Raskahuele
About this Artist
Although Mexican ska has gained acceptance all over the United States, nowhere has it been so dominating as it has become in Los Angeles. From backyard parties all the way up to stadium shows, the kids love to skank. And the LA-based band that has skyrocketed to the top of the local scene (and now on tour opening for Panteon Rococo) is Raskahuele. Formed in 2004, the band cut its musical teeth opening wherever they could play.
Their debut CD Bellas Calles came out five years ago in July 2007, to widespread acclaim and earned them a billing with the respected Mexican band Salon Victoria. The single from that debut CD was "Tiki Room" and their fans still shout for them to play it today.
Raskahuele is a polyglot of influences that is not limited to ska, but includes rock steady, roots reggae, punk, cumbia, salsa and combinations of all of these musical styles that are important to the Latino community.
This is reflected in the heritage of the members, as band leader Adrian Gonzalez on drums, Alfredo de la Rosa (trumpet), Edmundo Magallon (keyboards), Luis Rivera (lead guitar), Luis Cortes (lead vocals) all hail originally from Mexico.
Christian Crespin, bass trombone is from El Salvador. And Juan Lopez (saxophone), Adrian Lopez (guitar), and Eduardo Rodriguez (bass) were born in the US.
Their latest CDNew Beginnings has been enthusiastically received and is already receiving radio play in LA, NY Metro, Chicago, Austin, San Antonio, Fresno, Bakersfield, Santa Barbara and Phoenix.
Guest contributors include the Skatalites from Jamaica, Argentina's Los Autenticos Decadentes, and both Panteon Rococo and Maldita Vecindad from Mexico.
When asked how their name came about, band leader Adrian replies "Well, Ras means 'brother' in Jamaican pateos, ska is our favorite genre of music and raskahuele is a Mexican gambling game, so it all made sense to use this as our identity."
The band has a tremendous passion for the community they hail from. Recently, Raskahuele performed for Naydi Mendez to honor a musical essay award she received from NAMM.org through International House of Music.
They were recently a featured band at Fiesta Broadway, the largest US Cinco de Mayo festival in the US, and have played benefits for flood victims in Central America and Mexico.
Los Angeles, the capital of the world music business, is a tough town to establish your musical identity.
But Raskahuele has done just that, bringing important bands like Mexico's Antidoping and Inspector to play with them or
Argentina's Los Autenticos Decadentes, as well as providing opportunities for quality upcoming local bands to share the same stage. They have the music; they have the spirit; they have the skankers; and they have the community involvement.
Remember the name Raskahuele: they define the new Spanish-language ska.