Chicano Batman
Ace of Spades, Sacramento
October 28, 2024
Photos by Paul Piazza
Chicano Batman, the influential Los Angeles band which melds psych-rock with tropicalia, funk, and indie rock recently played Ace of Spades in Sacramento. It was a great show to a packed house on a Monday night. And it may have been one of their final shows for a while. Or even perhaps, forever.
The band announced they were embarking on an “indefinite hiatus” after completing their fall run. Their final show was at The Mayan in Los Angeles. How lengthy the “hiatus” will be remains to be seen since there were no specifics given by the band as to whether they will reform down the road or not.
While the group didn’t give a specific reason for the break, they left behind a powerful touring, recording, and cultural legacy that has influenced many younger bands and gained a large and devoted following. The band started out sixteen years ago in Los Angeles as a quartet, but became a trio (they tour as a five piece) after longtime drummer Gabriel Villa departed following the release of their 2020 album Invisible People in 2020. In all, group released five studio albums along with a pair of EPs over their sixteen year run.
When they began, the band members bonded over their admiration for iconic acts such as Mexican rock legends Cafe Tacvba, Brazilian artist Caetano Veloso, and the 1960’s Tropicalia movement. They steeped those influences in a passionate and soulful sound that was influenced by the stylings of Curtis Mayfield and The Delfonics, while also blending elements of psychedelia, R&B, Latin soul, and bossa nova.
The result was a refreshing and colorful blast of style, sound, and attitude that reflected the band’s eclectic tastes and synthesized their collectively diverse background. Vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist Bardo Martinez is half Columbian and half Mexican, bassist Eduardo Arenas is Mexican-American and guitarist Carlos Arevalo is of Salvadoran and Mexican descent. They all come from distinctive Los Angeles neighborhoods. Martinez is from La Mirada, Arenas is from Boyle Heights, and Arevalo is from Rialto.
At the Ace of Spades show, the band played a set that reflected a panorama of their five albums, plus their EPs. The sold-out and very enthusiastic Sacramento crowd soaked it all in on a Monday night. This was great, because although most in the crowd were aware that this was possibly the last time they would see the band, both the fans and the band went all in. Afterwards, everyone left with a satisfied smile and a curious heart.
At one point in the show, Martinez launched into a between-song banter that glowed with adulation for Sacramento. “No amount of negativity can put a fucking dent in me Sacramento, with all these beautiful trees, and fresh air,” and when he paused, the crowd started chanting “Light the Beam! Light the Beam!” which seemed to befuddle the singer for a moment. This of course, was in reference to a Sacramento Kings basketball victory that had just occurred, and the chant signals the lighting of a purple beam just down the street at the sports arena. The vocalist paused and then said, “I don’t know what that means, but cool!” and the band launched back into another song. It was a roll with it kind of night. And everything rolled out favorably, as it has been destined to do on this band’s path.
Chicano Batman had reached a new peak and lit a beam at another purple palace this year when they sold-out the Forum in LA. And along the way, Sacramento played a significant part in their ascension. There was superb fan support at consecutive sold-out shows over a nine year span. The shows took place Sol Collective, Harlow’s (on two occasions), and the Crest Theatre, before the big wrap up night at the Ace of Spades.
So, while it stings to see a band brimming with success going on an indefinite hiatus, the music will very likely continue for all three of the original band members. Both Martinez and Arenas have released solo albums and toured separately during the last decade. Meanwhile, Arevalo’s reputation as a masterful guitarist continues to grow and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him recording or out there jamming with a touring band somewhere. And it is important to note that the band made a significant impact during their time as Chicano Batman, influencing an entirely new generation of younger Latino musicians in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond. Many of whom are now quickly rising the ranks. The opener was a good example of this on this Monday night show.
Tropa Magica, a fantastic psychedelic cumbia punk band from Los Angeles, formed by the Pacheco brothers David (guitar/vocals) and Rene (drums), got things started at the Ace of Spades. The trio’s raging live approach lit up the early crowd as they blazed through over half a dozen songs. They will be a band to watch in the future as we all watch for signals in the sky to let us know if Chicano Batman will someday return.
