B-Side Players

Somewhere in northern Oregon, on a winding stretch of mountainous Interstate, the seven members of B-Side Players nearly lost their lives. Following a spring drizzle that gently darkened the asphalt, the band's tour van suddenly lost traction, upending their trailer and narrowly missing a cliff at seventy miles-per-hour. "It was one of those things that's supposed to change your life and send you running to church," deadpans frontman Karlos Paez. "We missed one show." This isn't a surprising statement when you consider that Karlos is a child of the road, having virtually grown up on a tour bus with his father's band Los Moonlighters, who have been touring throughout Mexico since the 70's and, to this day, haven't stopped.

It's not a quest for fame, unyielding dedication, or even sheer balls that allow this brash band to so easily shrug off the specter of death. It's the deep-seeded knowledge that their furiously infectious blend of Latin, funk, rock, reggae, and soul brings new life to nearly everyone that hears it. Having witnessed the hypnotic and joyous effects of their grooves on audiences from Baja Mexico to New York City, the B-Side Players comfortably regard their mission as a sacred one.

An ethnically diverse group of artists with various passions for a broad range of musical styles, the B-Side Players have been turning heads since their beginning in southern California in 1993. In addition to winning several local San Diego music awards such as Best Latin Band and Best Latin Album, they have appeared with a laundry list of international acts, including Ben Harper, Papa Roach, Brian Setzer, Poncho Sanchez, and Ozomatli.

Despite a relentless touring schedule, the players have discovered that their music moves faster than they do. "We couldn't figure out why we were getting mail from places we haven't played yet," remarks Paez, "until we realized that people were buying our CDs at shows and sending them across country to friends and relatives."

In addition to fresh, dynamic performances from the B-Side Players themselves, Movement, the band's third release, features a guest appearance from legendary funk drummer Mike Clark of Herbie Hancock fame. During studio sessions for the new album, the band was inspired to include a cover of War's seminal classic "Spill the Wine," further reaffirming the record's soulful roots. Movement also features new performances of several songs from Renacimeinto and Culture of Resistance, the band's previous self-releases, which together sold over 25,000 copies from the trunks of their cars.

Recording talent aside, the stage is where the B-Side Players exceed all expectations. When confronted by an uncommonly shy audience, the entire band is capable of dropping their instruments in favor of percussive tools, including traditional Latin instruments such as timbales, shekere, and cajon, and urging the reluctant crowd to a spinning frenzy with a blistering barrage of syncopated polyrhythms.

"The greatest compliment we've ever received is the movement we see on the dance floor night after night. People completely surrender their bodies to our music. They give us everything they have. That's special."

The music of the B-Side Players touches people in their spirit and in their hearts. When this band leaves your town, you feel like waving goodbye, and you miss them until they return.