THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE
LATIN MUSIC

Tribu's rock roots

Houstonians turn to what they love

By RAMIRO BURR

HOUSTON rock outfit Tribu de Ixchel's new 10-track CD, Crema Latina, has as many flavors as a pack of Life Savers.

It reflects the rock and pop sounds that fired the group members' teen-age imaginations.

"We listened to all sorts of different bands, from the Beatles and Rush to Iron Maiden and Santana," says lead singer Jerry Villanueva. "But we also listened to a lot of traditional music like Pedro Infante and Trio Los Panchos.

"Between us, we're into a big range of flavors."

The group's musical mixture includes melodic rock, pop ballads, a little soul and funk, a tinge of punk and even some dance grooves in a blend that recalls elements of El Tri, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Devo and the Cure. Think of Tribu de Ixchel as a branch from the same tree that produced San Antonio's Chris Perez Band and Austin's Vallejo.

Tribu de Ixchel, which also includes guitarist Jessie Gonzalez, bassist David Portales and drummer Rolando Martinez, came together in Houston's Second Ward in 1994.

"We started playing in a grupero atmosphere in Houston, where we played at weddings and quinceañeros," Villanueva recalls. "But then at one point we realized we should play what we love in our language, and hence we got into rock en español."

Tribu de Ixchel has been a regular on Houston's club circuit. They are scheduled to perform Saturday night at Cardi's. Adam Lopez manages the band, which is promoted by XPi Entertainment's Robert Ambriz and Joe Torres.

In 1997 they produced the band's debut CD, Entre Mundos. The band opened for Mexico's El Tri that year and also performed at the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin. That year the band was also named best new artist by Retila magazine.

Last year Tribu de Ixchel won a Warner Bros.-Silverlight records talent contest, earning the right to have a three-song demo produced. But things didn't work out.

"They promised that we would get considered for a record-label deal, but we had our artistic differences," Villanueva says.

Undaunted, the band self-produced its latest album, and members are adamant at trying their best in rock en español, a genre that has minimal radio support.

"Our new album is more mainstream than our debut," he said. "The melodies are sharper and danceable.

"We know it is very hard to make it in this field, but we just love the music," Villanueva says. "Our love of music inspires us to do this. We're die-hard rockers."