Cojoba (band)

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Cojoba is a hardcore/punk band from Puerto Rico.

Cojoba is a hardcore/punk band formed in August 1995 in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The original line-up was Taína- vocals; Javier- bass; and Gilbert- guitar. Back then, the band did not have a drummer, it had a drum machine instead, which Javier programmed. This wasn't the members' first experience in a band. Javier and Gilbert were both also members of Sham Pain, possibly the first ever crossover hardcore band in Puerto Rico, and Taína had joined her first band, Psycore, when she was 15.

Cojoba released its first demo cassette, "Espíritu de Punk," in 1996. The band itself took care of producing it. Javier did the recording and mixing, Taína did the artwork and Gilbert made sure some indie record stores in different areas of Puerto Rico carried it. But the band never depended on stores to distribute their music. The band also set up a small merch distribution outfit, Anaconda Records, where they sell not only Cojoba's music, but also help distribute other bands' material.

Later on, Gilbert leaves the band and Taína and Javier produce the next demo cassette, "Vienen por Nosotros," by themselves. This cassette was released in 1999 and had more politically oriented lyrics.

In 2001, Cojoba released its first CD, "Jugando con Fuego." This CD introduced a human drummer --and Sham Pain alumnus-- Bebe, to the band. Rolin, Javier's youngest brother, also joined the band as its bassist and Javier switched to playing guitar. Bebe and Rolin gave Cojoba a more thrash metal sound, which was very different from the punk rock sound the band expressed in its two first records. However, Taína's voice, although a lot stronger, remained melodic.

Before this cd was released, Cojoba had the chance to go on an international tour for the first time. With the help of Venezuelan anarchopunk band Apatía No, they played three shows in Caracas, Venezuela.

Shortly after, Bebe leaves the band and David, who had years' of experience drumming for Tavú and other Puerto Rican bands, replaces him while Rolin stays on.

In 2002 the band goes on tour to Spain, France and Belgium, playing 12 shows. It also released an EP, "El arte de la irreverencia," under the Paris-based indie label New Wave Records.

When they got back from that tour, the line up changed again and Juanpi replaced Rolin on the bass. In 2003, the band releases yet another CD, "Sin Excusas," and goes on another tour, this time only playing within Spain.

In 2004 Cojoba goes on its first tour to the U.S., playing in New York and Boston, where they were invited to play at La Rivolta, an anarchofeminist festival. The next year they were invited to La Rivolta again, and took the opportunity to play in New York and in Baltimore too.

In 2006, the band starts recording its next CD, "Más allá del cielo," and its songs for a split CD with Spanish band Angela Chaning. In October of that year Taína and Javier move to New York City and finished recording both albums there, in their apartment. In June 2007 Juanpi and David join Taína and Javier in New York and they go on tour again, playing in New York, Boston and at the CLITfest in Richmond, Virginia.

Cojoba, now being based in New York, added Moe to the bass and Cristian to the drums. In October they went to Chicago to play the Latino Punk festival. But days after the tour, Cristian had to move to Canada.

Unable to find a local drummer, but eager to start playing again, the band found a drummer...from Texas. Stefan, who also plays with jazz band Yells and Eels, and thrashers Akkolyte, Just Another Consumer and more, offered to fly to New York to play a few shows.

Now the band is planning some three shows in August in New York or New Jersey and one in Chicago, for the latest edition of the CLITfest. Cojoba is also planning a tour in Colombia, where it expects to visit the cities of Bogotá, Medellín and Ibagué in November.

The band is currently writing new songs and is still looking for a New York-based drummer.

Discography

Cojoba "Espíritu de Punk": cassette 1996. Anaconda Records.

Destruye el sexismo: Cassette recopilatorio de bandas con mujeres. 1997. Civilización Violenta, Argentina. Canción: Hueliendo Pega.

Cry Now, Cry Later Vol. 2: CD recopilatorio. 1997. Pessimiser Records, California. Canción: Hueliendo Pega.

'Zinevergüenza 7.5: Cassette recopilatorio con bandas de P.R. 1997. Anaconda Records.Canciones: Al garete, La caída.

Underground Invasion Vol. 1: CD recopilatorio. 1998. Beer City Records, Wisconsin. Canción: Vienen por Nosotros.

New Days Rising: CD recopilatorio. 1998. Y. Boislève, Francia. Canciones: Destino Manifiesto, La Caída, Gente Olvidada, Al Garete.

Cojoba "Vienen por Nosotros": Cassette. 1998. Anaconda Records.

Allan McNaughton Project: Disco recopilatorio 7". 1999. Beer City Records, Wisconsin. Canción: Políticos Presos.

Escondidos en la Sociedad: Cassette recopilatorio con bandas de P.R. 1999. Wagui Records, Cidra, Puerto Rico. Canción: Los Plebeyos.

Chaos Core II: CD recopilatorio 2000. 3C.R.C. Records, Francia. Canción: Y así será.

Cojoba "Simulacro": Cassette. 2000. Anaconda Records.

Cojoba "Jugando con Fuego": CD. 2001. Anaconda Records.

Sin Fronteras Ni Banderas: CD recopilatorio. 2001. Chivolo Diskos, Ecuador.

Against Sexism & Racism: Cassette recopilatorio internacional. 2001. AMAN Recs., Malasia.

Rompe la Incomunicacion: CD recopilatorio de bandas cantando en castellano. 2002. Mala Raza y Radio Topo, España.

Cojoba "El Arte de la Irreverencia": 7" EP. 2002. New Wave Records, Francia.

Solidaridad con Voz y Ruido: CD recopilatorio internacional de grupos con mujeres. 2002. Anar-rca, Puerto Rico.

Uniendo Fronteras: CD recopilatorio internacional. 2002. Beneficio Interno, Costa Rica.

Already too much blood on science hands: CD recopilatorio en beneficio a los derechos animales. 2002. Counteract Recs., Francia.

Cojoba "Espiritu de Punk/Vienen por Nosotros": CD. 2002. Boileve Records, Francia.

Cojoba "Sin Excusas": CD. 2003. Anaconda Records.

Toksiko 'zine: CD recopilatorio con grupos espanoles en su mayoria. 2003. Toksiko, Espana.

Punk Occupation #3: CD recopilatorio internacional. 2003. Rusia.

Su lucha, la nuestra: Cass. recopilatorio de grupos internacionales. 2003. Pozoin Banaketak, Euskadi.

Cojoba & M.I.G.R.A.: Cass. compartido con un grupo de Venezuela. 2003. Chilas Distro, Venezuela.

Sonidos para reactivar la revolucion: CD recopilatorio de grupos punk latinoamericanos. 2004. Persistencia Recs., Colombia.

Nuestras voces son sus pesadillas: CD recopilatorio a beneficio de Radio Bronka. 2004. Barcelona, Catalunya.

Short, Fast and Loud: CD recopilatorio con bandas que integran mujeres. 2004. Short, Fast and Loud 'zine, California.

Musika...beste borroka modu bat da: VHS con grupos que han tocado en gastetxes y centros sociales de Euskal Herria. 2004(?).Zirikatu, Euskal Herria.

512 anos despues, el saqueo continua: CD recopilatorio a beneficio de los indigenas Pemones de Venezuela 2005. Noseke Recs., Alemania.

Cojoba "Más allá del cielo"; CD 2007, Anaconda Records.

Cojoba/ Angela Chaning "Maldito cielo rojo"; CD 2007, Mala Raza, Zaragoza.

[edit] External links

• Cojoba's MySpace website

• Cojoba website---not updated