Los Crudos

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Los Crudos
Origin Pilsen, Chicago, United States
Genre(s) Hardcore
Thrashcore
Years active Early 1990s–1998
Associated acts Limp Wrist, I Attack, Punch in the Face, Harto, Tragatelo

Los Crudos was an influential[1][2] Chicago-based Latino hardcore band.[3] They paved the way for later Spanish-speaking punk bands[1] and helped to increase the presence of Latinos in a predominantly white subculture.[4] They have been described as "one of '90s punk's truly great bands"[5] and "one of the greatest hardcore bands of the ’90s (um, I mean, ever)."[6] Kennedy describes them as "very popular in both the 'crusty' and Emo/straight edge scenes in North America."[7]

The band formed in the early 1990s.[3] Their lyrics were almost always sung in Spanish; the song "We're That Spic Band" (written in response to an audience member calling them a "spic band"[8]) is the sole exception.[1] Los Crudos' lyrics were explicitly political,[5] addressing issues such as class, police brutality, homophobia, and California ballot propositions directed against immigrants.[1][4] At concerts, singer Martin Sorrondeguy would often speak at length about the songs' meanings between songs, partly as a way of getting around the language barrier (audiences weren't always happy about this).[5][7] Their music was loud, fast, and energetic with songs built around three chords or fewer.[1][5][7] "We're That Spic Band" and "Asesinos" (about "the disappearances of radical youth during military dictatorships in Latin America") have both been described as their most well-known song.[9][7]

The band's first shows were in Pilsen,[3] the Latino neighborhood in Chicago where the band members lived, and many of their lyrics were first sung there.[8] Sorrondeguy has said that, "One of the main reasons for singing in Spanish was to communicate directly with kids in our neighborhood."[4] In Pilsen, the band also worked closely with community agencies such as Project Vida, an AIDS prevention organization, and Project Hablo, a domestic violence support group.[4]

Los Crudos incorporated DIY ethics into every aspect of the band's existence, including promoting and booking shows, recording music, touring, and silk-screening T-shirts.[1] They toured Mexico (in 1994[7]), South America, Europe, and Japan, as well as touring the US many times.[5] The band's recordings were released on independent record labels such as Flat Earth Records, Ebullition Records, and Sorrondeguy's label Lengua Armada Discos.

Los Crudos played its last shows in October 1998.[5] After the band's breakup, Sorrondeguy became the vocalist for Limp Wrist, as well as releasing a documentary about Chicano and Latino punk[8] (Beyond The Screams: A U.S. Latino Hardcore Punk Documentary). He has also been in the bands Harto and Tragatelo. Guitarist Jose now plays in the Chicago punk band I Attack. Drummer Ebro became the vocalist for Chicago band Punch in the Face.[10]

The band played an unannounced reunion show in June 2006 at Southkore (America's first and largest[1] Latino punk festival), in Chicago's Little Village.[2] The festival attracted more than 400 fans.[2] They are also slated to play 2008's Chaos in Tejas festival in Austin, Texas.[11]

Contents

[edit] Members

(circa 1997)[5]

  • Martin Sorrondeguy (vocals)
  • Jose (guitar)
  • Juan (bass)
  • Ebro (drums) - also a member of Charles Bronson[12] and MK-ULTRA

[edit] Discography

CD Discography - Compiles everything EXCEPT their split 7" with MK- Ultra

[edit] Singles

  • 7" split with Huasipungo
  • 7" split with Mannumission
  • 7" split with MK- Ultra
  • 7" La Rabia Nubla Nuestros Ojos…
  • 7" Las Injusticias Caen Como Pesadillas[13]

[edit] Full Length

  • 12" LP Canciones Para Liberar Nuestras Fronteras (Lengua Armada)[14]
  • 12" split with Spitboy - Ebullition Records' most popular release.[15]
  • 12" LP discography 1991–1995 Los Primeros Gritos
  • 12' LP Last Stand - A limited edition bootleg of the last Los Crudos show. 315 numbered copies.
  • 12" split with Reversal of Man - This was supposed to be a repress of the Los Crudos/Spitboy split LP, but the pressing plant accidentally pressed 1000 copies of the Los Crudos side of the split with the A-Side of the Reversal of Man "This Is Medicine" LP. Rather than destroy accidental pressing, the copies were sold and the proceeds were donated to a rape crisis center.

[edit] Compilations

  • Achtung Chicago Zwei! LP/CD
  • Chicago Hardcore Compilation 7"
  • Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!: A Music War 7" (Slap-a-Ham Records)[16]
  • A History Of Compassion and Justice 2x7" (Lengua Armada) - A benefit for a mural in Chicago.[17]
  • Books To Prisoners 7"[18]
  • In The Spirit Of Total Resistance 7" (Profane Existence) - "A benefit release for the Mohawk nation of Kanesatake, in Quebec, who came under persecution in 1990."[19]
  • Liberame 7"[20]
  • Chicago's On Fire Again 7"
  • Cry Now, Cry Later Vol. 4 2x7"
  • Stealing the Pocket Compilation LP
  • America Is Bella…Para Vivir Resistiendo!! LP
  • CIA Via UFO TO Mercury LP
  • Iron Columns 2xLP
  • Reality Part 3 LP

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Sanchez, George. "Wassup Rockers", Metroactive, 2006-08-09. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  2. ^ a b c Hopper, Jessica. "Pogoing Across Borders", Chicago Reader, 2006-06-16. Retrieved on 2007-08-25. 
  3. ^ a b c Bonacich, Drago. Los Crudos: Biography. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
  4. ^ a b c d Temple, Johnny. "Noise From Underground", The Nation, 1999-09-30. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Sinker, Daniel (Ed.); Kim Bae (2001). We Owe You Nothing: Punk Planet: The Collected Interviews. Akashic Books, 247-248. ISBN 1888451149. 
  6. ^ Of lists and listlessness | The A.V. Club
  7. ^ a b c d e Kennedy, Paul T.; Victor Roudometof (2002). Communities Across Borders: New Immigrants and Transnational Cultures. Routledge, 152. 
  8. ^ a b c Palafox, Jose. "Screaming Our Thoughts: Latinos and Punk Rock", WireTap, 2000-8-22. 
  9. ^ Orange County Weekly - Beyond the Barrios
  10. ^ Suburban Voice On-Line: Suburban Voice blog #53
  11. ^ austin360.com
  12. ^ Sinker, 255
  13. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/heartattackissue03_5MusicReviewsPart1.pdf
  14. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/suburbanvoiceissue42_18AlbumReviewsPart1.pdf
  15. ^ Ebullition Records Catalog: Spitboy/Los Crudos. Retrieved on 2007-09-23
  16. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/suburbanvoiceissue42_247inchReviews.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/heartattackissue03_6MusicReviewsPart2andTop10Lists.pdf
  18. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/heartattackissue12_7MusicReviewsPart2.pdf
  19. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/suburbanvoiceissue35_187inchReviewsTapeReviewsandTheEnd.pdf
  20. ^ http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/heartattackissue20_13MusicReviewsPart3.pdf

[edit] External links

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