Lately, no matter which calendar of events I look at, the name Chronic Logic seems to be popping up at most venues around town. From Club Rhythm and Blues to the Launchpad to Sonny's, these guys are everywhere - and rightfully so.
It would amaze most who have heard them to learn that Chronic Logic has only been playing together since February. The band also has been selected from 120 bands to compete in October in the New Mexico Showcase for the "Best Band in New Mexico" title. Since the birth of Chronic Logic, the group has rapidly been recognized as a band that is growing up quickly.
So who are they? They are seven musicians born all over the world - from Chile to Mexico, California, Oklahoma, Kansas and two members from New Mexico - united in Albuquerque through their love of music. They are members, past or present, of such bands as Felonious Groove Foundation, Red Earth, Concepto Tambor, Los Brown Spots, Soup and Taoist Cowboy. Three are UNM students, one is a graduate, and one, drummer Brandon Draper, is an instructor at UNM. They found each other and created their "funk-hop-reggae-rock," sound.
I asked them who their influences are and was bombarded by bands and artists from jazz to punk to metal to Latin. More musicians were listed than I could catch, but the main person they unanimously agreed on was Bob Marley.
This diversity of influences is apparent in their music. After seeing two Chronic Logic shows, I was impressed with how well they adapted to fit the different crowds.
"We'll play more jazzy-Latin stuff for the older crowds and for the younger ones we can
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play loud and obnoxious stuff," said Elihu Estevane, the lead guitarist and vocalist.
"We're chameleon musicians, open and versatile," added Dan 'Glassman' Garduno, rhythm guitarist and vocalist. "Just don't call us ska or hippie-jam rock."
In addition to the two guitarists and the drummer, Josh Alan Flowers is on bass, John Simms plays trumpet, Brandon Dowd is on the saxophone and Pablo Sanhueza does percussion.
So where does the name Chronic Logic come from?
"We struggled and struggled for months and someone just blurted it out and we liked it," Elihu said. "It just sounded cool. We're very logical people."
While they already have a single in circulation titled "Mr. Jackson," they plan on taking some time out from their constant gigs to produce a full CD to be out by late October.
The band can be seen next at Club Rhythm and Blues, 3523 Central Ave. NE, Sept. 30th. It can also be heard on KUNM's Ear to the Ground on Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m. The band will also be playing in the New Mexico Showcase in the Funk/Fusion category the same night at Brewster's Pub, 312 Central Ave. SW.
After the showcase, Elihu will head back to his hometown of Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico for a couple months and then the band hopes to start touring the Southwest and beyond.
