Calendar of Upcoming Events

Friday March 3rd

THEE COMMONS & QUIENSAVE

Since banding together in 2012, psychedelic cumbia-punk quartet Thee Commons have made waves in and around their hometown of East LA. Featuring los hermanos Pacheco and one of several lively session bassists and recently added saxophonist, these romp ‘n’ rollers have managed not only to marry two unlikely genres -- world’s apart -- in perfect pastiche harmony but also are planning to spread this East L.A. sound all throughout the USA this summer. Altogether, Thee Commons have played well over a hundred shows, gaining in the process hundreds more in fans -- those eager for something new to call their own. They have performed at several of Southern California’s prestigious venues, including The Echoplex of Echo Park, The Teragram Ballroom – both of which they’ve headlined -- The Regent Theatre of Downtown Los Angeles, and the Observatory of Santa Ana; have been hosted for a residency by pocho wine bar Eastside Luv of Boyle Heights -- which consisted of a weekly burlesque-dancer-entangled-affair dubbed the “Cumbia Psicodelica Cabaret”; and have opened up for such acts as Chicano Batman, Bomba Estereo, Bombino and even unofficially -- by way of an impromptu guerilla-style street show -- for The Pixies.

Qiensave? began as the brainchild of multi-disciplinary artist Carlos “Qien” Leyva Cortez as he sought to create a collaborative musical project. He began by fusing the sounds of several cross-genre musicians from throughout Los Angeles County. The name of the band itself is a testament to these humble beginnings. While hinting at the uncertainty of gathering so many artists to collaborate, the name Qiensave? also evokes the exciting prospect of reality’s infinite possibilities. Eventually, thanks to mobile studios, Qiensave? was able to record and produce their first mix tape, headed by Qien and Jason Rosenburg from Ancestry of Sound. The result was a patchwork of various musicians’ organic and synthetic beats, ranging from lyric-heavy coffee shop melodies to psychedelic soundscapes. The mix tape and title-track, “Bella ciudad,” circulated and captured the attention of many listeners, including director Eric Stoltz, who used it as background music on the NBC show, Quarterlife.Immediately following the release of their mix tape, Qiensave? began preparation for their first full-length collaborative album. This new project included Fishbone frontman Angelo Moore, who, after two sessions, decided to sign Qiensave? to his label, MooreMap Records, and begin recording. Thanks to the group’s eclectic blend of cross-genre sounds, Qiensave? has been blessed with many opportunities to share the stage with several well-respected musical acts including La Santa Cecilia, the B-Side Players, Wasted Noise, Los Tiliches, Angelo Moore of Fishbone, and more.