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>> TEXAS-BASED LATIN-FUNK ENSEMBLE FINDS SUCCESS BOTH ON AND OFF THE ROAD GRUPO FANTASMA IS GRAMMY-BOUND
Grammy-nominated Grupo Fantasma is all about the live performance
Date published: 1/8/2009
BY JESSE SCOTT FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR Grupo Fantasma may soon have to figure out how to chop a Grammy Award into 10 pieces. With last year's "Sonidos Gold," the Austin-based Latin -funk ensemble has joined the ranks of artists like Shakira and Mana as a Grammy nominee in the Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album category. But before band members can start preparing possible acceptance speeches for the Feb. 8 ceremony at Los Angeles' Staples Center, they really just need to figure out how to get to the show. "We just found out about it about a month ago, and we've been scrambling to get a show out there," said guitarist Beto Martinez in a recent phone interview from Austin. "Costs are so high for all of us to travel out there, but we are definitely planning on attending." Having played roughly 150 shows last year, Martinez shouldn't be stressing too much about getting a gig. After all, the group has toured with Prince, performed on "The Tonight Show" and made the crowd go loco at last June's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. The band will hit the intimate Black Cat in Washington tomorrow night--its second show in a four-gig dash up the East Coast. Grupo Fantasma's spine-tingling, energetic vibe is powerful enough to disperse across a multiday festival or ignite a small room. Horns, electric guitars, congas and various other percussion instruments blend wonderfully. "We just like to have fun," said Martinez. "And there is a lot of dancing going on. Just about everyone is compelled to dance."
The group recently rang in the new year with its own celebration in Austin. "We played a show at this place called The Parish," said Martinez. "We actually played with our side project, so it was really like playing twice." Despite all the recognition the band's latest album has garnered, Martinez said live performances are really what it's all about. "We play so much, and that's where we've really built our success," said Martinez. "We're pretty relentless in our touring, and when we're 'free,' we're usually gigging around Texas." As they say, everything is bigger in Texas. These driven musicians continue to show that their love for powerful live music is about as big as the state from which they hail. Jesse Scott is a freelance writer
Date published: 1/8/2009
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