Quetzal: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

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The Southern California band Quetzal recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a blowout concert that seemed to attract as many musicians as regular people. The band has maintained such a strong presence in the SoCal Chicano music scene that its members could be considered padrinos and padrinas of that free-flowing musical community.Quetzal is respected and admired as much for its commitment to social justice, activism and education — lead singer Martha Gonzalez has a Ph.D — as for its folk-infused music, which gets a marvelous showcase in this Tiny Desk Concert. While the instrumentation is stripped down, the sound is full; the music penetrates the intellect even as it makes your hips sway.The group runs a tight ship musically: Gonzalez's voice could be heard well past the confines of the Tiny Desk, all the way to our web-designing neighbors; guitarist Quetzal Flores unplugged and worked the Mexican jarana for both rhythm and melody, often at the same time; violinist Rocio Marron wove blues licks into Mexican folk runs; bassist Juan Perez provided a nimble and melodic bottom end.Add it all up and you get a glimpse into a musical vision that inspires as much as it entertains. If you didn't know Quetzal before this video, now's the time to catch up. If you're a fan like me, you've already got a head start on looking forward to the next 20 years. --FELIX CONTRERAS

Set List:
"Palomo Vagabundo"
"Tragafuegor"
"Todo Lo Que Tengo"

Credits:
Producers: Felix Contreras, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Colin Marshall; Production Assistant: Sarah Tilotta; photo by Sarah Tilotta/NPR

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I discovered this precious gem of a band while listening to “Democracy Now” with Amy Goodman. They played out a segment with “La Vuelta”. I was instantly transfixed by this song and had to figure out who they were. ❤

davidquinones

Martha is amazing. I first saw her in a video playing with Los Lobos. She'd definitely be in my top 10 list of people I'd like to meet.

jdm-uk-yank

I was fortunate to see them in a very intimate setting, A class i was taking at CSULA in which they came to play for us. VERY VERY great performance! style, lyrics, everything about them gave off a certain aura. Esa si era musica de la buena!

ramonaraujo

I discovered this video when I read the LA Times article about Martha and Quetzal a month ago. I'm surprised it has taken me all these years to Discover this Band. The performances are captivating. Thank You. so much!

gregoryhumphries

Singing and percussion at the same time?! Amazing!!

jellyglass

A paso vagabundo, reminds me of my little sweet Yorkie, 15 who I just transitioned..🕊️💙 lovingly and patiently I walked him a paso vagabundo.

madresoul

Top 5 favorite band right here. Amazing. Loved watching them live before the pandemic

oursmallmajority

The dance flows on. I like it . I like it very much. Thank you.

Mezilesialan

I saw them live at the Eagle Rock Cultural Arts Center and it was freaking amazing! The talent that comes from those folks :D and Entres Mujeres, I was so impressed.

hulkis

I can't decide what I think of the the videographer. For example, around the 2 and half minute mark, the singer starts to get into it, and I'm transfixed. Then the camera moves away. WHY ARE YOU SHIFTING MY GAZE AWAY? After anger was done, I realized I would have been so zoned in on one thing I wouldn't have seen anything else. The camera shifts to the yellow shift hat guy and he's getting into too! I would have never noticed if my gaze had been shifted from something I really liked to something I didn't see. So thank you, and I hate you too, and I love your work, Videographer Person.

thepeopleschimp