Me & Julio make Latin pop they call 'Son Moderno'

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Aug 13, 2004 | by LINDA NAVARRO THE GAZETTE

ME & JULIO

Hear them: 7-11 p.m. every Friday, Sonterra Grill, 28 S. Tejon St.; 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Olive Branch, 23 S. Tejon St.; 9:30 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. Aug. 25, Ritz Grill, 15 S. Tejon St.

Personnel: Julio C. Garcia, lead vocals, composer and rhythm guitar; John Stone, lead guitar and backup vocals. At some gigs they add bass, drums and percussion musicians including Kim Stone, Henric D'Almeida, Mike Nelson, Dennis Bueno, John Gonzales and John Wise.

Style: Latin Pop, what we like to call "Son Moderno," Garcia says. It has flamenco overtones.

Influences: For Garcia: Van Van, NG La Banda, Carlos Santana, Compay Segundo, Buena Vista Social Club and other Cuban musicians old and new.

For Stone: Rubin Romero, Antonio Mendoza, Paco de Lucia, Robert Fripp, Steve Vai, Eric Clapton, Gipsy Kings, and "every guitar player I've ever known, with thanks."

What the live show is like: "It depends on the venue," says Garcia. "At Sonterra we keep our first set mellow since most customers want to be able to eat and chat with their friends. As the night progresses and people mind less, the energy goes up; sometimes it can get pretty loud and crazy. Who knows, someone may even get up and dance."

At larger venues they bring in a full group and it turns "energetic and electrifying. Whether you can understand what we are saying or not, you get the feeling that you want to dance and let yourself go," Garcia says.

Best gig: Cinco de Mayo at Salsa Brava, 802 Village Center Drive, they agree. The place was packed from 6 to 11 p.m. and "the atmosphere was simply electrifying," says Garcia.

Give them a spin: "Aqui Esta" has mostly original music by Garcia and was recorded at Kim Stone's (Spiro Gyra, Rippington) studio and at John Wise's studio. It's available at their gigs or through their Web site, www.meandjulio.com

What "making it" would look like: Garcia thinks big: "A platinum recording deal, a Grammy award, making music every day, playing to a full capacity stadium of 40,000 screaming fans."

Stone starts out a little closer to home: "Playing Colorado's Front Range, expanding to Taos and Santa Fe, and eventually regional tours." Then he gets more expansive: "We are creating a unique style of music I think is worthy of a record deal. Possibly we could go national, who knows."

Their most rock 'n' roll moments: Music has been Garcia's obsession. "As a child I sang for millions in a children's program in Havana, Cuba. In college, I had the honor of backing Luciano Pavarotti and Jos Carreras in their concerts in Miami. As a salsa singer I have performed for a dancing and singing crowd of 6,000. And now with Me and Julio, I'm getting the chance to compose and play my own music which so far has been received here in the Springs with much warmth."

Stone "grew up a long time ago and saw the Stones, The Who, the Dead, Dylan, Bonnie, Eric, B.B. They all were great moments, but sometimes when I play the guitar and hit everything right on, that epiphany is my rock 'n' roll moment."

History: In the summer of 2003, Garcia sat in when Stone was playing at Bristol Brewery. "After a couple of tunes me and John looked at each other and thought 'wow this is good.' The rest as they say is history," says Garcia. The name started as a joke, a play on Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard" and it stuck.

Day jobs: Garcia is music director for Peyton Middle/High School. Stone says, "After 16 years as the 'Map Guy' at Chinook, my day job is resum shopping and really my music, whether solo or duo. I have music irons in the fire everywhere."

Their take on the local music scene: "Surprisingly healthy," says Garcia. "When I left Miami 6 years ago I didn't expect to be playing Cuban music in Colorado Springs. Yet I've met many great musicians and even more music lovers in this town."

How would you improve it?

"Create music as art," says Stone. "People need heart, always play from your heart. I write as well, with tons of original material. I play it wherever the clubs let me. Every musician should try to do this. Together we can improve the scene."

CONTACT US: Hey, local bands! If you would like to be considered for a feature in Sound Check and you have local gigs

booked, call 636-0374 or e-mail

Lnavarro@gazette.com