Ozomatli 3-25-09

GRAMMY Museum · Los Angeles, CA

BY JOSE MARTINEZ

Fans of LA activist rock were treated to a great time last Wednesday night as the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE had an evening with the City of Angels' favorite sons, Ozomatli, as part of their Song of Conscience, Sounds of Freedom exhibit.

Billed as Ozomatli: From L.A. to the World, the program, moderated by Josh Kun, professor in the Annenberg School of Communication at USC, focused on the GRAMMY-winning band's activism, politics, and the power of the political song.

A musical force hailing from all points in Los Angeles, Ozomatli formed 14 years ago as a way to play benefits around town, eventually turning into an outspoken, politically active juggernaut that wanted to make listeners dance as much as they wanted them to take to the streets in protest.

To start the event, a 7-minute film was shown highlighting the band's State Department-sponsored Middle East trip. Ironically, the band were serving as U.S. representatives overseas during the Bush administration.

Saxophonist Ulises Bella joked, "We thought it was a way of someone in the State Department to be a subversive when they contacted us."

Even though the band were not fans of then President George W. Bush or his foreign policies they did see the opportunity as a way to knock down stereotypes. The band, visiting and performing in places like Tunisia, India, Jordan, and Nepal (where they played free concerts, offered musical workshops and master classes, visited art centers, summer camps, youth rehabilitation centers, and even a Palestinian refugee camp) knew, according to Bella, "We could blow people's images of what the U.S. might look and feel like."

Percussionist Jiro Yamaguchi teased that the foreign audiences were more welcoming than Orange County fans when the band opened for The Offspring way back when.

"At least they didn't tell us to get green cards in Nepal," Bella noted.

During Ozo's stellar 14-year career they have seen and protested a lot. As a band they've witnessed 9/11, Katrina, the Bush era, and the highly contested Southern California immigration battle. But in a fantastic state of poetic justice or irony, the GRAMMY Museum at the L.A. Live complex, which houses a 7,000-seat concert theater, smaller concert halls, a bowling alley, and several fashionable eateries, was also the site of a very memorable night in the band's history back in1999 when the Democratic and Republican national conventions were held across the street at Staples Center.

Back in '99, Ozomatli played a free concert on the street, which is exactly where the museum now stands. Ozo, playing a free show outside the DNC, had its performance shut down mid set by the LAPD causing a riot. Most people think it was during the Rage Against the Machine performance when the riot happened, but the truth is, Rage was done and it was actually during Ozomatli's show when the violence erupted on the city streets.

"We have a love/hate relationship with LA," Bella mused. "It's the micro of the macro that is the world."

Bassist Wil-Dog Abers says, "Our music will take you around the world by taking you around L.A."

The intimate evening with Ozomatli, housed in the GRAMMY Museum's compact 250-seat theater, was followed by a rousing 5-song concert. In full on "Storyteller" mode, the band introduced most songs and really seemed to relish the time spent with their fans in such a personal setting.

Seeing the band perform "Ya Viene El Sol" was impressive, as they really took it up a notch and offered a spectacular jam. It was almost like being privy to watching the band play in their very own rehearsal space.

Before playing "Temperatura," written during the massive protests in LA regarding the hot button immigration issue, singer/guitarist Raul Pacheco said of the band, "This is a group of people hitting the streets demonstrating something."

A band of the people for the people, Ozo fans were treated to an intimate and rousing night of discussion and music. Next week, the GRAMMY Museum will keep the social conscience theme going when it offers an Evening with Tom Morello.