September 22, 2021 | Concert Review by Rachael Contreras
Last week brought two amazing things from one of our favorite bands. On Thursday, September 16th – in honor of Mexican Independence Day – Chicano punk band and Damian Chapa fans, Manic Hispanic released their new album, “Back in Brown.” They also played live that night to show off the goods.
This album puts their usual hilarious and captivating lyrics to some of the best punk rock that has been around. The album also includes some of the last work of Manic Hispanic OG guitarist and beloved member of the punk rock community Steve Soto worked on before he passed in June of 2018.
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Manic Hispanic opened with the first song off the new album, “Mas Chingones” (a rendition of The Bouncing Souls song “True Believers”), and went straight into their set that consisted of nearly 20 songs! They played almost every song off their new album, and every song included some nuance of humor in every word.
MANIC HISPANIC at ALEX’S BAR | PHOTO by THE CORNONA CHRONICLES
Watching each member was also like a show in itself and they played so many great songs: “Wasted,” “East LA,” “Lowriders from Mars,” and “Rudy Cholo.” The crowd loved every bit and there was even a circle pit! Can you imagine moshing to a “Chicano punk” parody of Fugazi’s, “Waiting Room” called, “Holding Cell” that includes front-man Efrem Schulz screaming like a rooster, “COCKADOODLE DOOOOOOO!”
There were flannels, pompadour hair styles, creeper shoes, and black clothing galore. There were probably more Suavecito hair pomade in Alex’s Bar that night than has been in the last two years. Everyone was dressed to the nines and excited to see such an amazing band. Manic Hispanic did not disappoint; their songs are catchy and fun, and they put on a tremendous show.
One they didn’t play that we were hoping to catch live was a version of Bad Religion’s, “21st Century Digital Boy” called, “21st Century Vato Loco.” This only means we need to catch them live again to see if it’s on their set list. But either way, it’s well worth another show.
MANIC HISPANIC at ALEX’S BAR | PHOTO by THE CORNONA CHRONICLES
The characters they play on stage are humorous and silly, but in real life, these guys are some of the coolest dudes around. Manic Hispanic is: Efrem “Chuey Luis” Martinez Schulz, Louie “Juan Solo” Perez III, Gilbert “Dreamer” Pichardo, Elvis Cortez, Ruben “Chino” Rivera and Maurice “Mo Grease” Torres.
Make sure to catch them any time they come to your neck of the woods because they are beyond entertaining!
