ANCHR's Artist of the Week: Los Bitchos
Party rock is in the house tonight! No, I'm not referencing the 2011 hit from LMFAO— I'm talking about the dance-inducing music that Los Bitchos is serving us with. (Pause to allow all the Hispanic readers to giggle for a minute at their name). When I first heard their music, before looking to see who it was, I was like "Oh dang, did Mdou Moctar put out some new stuff?" Once I saw who they were, I was happily surprised to see four white girls on my Spotify considering the sound of their music and their name.
Photo by Tom Mitchell
Los Bitchos are Nic Crawshaw on drums from England, Josefine Jonsson on bass from Sweden, Serra Petale on guitar from Australia, and Agustina Ruiz on keytar from Uruguay. The band formed in 2017 and call London, England their home base, but with all four members coming from different sides of the globe, their cultural diversity provides different flavors throughout their album: Let the Festivities Begin! If this is your first time hearing about Los Bitchos, their album title is actually also a theme. From track one you will be moving and grooving. It's almost as if they are daring listeners to not move along with the music. I get South American vibes, Middle Eastern vibes, and Mexican cumbia vibes. A lovely and unique hallmark of Los Bitchos is their music is all instrumental, aside from some cheering and audible jubilance. When most music fans hear that a band is all instrumental, it's not uncommon to think that they will end up being "jammy", but unless their live shows prove otherwise, I don't really see that from them considering not one of their songs is over four minutes. I see them as more Khruangbin than I do Umphrey's McGee. If any of you guys liked that really fun song from The Donkeys, “Lower the Heavens,” then you will definitely like Let the Festivities Begin!
Los Bitchos are going on a quick UK tour before visiting The States for the first time when they perform in Austin at the SXSW music festival. A full European tour will follow with three US dates sprinkled in the middle. Personally, I am stoked that one of their stops will be here in Chicago at the Empty Bottle. If any ANCHR readers are traveling down to SXSW in a few weeks, be sure to catch one of their sets. Cheer Up Charlies is always a good time.
For the rest of us not heading down to the fest this year, put June 22 on your calendar and buy a ticket to see Los Bitchos. Not much sounds better to me right now than a beautiful summer night heading to The Bottle to throw back a couple Old Style's while listening to some very fun live music from a great band. Check out Los Bitchos if you enjoy Khruangbin or even Selena.