore band out of Brooklyn, N.Y. I really got into them back in 2002, right about the same time I was getting into Frank Zappa and Miles Davis’ electric years. Candiria had these two albums that blew my mind, The Process of Self-Development and 300 Percent Density. My friend Adan and I were on a road trip from L.A. to Boston that coincided with Candiria’s tour, so we saw them nine times on the road. They were even tighter live. Their songs don’t have choruses or verses. It’s almost like they are on a rhythmic stream of consciousness, hitting breakdowns left and right. You could feel the street and the intensity through their synchronicity. They don’t repeat their riffs; they just keep traveling. Hearing the jazz influence and sophisticated arrangements coming out of this “metal” band made me (at 19 years old) realize how much the world is open to interpretation—how much we can make our own rules and rebel against formulas and status quo.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Prince, two-part question: At what moment in your career do u stop criticizing your own work/talent and just let it flow in the direction it needs to? And, what is your pancake recipe?
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Camaron Pelao” by Los Polifaceticos.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Caetano Veloso, Transa.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Wednesday Morning” by Chicano Batman! (Scroll down to hear it.)