If you have read my blogs in the past, you probably noticed I'm a big fan of Cumbia. So low and behold, bubbling in the city of Norwalk of all places, comes a band that sounds like they came straight from Magdalena, Colombia. They are called Buyepongo. Most of the band is very young, yet they have a sound that rivals Cumbia legends such as Andres Landero, Lisadro Meza and Aniceto Molina.

There are many things I love about this band. They are descendants and citizens from Guatamala, El Salvador, Bolivia and Mexico. Still, it seems these guys have Cumbia running through their veins just by the way they play it. It would be easy to mistake Buyepongo for a Colombian band three times their age.

Another thing is that they are a great live band and they write their own songs. I saw them for the first time in a bar in Pasadena on Monday and I could of sworn they were playing obscure Cumbia covers.

And lastly... at last, there is another local Vallenato group that isn't Very Be Careful! I love the VBC, but it's good to have variety and more than one group in L.A. playing this type of music.

I think I mentioned before that I had the good fortune of meeting Joe Strummer a few times. On those occasions we talked about Cumbia and his love for it. I remember turning him on to Very Be Careful and he went gaga over them, so much so that he had VBC open for him during his last L.A. shows. I wish he was around for Buyepongo, he would have dug these guys.

Buyepongo have nothing released yet but you can go to their myspace page to hear some live tracks.
 

Nothing beats a Halloween party with your friends. But in case none of your friends are having one (or you have no friends) here's a few suggestions:

Cinespia Presents: The Shining At Hollywood Forever Cemetery

A special screening of “The Shining” on Halloween night at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
gates open at 5:30 pm, film begins at 7:00 pm. First come first serve for a $10 cash donation. You’ll be sitting on the cold, damn grass of a cemetery, so bring a blanket - no tall chairs. Bring a picnic!

Check out a preview of the Halloween feel good movie of a lifetime:


 
Very Be Careful @ La Cita in Downtown L.A.

L.A.'s best punk rock Vallenato and Cumbia group plays at La Cita. The VBC  is always  a good time. Wear a costume and destroy it  on the dance floor.

La Cita
336 S. Hill St
los angeles, California 90013
Cost: $8

Low End Theory @ The Airliner
Featuring: Themselves (Anticon), Daedelus, Nobody, Daddy Kev & others.

Check out a rare appearance from Themselves, featuring Dos One & Jel and the onslaught of great DJ's. But the best thing about this show is the cover charge. This is from their website:

Now, be forewarned: THIS IS A COSTUME PARTY. We'll be charging $5 with costume, $100 without (yes, that's ONE-HUNDRED DOLLARS without a costume). No exceptions. And when we say "costume" we mean head-to-toe. A mask with pair of jeans and T-shirt will not cut the mustard. So please, take some time and get yourself a REAL DEAL costume for the occasion. Full nudity also welcome.