Tempe bar has patrons rockin' en español

Craig Astwood
Special for The Republic
Jan. 18, 2006 03:15 PM

Rock music performed in Spanish is attracting audiences in the Southeast Valley thanks to a few music promoters, a recording engineer and a bar in Tempe.

Every Thursday night, local bands showcase Rock En Espanol at The Real Bar, formerly called Priceless Inn.

According to Bill Marcks, Mesa native and guitarist for nationally signed band Authority Zero, there's a need for this kind of music in the Valley.

"There's definitely an influx of Mexicans, and their music is coming with them," he said.

"It's just a growing population, so the demand is getting bigger."

Marcks, who majored in Spanish at Arizona State University, has a production company under the name Billy Cylinders. He took up the cause of promoting Rock En Espanol night because he likes the music.

"I've always had an interest in the culture, and now I'm in a position to get other people interested in it as well," he said.

Marcks teamed with Ricardo Lozano, a Phoenix resident who records several Spanish speaking artists and serves as the recording engineer at The Real Bar on Thursdays.

"People don't have an idea of the different genres of Spanish rock," Lozano said. "When people hear the term Spanish rock, they just think of what they hear on the radio."

Lozano said Rock En Espanol includes punk, heavy metal, rockabilly and urban (protest) rock.

Diego Perez, a Phoenix resident who works with numerous local bands, promotes Rock En Espanol by purchasing air time on the local station KIDR-AM (740).

"I'm the DJ," Perez said. "I pay for me to be on there and play whatever I want."

One of the bands Perez helps promote is a Mesa hard punk foursome called Distorzion.

Distorzion bassist Santiago Alamada, 18, a Westwood High grad, said he has been listening to punk rock growing up in Mexico since he became a teenager.

"It's pretty popular there," he said. "There's both MTVs, they mix it in English and Spanish."

Lead singer Juan Duran, 20, said, "You don't know what they're saying, but you still like it."

Duran, who also graduated from Westwood, said in Mexico you learn to play instruments on the streets.

"I learned by asking people who have a guitar," he said.

Alamada said he took three months of guitar lessons in Mexico before rolling with it on his own.

Along with Distorzion, Nomada (alternative grunge), Montea (pop) and Almas Perdidas (urban rock) will perform tonight.

Doors open at 8, and the show begins at 9. The Real Bar is at 5014 S. Price Road. Cover charge is $5 for 21 and older and $7 for under 21.

Information: www.Rockerosvip.com or www .distorzionmusic.com.