There is a new sound coming out of San Antonio but it's a sound that is also familiar to some of the kats hip to the SA music scene of the 70's and 80's. Yes, I'm talking about The Krayolas, San Antonio's own version of the Beatles.
Brothers Hector and David Saldana dusted off their instruments and pulled the pin stripes back out in 2007 after releasing a comprehensive 16-track cd of (now) out of print vinyl 45's. The record entitled "Best Riffs Only" put them back on the music radar when their single "Little Fox" began getting local and regional airplay.
"Little Fox," a ditty written by legendary Tex-Mex Rocker Augie Meyers back in 1967 when Meyers was with the Sir Douglas Quintet, was at the forefront once again in 2008 as Meyers took the stage with the brothers for shows at SXSW, the NCAA Final Four and several local television appearances.
With renewed energy, the brothers Saldana got back into the studio and back into the groove. Their next disc, "La Conquistadora" had the hands of success all over it as the brothers Saldana brought in guest musicians; Augie Meyers, Max Baca and The West Side Horns, a guest artist; famed Chicano Folk Artist David Zamora Casas and a guest writer; award winning author John Phillip Santos, who completed the liner notes.
What emerged from the studios of Grammy Award Winning Producer Joe "Bluecat" Trevino was one of the most prolific albums to come out of San Antonio since Doug Sahm was using the name Doug Saldana.
"La Conquistadora" caught the attention of SIRUS Radio DJ Dave Marsh who played it on his National Radio Show, "Dave Marsh Kicks Out The Jams" on SIRIUS Disorder Channel 70. Marsh said "La Conquistadora" was "one of his favorite albums of 2008."
The band began playing shows around the San Antonio/Austin area and it wasn't long before the brothers were again huddled in Blue Cat Studios, on the South side of San Antonio.
They once again reached out to the talent surrounding San Antonio bringing back the West Side Horns and tapping Los Angeles native and "heir apparent" to Flaco Jimenez, Michael Guerra to play accordion.
On March 17, 2008 The Krayolas released "Long Leaf Pine (no smack gum)" to great acclaim. The album has been praised from just about every ear that's heard it and the single "Corrido, Twelve Heads in A Bag" is an underground sensation.
The band got another boost when they were featured on "Little Steven Van Zandt's SIRUS/XM Radio show. The group rode the wave and began playing local shows, were featured in Van Zandt's showcase at SXSW 2009, played at the after party of the San Antonio Spurs NBA Playoffs run and most recently were prominently featured on the PBS Special "Texas Music Extravaganza" which put them on stage with the Sir Douglas Quintet II and Raul Malo.
Recently, the Krayolas made another band adjustment bringing in a new bassist, San Angelo native and current San Antonio resident Ramon "J.R." Jasso. Jasso, who made his on stage bass debut with Five Time Grammy Award Winner Flaco Jimenez last year at the San Antonio Tardeada Music Festival, played his first show with The Krayolas last month.
Jasso, who used to play accordion with such groups asthe Kumbia All Starz and La Sombra took up the bass only three years ago. Under the tutelage of the Texas Tornados new bajo-sexto player Michael Guerra, Jasso quickly grasped what he now says is his "life instrument". "I had played accordion for a few years but when I strapped on a bass I knew this was my instrument," he recently said.
On November 28th, the Krayolas released the single "La Fruteria" video showcasing the band on their native West Side. The single is from their newest yet unreleased CD "Americano".
Comments
Really cool write up. He keeps you up to date on the S.A. scene.
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